The weekend passed by quickly, and I spent most of it at home, trying to shake off the strange dream that had haunted me. Thankfully, the nightmare didn't reappear, and I felt a sense of relief as Monday arrived.
As I got ready for school, I couldn't help but think about Jasmine. Would I see her today? Would we hug or touch? The thought made me blush, and I quickly grabbed my phone and backpack before heading out.
As I walked to school, lost in my thoughts about Jasmine, a car pulled up next to me. I glanced over and saw Kirah in the passenger seat, accompanied by her father, who I recognized as Mr. Smith, the police officer. Surprised, I approached the car cautiously as the window rolled down.
"Dex, hop in!" Kirah exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what was going on, but eventually, I opened the door and got in the back seat.
"Hey, Mr. Smith," I greeted him, offering a friendly smile.
Mr. Smith turned to me, his expression warm. "Hey, Dex," he replied, nodding in acknowledgment. "How's school been treating you?"
"It's been good," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Just doing my thing, you know."
Mr. Smith glanced back at me and grinned, extending his fist toward me. "Keep it up, Dex," he said, giving me a fist bump. "And hey, maybe you can influence my daughter to do better too."
Kirah groaned playfully from the front seat. "Daddy, please," she protested, rolling her eyes.
Mr. Smith laughed heartily, the sound filling the car with warmth. "Just kidding, Kirah," he said, his tone teasing. "But seriously, Dex, thanks for being a good influence on her."
I chuckled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Mr. Smith. Despite his authoritative role as a police officer, he always seemed approachable and kind.
Kirah suddenly leaned back, her eyes wide with excitement. "Dex, did you hear about the police chase that happened on thursday?" she asked eagerly.
My heart skipped a beat as I listened to her question, a sudden wave of anxiety washing over me. "Um, no, I didn't," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual despite the racing of my thoughts. "What happened?"
Kirah leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Well, apparently, there was this wild chase involving a police officer and a car," she explained, her eyes widening with excitement. "They said it was like something out of a movie!"
My stomach churned as I listened to Kirah's words, my mind racing with possibilities. Could it be that they were talking about Jasmine and me? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I tried to push it aside, telling myself it was just a coincidence.
Mr. Smith glanced back at me through the rearview mirror, his expression serious. "Yeah, it was a crazy situation," he chimed in, his tone grave. "The officer who chased the car is a friend of mine. He said they were dealing with a couple of kids—probably around your age."
I felt a lump form in my throat as Mr. Smith's words sank in. A couple of kids? Around my age? It couldn't be a coincidence. My heart raced with a mix of fear and uncertainty as I tried to process the implications of what Mr. Smith was saying.
"They didn't have a license plate, which is making it extra hard to track them down," Mr. Smith continued, his voice tinged with concern. "I just hope you and your friends are staying out of trouble, Dex. I'd hate to see any of you end up in a situation like that."
I forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil churning inside me. "Don't worry, Mr. Smith," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "We'll stay out of trouble, I promise."
As the car pulled up to the school, I thanked Mr. Smith and Kirah for the ride, my mind still reeling from our conversation. Stepping out onto the sidewalk, I watched as the car drove away, a knot of fear tightening in my chest.
Could it be that they were onto us? That they knew about me and Jasmine? The thought sent a chill down my spine as I headed into school.
knew I had to talk to Jasmine, to find out if she knew anything about the police chase, but the fear of what I might discover gnawed at me.
Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed Kirah catching up to me in the hallway. "Hey, Dex," she said, falling into step beside me. "I didn't want to ask you about this in front of my dad, but are you okay? I didn't see you after you went to the bathroom on Thursday."
I paused, taken aback by Kirah's concern. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine," I replied quickly, trying to brush off the question. "Just had a headache, that's all."
Kirah frowned, clearly not convinced by my explanation. "Are you sure?" she pressed, her eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation.
I sighed, realizing I couldn't keep the truth from Kirah, especially since she had been so kind to me. "Well, actually, when Mike hit me with the ball, I just needed some time to clear my head," I admitted, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders as I shared my troubles with her.
Kirah nodded understandingly, her expression softening. "I get it," she said gently. "Just know that you can talk to me anytime, okay? I'm here for you."
Her words warmed my heart, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for her friendship. "Thanks, Kirah," I said sincerely, a small smile playing on my lips. "I really appreciate it."
Then, as we reached our lockers, I remembered something important. Turning to Kirah, I hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Hey, there's something I wanted to tell you," I began, my voice faltering slightly.
Kirah looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to continue.
"It's about Jasmine," I said, choosing my words carefully. "She told me she wants to be my friend."
Kirah's reaction was unexpected. Her cheerful demeanor shifted, and a cloud seemed to pass over her features. "Oh," she said quietly, her tone devoid of its usual energy.
Concerned, I reached out to her. "Hey, Kirah, is everything okay?" I asked, noticing the change in her mood.
She looked up at me, her expression guarded. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, but her words lacked conviction.
Sensing that something was bothering her, I pressed gently. "Are you sure? You seem a bit down," I remarked, trying to offer support.
Suddenly, Kirah's demeanor shifted again, but this time it was different. Her tone turned sharp, almost angry. "I said I'm fine, Dex!" she snapped, surprising me with the intensity of her response.
Taken aback by her outburst, I held up my hands defensively. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry," I said quickly, not wanting to escalate the situation.
Kirah's expression softened, and she let out a sigh. "No, I'm sorry," she said, her tone more subdued. "I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just... stressed out, I guess."
I nodded sympathetically, understanding that everyone had their bad days. "It's okay, Kirah," I reassured her. "We all have those days. If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."
She offered a small smile in return, appreciating my understanding. "Thanks, Dex," she said quietly, her gratitude evident in her voice.
Then, after a moment of silence, Kirah seemed to gather her thoughts before speaking again. "So, about what you were saying earlier... Did you tell Jasmine yes?" she asked, her tone cautious.
I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Yeah, I did," I confirmed. "I mean, you know I've had a crush on Jasmine since middle school, so of course I said yes."
Kirah's reaction was not what I expected. Her expression turned serious, almost disapproving. "I don't think she likes you, Dex," she said bluntly, her words cutting through the air like a knife. "She's probably just trying to use you. You should stay away from her."
I was taken aback by Kirah's sudden change in attitude. "What? Why would you say that?" I asked, feeling a pang of hurt at her words. "Jasmine's a good person. Why are you acting like this?"
Kirah's expression hardened, and she shrugged nonchalantly. "Okay, whatever," she replied dismissively. "I'm going to class. See you later, Dex."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, I couldn't help but wonder what had caused Kirah to react this way. What had changed between us? And why was she suddenly so cold towards Jasmine?
Shaking my head in confusion, I headed to class.