Nate walked beside me as we went towards World History class. He clutched his books to his chest as his eyes darted back and forth and ears perked. I knew Nate wasn't hundred per cent telling the truth. Even though he talked and laughed with others. It was either forced laughs or dark, unfunny jokes and whenever he left, his eyes were downcast and he hunched. All his energy was drained after he talked with his peers and he always observed his surroundings from the tiniest sound or his eyes were glued to windows or he froze with a horrified expression. His eyes flickered from their bright to faded colour, his skin glistened with sweat and his fingers or eyes twitched.

Nate wasn't frank but his body language showed me otherwise.

He was only fifty per cent. He averted his head and clutched his books tighter with a bowed head. His furrowed brows wrinkled his forehead.

"You haven't been completely frank with me, you know that," I whispered, tagging the hem of his worn, knitted sweater.

He laughed nervously and smiled crookedly. "W-What, I'm fine." He stammered and fidgeted.

"Nate," I pressed.

He sighed heavily as his shoulders tensed then relaxed," Yeah, I'm not a hundred me but hey, I'm better," He repeated then sighed." I know you might know me but I want to go back to your house." He answered.

I was taken aback. I staggered as I stared at him wide-eyed with a clenched fist. "What!" I yelled, passerby glanced over their shoulders and whispered. The janitor, a blonde-haired man, paused and gawked at us. He squeezed his lips at mid-whistle. He held a stick of the brown on his broad shoulder. "Nate, are you hearing yourself after what happened? You wanna go back!" I screamed.

"Thalia," Nate said.

"No, does that mean –no after all he did." I croaked, tears brimming in my eyes.

"Thalia," Nate cried, outstretched and I whirled away from him. He shouldn't see me cry. I balled my fist.

"Thalia, listen to me. I-It's not like that. I have a plan, it's not foolproof but I have a plan." I sniffled as he grabbed my fist and pulled me close. He tightened his grip on my hands as I averted my gaze and Nate frowned with his green eyes wild with worry.

"W-why did you say that? You got me so worried. I'm starting to get worried about you. I was scared that you wanted to go back and I was scared that I lost you even though you scare the living daylights out of me."

A sad, heavy sigh escaped his lips as he shook his head." No," he stated, he ran his hands through his curls and smiled," I-I think I can get some dirt on your dad. I believe you had nothing to do with it but I thought it was a plan. It evaporated long ago when you cried and took care of me. I knew that I could trust you. "He said nervously.

Involuntary, tears rolled out from my eyes as I hastily wiped them with my elbows. I rarely cried unless I was overwhelmed with emotions with strong emotions or stressed but loosing another person because of my dad. I can't keep living like this.

"The study," Nate croaked, pounding a fist with determination," I have suspicions. You in."

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm in but," I paused and groaned," he's my dad. He's powerful and people hate me a lot but they adore him."

I sniffled as I entered the class. When I walked with Nate earlier, his fingers accidentally intertwined with mine. It was soft and warm. My lips curled.

What the hell! I shook my head. Ew.

Some students whispered and shot glares at me.

"...dating him."

I got in as Hayley scouted over me her eyes widened at me but her smile evaporated when I neared her as students looked at me or pointed at me.

Crap, I was still crying. I hastily wiped it.

"...scare him shitless, like he saw a freaking ghost."

Have you ever felt like a dozen eyes were glued to you before and it seemed glued at your back? I sat on the front row of Canadian History as a lady, a short and chubby lady dressed in a bright yellow cardigan over a dark green skirt with a sunflower broach and strawberry blonde hair cropped who brightened the room with a warm smile, kind eyes but was insanely boring and talked too much.

When class ended. Hayley chased Nate down the hallway as he left Biology with a frown on his face and she walked to him as I poked my head out of the door with raised brows. She had an angry frown and screamed, "You made Thalia cry!" She balled her fist and spread her feet," What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything." He refused as he shook his head." I suggested something but it was a misunderstanding. We cleared it up." He muttered, eyes widened and darted back and forth.

