Chapitre 168: Chapter 165
The following day I couldn't let my guard down at school. There's no way I could believe that the place was safe when Chris had been able to get in and tamper with my bike without anyone noticing. And even though Kyle kept insisting that I should stop visibly stalking his every move I just went ahead and did so. We still hadn't discussed what I told him the previous night, but he had said we'd do so after class.
During the lunch break we went to the nook beneath the bleachers because neither of us was hungry and Kyle said it had been a while since we went there.
And although that had been a perfect opportunity to talk about everything, we didn't. It's not that we were avoiding the subject, it's just that it didn't feel like the appropriate time to discuss such a heavy matter. I was certain that if we actually talked about it at school, both of our concentration would fade throughout the remainder of the day.
It wasn't until we were at the store that Kyle brought it up. And he did so in the form of a firm and serious statement which in its own way, was a sort of command.
" We're going to the cops, " he said. There was no room for argument, everything about how he had said it made it clear that it wasn't negotiable. He had been seated at the piano, just staring at the keys, first time he had gotten to the store and not started studying immediately after. His backpack remained untouched on the floor beside him.
I was leaning against the counter, watching him as I waited for him to look in my direction.
" And what will we say?"
" The truth...just leave the talking to me. "
" Are you sure that's the best idea?"
" What else do you suggest we do? Actually, had I known that the guy was dead I'd have reported it the second I saw Chris. "
I started to think of all the ways in which that situation could go wrong. For me at least. There'd be so many questions and suspicions...and chances were that my dad would find out. He wouldn't want to hear my side of the story because I had already created a bad reputation for myself when it came to him. He was probably going to let the cops do whatever they wished with me, his way of making me learn a lesson.
Even if I hadn't really been involved in the actual crime, I couldn't deny that I was still at fault for helping him hide without having all the facts straight. And that was going to get me into big trouble for sure. So if Kyle went with me and took on the role of explaining everything, he would be incriminating himself as well. I couldn't let that happen.
" We should go today, we can't postpone this. I'll close up early and we'll head over to the station. "
" You do understand that we could get into trouble as well, right?"
" That's not enough reason to not go. We can't keep covering up for him Austin, it's not right. Don't worry, everything will be fine. "
I could only nod. But the thought of dragging Kyle into my mess didn't sit right with me at all. And when I asked him to let me go alone he refused, saying he wasn't going to let me handle it by myself when he was around. Somehow it had turned into a "We" problem. That's how caring he was...and I decided that I had to be just as caring.
KYLE'S POV
Some twenty or so minutes after getting to the store, Austin had to leave. Khloe had texted and said she urgently needed his help. So I had asked him to just go and see what it was she wanted. And not long after he went, Miles came by the store. It was the first time he had been there and I was openly surprised. My immediate thought had been that he was searching for Austin, so I had explained that he wasn't around. He hadn't even said anything, just slowly nodded before he looked around and smiled. Seeming intrigued.
" Everytime I passed by this place I was always tempted to get in, but I never did, " he admitted.
" Why didn't you?"
" I thought it was lame and wack. "
" Wow, thanks for your honesty, I guess. "
" But it's actually not that bad, can I look around?"
" Yeah, definitely! Go ahead. "
He had started just walking around, admiring and looking at everything, seeming as if he was in no rush at all. He'd ask questions as well, and start up conversation when he thought that it was getting too quiet. And he was at it for about thirty minutes when I started to grow suspicious. I had been in the process of doing some research when the reality slowly began to dawn on me. I immediately looked up and watched Miles.
There's no way he had just decided to show up at the store to search for Austin, phones were an actual thing after all. And why had he stuck around for so long afterwards?
I thought of how much Austin had been clinging to me throughout the day, he wouldn't let me out if his sight unless we were in different classes. And at first I thought he had asked Miles to come and watch over me as he went to help Khloe out...but something still didn't feel right, and I had a feeling I knew what it was. I just prayed that I was wrong because otherwise, I was going to be super crossed with Austin.
" Where is he?" I frankly asked Miles. He turned on his heel to look at me, raising a brow as if he didn't quite understand what I was talking about. But he understood! I was sure he did.
" He asked you to come here, didn't he?"
Miles blinked a few times, then he looked around and chuckled nervously. Trying to play it cool but failing miserably. I must have caught him off guard.
" What're you talking about? "
" He's not at home, is he?"
" Are you cool bro? Coz you're starting to sound like you're trippin, "
I took out my phone and called Austin, expecting him to answer and serve me more lies, but he didn't even pick up. There's utterly no way he'd have seen my call and chosen to ignore it unless my suspicions were true. But I still decided to give him the benefit of doubt and assume he had his phone on silent or something.
" Give me your phone, " I stretched my hand out to Miles, my gaze digging into his with as much intensity as I could hold. He asked me why and I just repeated my statement and asked him to hand over the gadget. He scoffed and shook his head, saying there's no way he'd give me his phone.
" And that's if I even had it. My parents took it away, I'm grounded, remember?"
" Then what're you doing here?"
" Well according to what my parents know, I'm at a study session with friends from school... midterms are a big deal afterall. "
I could clearly see the outline of his phone in his Jean's pocket. He had this unique and cool phone case which just couldn't be mistaken. And the somewhat bumpy outlines of the design were shouting at me to notice them.
It was Miles afterall. Even if his parents actually took his phone, he'd just get another one without thinking of it as a big deal.
" Just give me the damn phone! I'm really not playing with you."
" I'm not playing with you either, "
" Fine! you'd better leave, I'm closing up. "
I picked up my backpack as well as the keys to the place.
" Why does he have to be so unreasonable!" I asked myself, striding over to the door and holding it open for Miles to exit. He still looked confused,like he wasn't sure of what to do. I impatiently asked him to hurry up. I should have realized it sooner, especially since Austin had tried his best to convince me to let him go to the station alone. It's things like those which made me question almost everything he did. I trusted Austin when it came to his feelings for me and all, but his actions were a clear sign that no matter how close we got he was still going to do things I wouldn't be okay with.
I had assured him we'd go to the station together because I wanted to be there with him. I had made it clear that I didn't want him trying to solve that mess on his own, yet that's exactly what he was trying to do. The station wasn't too far, it was a walking distance I suppose, but I had to hurry because it was also not that close. That damn kid was really into making me frustrated. I adored him but God did he make me mad!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone