Silence (Silence #1)(3)

“Cole, are you coming or not?” his friend, Ben shouted. I had met Ben a few times before but only in passing when Cole was walking to his car with him or something.

“Come on, babe. I’m hungry,” some girl, whose name I didn’t know, called. Babe? Cole mumbled something under his breath, but I couldn’t make it out. Who was she? Was she his girlfriend? She couldn’t be. He would have definitely told me something like that.

My chest felt like a hand had gripped it tightly. I didn’t want them to be together. Perfect, now you’re jealous. The thought of him being with someone else made me feel sick and want to gouge the eyes out of the girl.

“I’m going with Oakley,” he shouted back. I slapped his chest and pushed him again, which just made him laugh. Just go! “Eating with us it is, then.” He smirked, grabbing my hand and pulling me along with him.

I tugged my arm, trying to get my wrist out of his iron grip, but he was too strong.

“She’s sitting with us,” he explained to his group of friends.

My face flamed in embarrassment. He made me feel like a three-year-old. I was so angry that I refused to look at him. How could he do that? He knew I didn’t like being in a group of people; I felt so out of place. They nodded, and we all walked around the building to the field at the back. Well, I didn’t walk. I was pulled like a rag roll.

The girl that had called Cole ‘babe’ didn’t look happy that I was there at all. She shot me the occasional discreet glare as we walked. I didn’t even want to sit with them in the first place, and I certainly didn’t want to sit with them if he was with her. Eventually we sat down, under some trees.

The nameless girl, who looked a little like a Meg from Family Guy but without the glasses, made a real effort to talk to Cole as much as she could. I didn’t blame her. Cole was an amazing guy.

I frowned at the floor and picked at the grass. I was angrier with myself than I was with Cole. I shouldn’t like him as much as I did. I wasn’t good enough for him.

“Oakley, you want?” Cole asked, holding his Pepsi out to me. A shake of my head answered his question and he frowned, putting the can down on the floor. “You’re annoyed with me?” I lowered my eyes and wished I could disappear. We were actually going to have that out in front of everyone?

He sighed, exasperated. “How long are you going to ignore me for?” I shrugged my shoulders, still refusing to look at him. I was close to crying again, and I didn’t want to do that in front of everyone.

“What did you do to piss her off so much?” Ben asked, not even bothering to lower his voice so I wouldn’t hear.

Cole snorted. “Nothing. She’s just being impossible.”

How am I the one being impossible? He didn’t have to make me come over here.

Someone stepped in my light, casting a dark shadow over my lap. Looking up, I shrank back.

“Oakley?” Julian sneered. “Come out with me tomorrow night? What ya say?” He and his friends burst out laughing - too hard for the lame joke. His friends were sheep; they did what he said, followed where he went and laughed at whatever he joked about.

I pressed my fists into my lap and looked away. Just as they made to leave, Cole jumped up and grabbed fistfuls of Julian’s shirt. My eyes widened. What on earth are you doing? I screamed at him silently.

“What did you just say to her?” Cole growled, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists harder.

“Chill, man. I was only joking,” Julian mumbled, stiffening his back and pulling at his shirt in an effort to try to release it from Cole’s grip.

I couldn’t watch, and I certainly couldn’t let a teacher witness what was looking like turning into a fight, and Cole get into trouble. Jumping to my feet, I pulled at Cole’s arm, but he didn’t move an inch. It was as if he didn’t even see me: so this was what he was like when he was angry.

“Cole, let it go,” Ben demanded. Please let it go, I begged with my eyes.

“A joke, was it? Well, I didn’t find it very funny. If you so much as look at her again, I’ll kill you.”

Cole shoved Julian away from us and gently pried my hand from his arm. Whoa. As soon as I was no longer touching him, he launched forward and punched Julian in the jaw. I flinched in shock at Cole punching someone.

Julian stumbled backwards, almost falling over his own legs, but managed to correct himself. One of his friend’s hands shot out and grabbed the top of his arm to steady him. For a second Julian glared back at Cole. He looked like he was weighing up his options: start a fight, or leave.

Grabbing my bag, I sprinted towards the school gates. I couldn’t do this; I needed to get away.

“Oakley?” Cole shouted after me.

If I turned around, I would probably burst into tears, so I kept running. I ran out of the gates and towards the park. My legs started to burn as I pushed myself faster. I could feel a stitch forming in my side, but I didn’t slow my pace, I pushed harder. Why were things so complicated? If I could go to sleep and wake up as someone else, anyone else, I would do it in a heartbeat.

“Hey, Oakley, will you stop?” Cole’s hand circled around my wrist, and he pulled me to a stop. We were both out of breath. I rested my hands on my thighs and tried to catch my breath. As I looked down, I felt a warm tear slide down my cheek and drop to the floor. Not again!