"You had it all cleared up." She scoffed, hands on her waist. "Then why was she crying the entire lesson?"

"What? Crying the entire lesson?" He echoed, shocked with disbelief and surprise as his agape mouth landed on me.

"I'm sorry," I said, shaking my head.

"You were crying. Why?" Nate softly asked, we walked toward the Physics period before lunch. I apologised and avoided his gaze. Why can't I stop apologising? He told me not to but I couldn't help it.

I shrugged, " I-I was overwhelmed. I-I thought I lost you to ...him."

Nate squeezed his face as he scoffed," Huh, but he's an asshole. Why would I crawl back to him after what he did? To me and you. "He looked around and then whispered," huh, I mean he's a donkey. Is it bad if I insult him?"

I nodded unbothered. I hate him.

"No, not at all," I replied.

***

Nate and I stood in front of my house on the sidewalk, side by side. We stared at each other and nodded. He climbed up the stairs and stared at his dirty trainers and then gulped at the cross above us with a small, forced smile he said, "Let's do this."

Earlier before, I wore something I never thought I would wear. It was a dark blue dress, strapped and short. I skipped down the stairs and a loud chuckle escaped my father with his muscular arms crossed over his barrel-shaped chest.

"What's the occasion? Are you wearing it for your boyfriend?" my father asked jokily.

If he was a good dad. I'll smile, laugh and retort jokily but he wasn't so I stuck out my tongue mockingly. As I flew out into the sidewalk, passed white fences as curious passerby who gawked or stared at me with annoyance as my black leather bag bounced on my shoulders. I paired my dress with leggings that were equally dark. I don't know what came over me to wear it. I always wore shorts with leggings, jeans or just leggings. Eyes seemed to glue to me as I streaked by as the sun's gentle rays dispersed and the children's laughter wafted into the air.

A little white boy played in his tiny pool and a group of girls played hide or seek or freeze tag as a ten-year boy played aggressively on his Xbox.

Two thin boys with wild, curly brown hair smirked and whistled as I passed by. They were both fourteen-year-olds yet acted four. My flats halted on the pavement as they continued their laughter and whistling. I glanced over my shoulder as they taunted me further.

"Hey, Thalia. Why are you wearing a dress? "Karan asked mockingly loudly with a mischievous smirk as he hunched over the white fence of his home.

"Is it for your boyfriend?"Jawar, the thinner and hairier one squeaked, squeezing his face as if he'd vomited. It was no other than the Kumar twins. They terrorised me and annoyed me on a daily basis. They pranked and insulted anyone who passed by but they seemed to enjoy pissing me in particular. They were bronze skinned, hairy skinny and towered over me.

"No, "I replied firmly, hands on my chest. " Me, myself and I."

Then Karan stalked forward with hands on his boyish hips like a model on a catwalk with pursed lips and a serious expression. He then proceeded to pose dramatically, duck lips and kisses he dropped to the ground with a smolder and more dramatic poses as his brother pretended to click a camera and encourage him with whoops and cheers. All I did was watch in confusion, interest and horror.

They looked at me and then continued their game. Karan pretended to spin and lift his hands as if he had a skirt.

"Thalia and her boyfriend kissing in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. He was found dead next week."Jawar choked, his brother joined and they high-fived each other with a grin.

"Hey, that rhymed," Karan remarked as they dissolved into laughter and the other collapsed on the lawn. The never-ending circus went on. That didn't rhyme.

"I heard he's fifteen."Jawar intensely gasped from the ground.

"Oh my God, yes. You like older dudes. Who would have guessed?" Karan muttered in mock horror.

I took a deep breath, counted to ten then extended  my middle finger as their amused faces and laughter melted off and were replaced with anger and annoyance.

"Wait! What was that?" He looked in disgust.

"Ok, screw you too."They yelled in sync. 

The more I thought of it. Those poses Karan did reminded me of a stripper. Those boys weren't fully wrong.Regardless of my father's influence that didn't stop them from making jokes, or being downright rude or taunting me constantly.