"Okay, so kind of harsh." Dale frowns.
"What do you know, Scarface? Like you have any friends. Consider yourself lucky you avoid the drama."
Dale's skin pales as he listens to Amber.
Penny shoots him an awkward glance.
"We have to get ready, so bye now."
His jaw clenches tight.
"I know she left with Trent. Where would he take her?"
"He said he took her home."
"I think he's lying."
"Think what you like." Amber crosses her arms and stands in front of him. "But do it somewhere else."
Sensing the inevitable, Dale shoots them a hard look and walks away without another word.
I follow him in a simmering silence until I can't hold it in anymore. "I can't believe they just treated you that way?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does. They were really rude."
Dale screeches to a halt in the now empty corridor.
"You've treated me like that before too."
"I know and I hate that I did. You don't know how many times I wish I could've taken it back."
Dale shakes his head and lets out a scoff. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm used to this. Don't waste your anger on Amber. I'm fine."
"I so don't get you."
Throwing his hands in the air, Dale stops and turns to face me.
"Look, all people see is the scar and they label me straight away. I don't care. I know who I am and if two prissy rich chicks don't like it, I don't give a shit."
"You're lying. How can you not hate that scar? It's ruined your life."
A slow smile pulls Dale's face out of shape as he points to his face. "This right here, I wouldn't change it for anything."
He turns away and heads to class, leaving me standing in utter confusion.
Who talks like that?
I'm about to follow him and ask when I see Adam scuttling around the corner.
Why isn't he in class? Mr. Goody-good skipping out? That's not possible.
I glance at Dale's retreating form then move to follow Adam. He walks the corridor with his head down. His hands are shoved in his pockets. Where's the usual confident strut he does? Does he seriously rely on his car that much?
His car.
I frown.
Why can't I shake this feeling?
We near the office and I nearly bang into him when we round the corner and he jerks to a stop.
"Dad? What are you doing here?"
"Hey, son." The Sheriff slides his shades into his shirt pocket and approaches with slow steps. "I promised Mitchell Tepper that I'd come down to the school and see if there's been any news on Nicole."
"Oh." Adam nods. "Anything?"
"Nope." The sheriff smiles politely at Miss Walters as she glides past. "My guess is she's doing a runner. But if she hasn't shown up by tomorrow morning, I'm going to need to be a little more forceful with my search."
His eyes are cold and blue. They narrow slightly as they drill holes into Adam.
"Why aren't you in class, son?"
"I um, I have to pick up an assignment sheet from Mr. Simmons. Extra credit."
His Dad nods.
I don't know what it is, but his movements seem slow and intimidating.
"I think it's best you come straight home after school today... on the bus. No getting rides with that Finnigan kid."
"Dad, he's a good guy."
"He has a past. I don't want him distracting you from your studies."
"Dad- "
"Adam." His pointed look makes Adam swallow his next words.
"Yes, sir."
His father gives him a hard look.
"I know, Dad. Tonight... I mean, after school... straight away. I'll be there."
"Don't be late."
The sheriff pulls out his shades and slides them on. I have no idea what just happened, but I can sense Adam's fear. He runs a shaky hand through his hair and picks up the pace as he walks to Mr. Simmon's class.
I watch him stride away and the feeling I can't shake grows.
I need to talk to Dale.
Spinning on my heel, I head back to where I last saw him, realizing that I have no idea what his next class is or where I am supposed to find him.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I impatiently wait by his locker, but he doesn't come by after his next class. I'm not sure what to do, so start randomly hunting the school for him. I walk from class to class, peering into windows and scanning faces. It's a futile task. By the end of second period, I still haven't found him. I head back to his locker and lean against it. Students buzz past me as they make their way to their next class.
I'm studying their faces when Dale walks through me.
"Ugh!"
Students nearby stop and look in Dale's direction. He gives them an awkward smile and they slump away with confused frowns and whispers of his weirdness. He waits until they're gone before sharply whispering, "I asked you not to do that to me."
"Hey, I was facing the other way, I didn't see you coming."
"Where have you been?"
He looks irritated, which for some reason makes me antsy.
"I just- "
"Don't keep ditching me. If you're not following me then say so."
"Well excuse me."
"I thought you were ignoring me again... not to mention the fact I looked like a complete idiot whispering to no one the entire way to class."
"Don't you look like that even when I am here?"
He fires a dark glare in my direction.
"You said you didn't care what people thought."
He shuts his locker a little too hard.
"Follow me, please."
I spin on my heel and walk outside with him.
"Shouldn't you be going to class?"
"Free period," he mumbles over his shoulder.
We head towards the isolated end of the field. I can tell he's making a beeline for the bleachers. It's a good idea. We'll be able to talk in private.
Once we're standing beneath the tiered seating he spins around to face me.
"Did you go back to your body?"
"No, I... I saw Adam and decided to follow him."
"Why?" Dale's eyes narrow.
"I don't know." I throw my hands in the air. "I just wanted to see why he wasn't in class."
"And?"
I sigh. "He was just picking up extra credit work from Mr. Simmons."
"I told you he was a good guy. Stop being so suspicious of everybody."
"I'm sorry, but something doesn't feel right."
"Stop thinking the worst of my friends."
"I'm not! This has nothing to do with your friendship. I just think his car story isn't solid."
"It's like a brick. You're just reaching for something that isn't there."
I step back with a huff and try to kick the dirt. This was getting us nowhere. I flick back my bangs and peer through the bleachers at the field.
"His Dad creeps me out a little."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. He's pretty strict. I don't think he likes me much."
"I can tell. He told Adam not to get a lift with you today. Said he's worried you'll distract him from his studies."
"Oh yeah?" Dale shakes his head. "What else did he say?"
"That you have a past."
Dale looks down and skims his shoe over the dirt.
"What does he mean?"
"Look it's nothing, okay. Just don't take off without telling me again and stop thinking my friends are bad."