Runaway

Chapter 29

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~Uploaded September 17th, 2014

All this time, I had been wondering who the heck looked like me. Just when I had started to think that she wouldn't be a problem, the girl herself had popped up in front of me. There was no doubt in my mind that it was her, although I was a bit concerned about just how similar we looked.

We had the same hair colour, eye colour, face shape, you name it. Except she had a small beauty mark on her cheek that made her seem like some sort of heiress. Given that her father owned an oiling company, I suppose she was one in a way.

How on earth was I supposed to react when meeting the ex-girlfriend of the guy I half-liked? Smile and introduce myself? Act like I hadn't heard almost the sides of the story? Just stand there like a dummy and do nothing like I came to realize we were all doing?

"Hi", I said dumbly, then bit my inside cheek to snap myself out of it. "I'm Dani. I moved to town last month. It's nice to meet you." The automatic response came in handy, because it didn't seem like any of the others were going to say anything.

Cassandra smiled at me in a "nice to meet you" kind of way. Then she lifted her gaze to the others who, when I looked around, were all stone-faced. What did I get myself into?

"Oh my gosh, Andie, you look great! I love the Alice in Wonderland costume. That shade of blue totally suits you. Aww." Cassandra touched a hand to her chest. "And you're matching with Garrett. That is so adorable. Are you two dating?"

I could tell right then just how hostile everyone felt towards her. The day Garrett didn't stammer and blush around Andie was the day we all needed to worry. "No, we're not", he stated plainly. And there it is. Oh, shit, we're all screwed.

"Oh, that's too bad." Okay, this girl was either dumber than cork, or she willingly chose to ignore the tension in the air. Either way, we should get out of here. Like now.

Cassandra said some similar compliment to Brody and Nolan, who brushed her off in a similar manner. She was trying to get in their good graces, but they weren't having any of it. From what I had observed, it would take a lot for her to be reincluded in their group.

Her attention shifted to Dylan, whose arm was still across my shoulders from before. She looked hurt at the sight, but her gaze softened somewhat when her eyes lifted to Dylan. Maybe she still did care for him, but if she did, then why did she leave so abruptly? Something wasn't fitting here.

"Hi, Dylan", she started in a sugar-sweet voice. "I like your costume. Still a big Robin Hood fan?"

"I think the answer to that is rather obvious." The arm around my shoulders didn't feel so warm anymore. It felt colder than ice, just like how Dylan was right now. I didn't like it when he was like that, cold and unresponsive.

"Well it was nice meeting you, Cassandra", I said when the silence was killing me. "We should get going though. The guys and I have to work tomorrow and Andie has homework to do. We'll see you around." Not.

"Right. Well, have a good evening." Cassandra gave a smile then walked gracefully down the stairs and the driveway.

Even after she had gone, the silence was still present and foreboding. "Guys?", I asked. Was else was I supposed to say? They were obviosuly not okay, and suggesting we do something else would seem insensitive.

"You're right", Andie said, her voice solemn. "We should get going." The others nodded and started down the stairs. I started forward, but Dylan had tightened his grip on me.