Love Punched | COMPLETED

23. Downhill

(Derek's P.O.V)

"What happened?"

Everyone turned to look at me when I spoke, hiking up my bag over my shoulder.

The whispering had been going on since I'd got out of my house and it had only increased in the school environment. I could tell something big had happened and now that I was with my friends, you could bet I'd figure out what had the town of Ladenhill in such a talkative mood.

"And where's Michael?" I added as I noted everyone else's presence.

After having dropped Lila home yesterday, I'd spent the rest of my time idling away and sneaking peeks at Kitkat's room but the lights hadn't been turned on even once. Although I could see and hear movement, it was clear she hadn't been in an amiable mood. She hadn't even thanked me for everything I did yesterday, not that I needed her to acknowledge me.

I didn't. I swear.

But compared to how the town and my friends had been silent and eerie yesterday, today was the complete opposite. The incessant chattering and anxious bustle and excited faces were sending me mixed signals.

No one replied to me and I looked at them all one by one.

Warren was texting with a frown on his face and seemed to have not heard me. Nora with her blonde hair in a ponytail was chewing on her lip nervously and kept checking her phone as well. The somber environment was too much for our combined free second period because usually everyone was goofing about.

My brows furrowed even more when I spotted Rebecca in the distance sitting alone with a look of apprehension on her face. She seemed unaware of her surroundings in that moment and definitely not focusing on the book open in front of her.

And finally, my eyes drank in the sight of the grey-eyed girl sitting to the left of me. Her look was blank as usual as she stared out of the window, her chin resting on her palm. Almost as if she felt my eyes on her, Lila tilted her head.

Her mahogany hair was loosely put into a low ponytail but her stormy grey eyes were sharp. I swallowed as I remembered her shining eyes from yesterday ajd the total breakdown but the thought passed over me like a dark cloud. She had earphones on and low beat music filtered around us.

"Michael's dad was arrested."

I blinked.

"What?"

But Kitkat had already looked away, her expression disinterested. Yet the vibes I received from her were dark.

For a split second, I wondered if it was because of what had happened yesterday but her vibes had changed drastically from teasing lighter ones to heavy malicious and dark ones.

I could feel it because I had sensed such auras before.

"What do you mean, Michael's Dad was arrested?" I inquired and my eyes bounced over Nora and War because Lila sure wouldn't be answering me.

Warren sighed and finally paid me some attention. "It's exactly as it sounds." I furrowed my brows, itching to shake him for more information.

He glanced at Nora, "Did you reach him?"

The girl with glasses give a jerky nod, her eyes glued to her phone screen. "He says he'll meet us all tonight at Blue's and that he's okay."

I heard a scoff from the side and we all turned to look at Kitkat with her eyes closed but her stance wasn't one of relaxation.

"Well at least you got something." Warren sulked, ruffling his chestnut hair. "He didn't reply to me except for one 'I'll talk to you later, don't worry.'"