Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

“Who is she not texting, you mean.” Will glances at me in the mirror.

I throw my head back. “How did you know?”

“Please, you’re not fooling anyone with your sad puppy eyes,” Will says.

I know Haze isn’t one to always have his phone in his hands, so worrying is probably pointless, but I have this gut feeling that something is wrong. I can’t quite put my finger on it.

“I’m sure he’s just busy,” Kass tries to reassure me.

“Yeah, or he’s dead. We all know that’s the only way Haze would ever leave Winter alone.”

I force a laugh, bothered that I’m not the only one who thinks this is weird behavior for Haze.

“We’re here.”

The two dreadful words hit me a lot harder than I expected. The stress is real. I search for air as I get out of Will’s car with a heavy bag of books on my shoulders. I caught up with school as much as I could but still feel like I missed a lifetime of classes. So many questions eat at me. I have no friends in this school whatsoever. Not to mention that the prom is coming up.

Am I supposed to go? The answer reveals itself to me as quickly as the question did. I just can’t see myself going. There’s no point in trying to live the Cinderella dream. There are only two weeks left before the school year comes to an end and my old life comes calling my name.

Two weeks.

Fourteen days.

Then, I’ll be on a plane back to Canada.

Nothing. Not even a quick text. I haven’t heard a peep from Haze once today, and I’m beginning to think something is seriously wrong. He wasn’t at school. This used to be typical behavior for him, but that was before… everything. I’m sure he knows better than to do that anymore.

Will was right. To everyone, I’m Haze’s girlfriend. People stare. Girls hate me from afar. It’s nothing I didn’t see coming, but it still makes me uncomfortable. I just have to be thankful that I haven’t run into Bianca and her evil Barbies yet.

On the bright side, I talked to the majority of my teachers and was relieved to hear them say that they were willing to figure something out with me for extra credits. I also met up with the principal, who said I’ll be able to take part in the finals like everyone else.

I shut my locker and squeeze my way through the crowd of eager-to-go-home teenagers. At least Will suggested to drive me home if Haze doesn’t show for my appointment. I step outside and the way people look at me tells me that he’s here. I don’t even need to see his face. I simply follow their very obvious stare… to him.

He’s just standing there, casually leaning back against his parked car with his hands in his pockets. His face lights up when he sees me, but mine only darkens.

He’s bruised. And the wounds look fresh. They’re not from his fight with Ryder. He must’ve gotten them today. I stamp down to him.

“Hey, you.” He grins.

“What happened?” I immediately ask.

He sighs. Did he really think I wouldn’t acknowledge his bleeding eyebrow?

“Get in.” He opens the door for me and I climb inside the car. Shortly after, we drive off. I watch as the creepers outside the school become blurry shapes.

“So?” I insist. “Mind telling me what happened to your face?”

“I’m the West side’s leader, Winter. I got back into town after a while. What did you expect?”

Great. He’s in a mood.

“Gee, I don’t know. Not that my boyfriend would show up with blood dripping off his face, maybe.”

I only realize what I’ve done once it’s too late.

I called him my boyfriend, didn’t I?

He smiles, his bad mood instantly slipping away.