ROMEO'S POV
Just like I told myself, I would give Xander a ride always. To and from school.
He looked very sad on our way home, it made me kept wondering where he disappeared to.
"Tell me Xander, where did you go after the incident with Cassandra?", I asked breaking the silence.
"I went to the old school building", he replied.
"Wait what? We're not allowed to go there, what if someone saw you?", I asked.
"No one saw me, that's what matters", he answered and brushed his hand through his hair.
"Why do you hate her?", I said and he looked away.
"And by her, you mean who?", he asked pretending not to know I was referring to Cassandra.
"You know exactly who", I responded.
"I don't hate her, I just don't like her", he replied.
"Why don't you like her?", I asked again and he looked irritated.
"Can we not have this conversation, I'm tired", he said seriously.
"I got paired with Clifford", I said changing the subject.
"Lucky you", he said.
The conversation felt so dry, I didn't utter another word till we got to his house.
"Don't bring this energy to school tomorrow, also remember I'd come pick you up", I said after he got down from my car.
He just nodded and made his way inside the house. I went home afterwards.
XANDER'S POV
I didn't know if keeping everything away from Romeo was a right decision. A part of me wanted to let him in on everything.
But then again, I couldn't erase the thought that he'd stay away from me when he finds out about my past.
"We're going out to have dinner tonight", my mom said after I greeted her.
"Please tell me it's my favorite restaurant we're going to", I said smiling from ear to ear.
"Well you have to find out yourself, let's go you're driving", she said handing over the car keys to me.
"Wait I want to change into something comfortable first", I said heading to my room.
"One minute X, one minute", my mom yelled.
I laughed at how she said it, I love it anytime she calls me X. It makes me feel special.
"When am I getting my own car mom?", I asked my mom on our way to the restaurant.
"You haven't asked me this in a long while", she responded surprised.
"I know I have bad histories with cars, but I'm a changed person now mom", I pleaded.
"Okay, I'll watch you closely for two weeks and if I find nothing suspicious I'd get you a car", she replied.
"Thank you mom, you're the best", I said excitedly.
"Oh boy, don't thank me yet. A lot can happen in two weeks", she said and let out a little laughter.
We got to the restaurant shortly and I couldn't believe my eyes, beside us was Cassandra and her family.
Before I could hide from her, she stood up from her sit and walked to us.
"Hey Xander, I didn't expect to see you here. I usually come here with my family", she said.
I wondered what I was supposed to use that piece of information for, she makes it so easy for me to dislike her.
"Be kind to her son", my mom whispered.
"Hi Aunty, my name is Cassandra, Xander's classmate", she said extending her hands to my mom for a handshake.
My mom looked so terrified after hearing her name, she knows how much I hated that name.
"Nice meeting you dear", my mom said shaking hands with her.
After Cassandra had left my mom held my hands and kissed it. Tears began to fall from her eyes.
"Don't cry mom, I know what you're thinking. I'm fine, believe me", I said cleaning her tears.
Few minutes later, my mom was okay so we had to place our orders. We finished eating and left immediately.
"Are you sure you're okay?", my mom asked for the hundredth time when we got home.
"I'm okay mom, I'm very okay", I responded.
"Remember what your therapist said X, when you keep all your worries to yourself, you end up hurting yourself", she said holding my hands.
"I'm not hurting myself mom, I haven't thought of it in about a year now", I said to her.
She pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek, "I love you Xander", she said .
My eyes became teary, I was afraid I'd go back to being depressed. Go back to hurting myself, go back to leaving in my own shadows.
"I love you too mom", I said and tightened up the hug.
"Okay, this isn't how I plan on dying", she said pulling out of the hug.
She laughed out loud suddenly, I wiped my tears quickly and laughed too.
I had zero intentions of going to school the following day, Cassandra would be all over me.
I was still in bed when someone suddenly opened my door. I woke up in annoyance only to see Romeo fully dressed up for school.
"Your mom let me in, she said you want to skip school today", he said sitting on the bed.
I rolled my eyes in annoyance and sat on the bed too, I wanted to punch him on the face for disturbing my sleep.
"I feel sick", I said.
"Lies, you're saying this because you want to skip school", he responded.
I was about to talk when he suddenly stood up, so I just kept quiet.
"You have ten minutes to get ready, else I'd call Cassandra to come over", he said and winked at me.
"Argh!! What an annoying human you are", I said angrily and stood up.
"Ten minutes bro, ten!", he said and left.
"How did I even become friends with him?", I said to myself and started to get ready.
We got to school late, I mean very late. The first lesson had almost come to an end when we arrived.
A note was passed to me immediately we sat down, I hesitated to open it. I thought it was from Cassandra, but it was from Lucille. She wanted us to meet during lunch break.
I met her at the cafeteria, but since it was very crowded we went to her car. I realized she had changed her car.
"Why did you change your car?", I asked.
"I have four cars Xander, you don't expect me to always drive one", she said and let out a little laugh.
"Wait what? You said you would never drive a car. How come you have four?", I said looking at her.
She looked away and smiled, "you don't have to be worried Xander, I'm good", she said.
"Okay, why did you want to see me?", I asked.
"I want to know why you guys were late", she responded.
"You are becoming too nosy Lucille, I'm not telling you. Have a nice day", I said hilariously.
I got out from her car and she followed.
"Please Xander, tell me", she said holding me back.
"It's because I wanted to skip school, he practically forced me to come", I replied and she let go off me.
"Wait why? Don't tell me it's about Cassandra", she said.
I shook my head and walked away, I might end up telling her everything.
I went back to the cafeteria to get lunch and as expected, Cassandra was with Romeo. She was eating with us again!
"Where did you go?, I've been looking for you", she said immediately I sat down.
I looked at her angrily, does she have to be always nosy?
"Are we meeting at my place or yours?", she asked before taking a sip of her juice.
"Let's just do all our work here in the school, I don't want you to come to my house", I said without looking at her.
"No X, it can't happen that way. We have to meet outside of school", she said.
"What did you just call me?", I asked angrily.
"X, why?.."
"Don't call me that again", I said interrupting her.
"Okay, I'm sorry", she said with tears in her eyes and left.
"I don't know why you don't like her Xander, but it's going to far. You're being too rude", Romeo said before going after Cassandra.