Rubin scoffed with a sceptical gaze as he settled in his desk with his eyes tailing after her while she approached Fred and Patrick's desk.
"Is she really serious about this?" He mumbled with feigned confusion, just then, a tap on his shoulder drew his attention.
"Hey, Rubin –Can I get your history test book?" Raina asked, a broad smile spread through her face. He nodded with a smile and rummaged through his bag for it.
"Huh, here" He handed it over to her to which she mumbled her thanks and spontaneously returned to her desk. Swiftly turning his gaze back to Alixies, he stuttered.
"What's up with her?" He shook his head in perplexity, his eyes glued on her. " Why the sudden interest in Ben this morning– thought she was going to ask about Laura instead" He mumbled on an impulse. With a fixed gaze, he stared on with keen interest. Alixies finally closed up on Patrick and Fred who sat opposite each other with their heads buried on their desks. With a tap on the desk, they spontaneously lifted their heads, their countenance changed immediately – a murderous look instinctively spread through their faces like a time bomb, ticking away slowly, ready to explode any moment ;on noticing who interrupted their rest.
" You?" Fred scoffed, straightening his back as he sat upright and folded his arms on his chest. She smiled politely just when their eyes met, pretending not to have noticed their gazes as she bruaced herself.
"What do you want?" Patrick asked with a composed gaze, his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance gave little away.
She stuttered, trying her best not to show her nervousness. "Where's Ben?–I've realized you guys came without him today. What happened?" She ended in a single breath which made them chuckle at her unexpected interest.
"Why do you ask?" Fred replied, looking quizzically at her which made her display a sheepish smile.
"Um, well– I" She fidgeted with discomfort and there was an awkward silence between them which lasted for a few seconds. Fred knitted his brows in confusion and kept glancing at her with the same quizzical look. "Nothing" She finally added after her attempt to bring out the words failed– she couldn't bring herself to say what's on her mind. With that, she sped back to her desk without another word.
Patrick and Fred glanced at each other with a surprised gaze. "Is it what I'm thinking?" Patrick mumbled and Fred nodded in response. Her effort of masking her real intention amused them.
"I can't believe this" Patrick commented as they tailed their attention to Alixies who was now seated in her desk with Rubin mumbling something to her. Just then, their teacher walked in.
"Let's settle down" He announced and everyone returned to their seats.
"What was that about, Alixies?– Why are you so bent on seeking Ben?" Rubin finally mumbled as the teacher commenced with the lesson. With a swift glance from the board to Rubin and back, she answered with indifference.
"Nothing – Just worried" An amused stare instinctively swept over his face as his eyes glued on her without a bat. With that, he spontaneously burst into an absurd laughter which brought everyone's attention, including the teacher's on them.
Alixies deftly glanced at him, startled by his sudden outburst– her looks screamed her unspoken words.
" What's wrong with him?" She mumbled to herself.
Suddenly conscious of those piercing glares on him, he sheepishly smiled. "I'm sorry" He exuded with a bow.
"Hope this doesn't happen again, Rubin " The teacher stated and he mumbled his response with a nod. With that said, the teacher continued from where he had paused with the lesson. Alixies stared at him and scoffed with a faint chuckle, returning her gaze to the board. Although she was listening, her mind kept thorn on Ben's absence–her sense of foreboding increased with each passing minutes. Fred who was all along watching, instinctively nudged Patrick, turning his attention towards her.
"Do you think we should tell her?" He asked. With a thoughtful gaze, he answered.
"Yeah, I think we should – Maybe she might be of comfort to him"
With that, Fred instantly took out a piece of paper and wrote something on it– after which he folded and threw it in her direction. Hit by the light weighted object, she deftly turned, her eyes seeking for the culprit to which Fred bobbed his head. With a sceptical gaze, she unwrapped it.
" HE'S AT RYNE HOSPITAL –HIS MOTHER WAS SHOT A FEW DAYS AGO" It read.
She stared blankly with a stun gaze which made Rubin who had spied out of curiosity, query.
"What's that about?" He asked but his question was welcomed with sheer ignorance. On witnessing her unwillingness to share, he let go the chase.
"Fine– suit yourself" He mumbled, returning to the lessons.
**************
Laura kept following Mya who had been sneaking in and out of the various offices in search of whatever–she had no idea of. Making it out of Mrs Pearl's office, she sauntered towards Mr. Hansel's.
"No, No, Mya– not that place" She cried but that was in no way going to help with anything. She was nothing than just a worthless ghost. She groaned with displeasure as Mya made her way through the unlocked door into the office.
Without further thought or hesitation, she shuffled over to the desk and pulled the chair back, settling in it as she swiftly opened the laptop on the table. Laura leaned over her shoulder with rapt attention.
On switching it on, she found out there was a lock on it to which she had no idea what it could be.
"Gosh, not now" She cried, just then, a thought clicked in. "Right, let's try this" She mumbled, typing in a word which failed to unlock.
"Oh, that didn't work" They both mumbled in disappointment. Just then, they heard the door knob turn, making a crack noise. They both gasped, their eyes glued at the door which was yet to flung open.