"You're early today. That's new!" Hans tapped me on my shoulder. I brushed his hand off of me.
"I have a business here." I quickly showed him the ID.
"Woah, what is that? No, no... who is that?" He tried to grab it but I shoved it back into my back pockets.
"I don't know and I don't care. What do you say if I don't return it back?" I smiled devilishly.
"You're a crackhead then," He shook his head.
"Ball game later?" I asked.
"Yeah, sure. I'll go ahead. You be a good boy, Noah." Hans smirked and dropped down his dirty skateboard on the ground and hopped on it.
I couldn't focus because of this stupid identification card. It's my freaking responsibility now. If I could just drop it here, then it would be no longer my problem.
I looked at the picture one more time. She's not even familiar. Her name's Iris... like my favorite song. But hell nah, this is trouble.
I slid it down my pocket and walked along the hallway. I looked up the building where my feet brought me. It's the journalism department. I heard all the people are pretty serious and boring here. They're looking at me now, probably confused of what a scumbag looking person doing in this prestigious area.
"Hold up, where are you going?" someone pointed at me. He's got eyeglasses and a badge on his uniform.
"I'm looking for someone named Iris." I said.
"Woah... and you are her? What's your name, boy?" he smiled, scanning me from head to toe.
"None of your business, nerd. Just tell me where I could find her." I barked and thrown off my irritated look.
"Go up the elevator, and turn left, you'll find the Junior's office." I walked out and did not even say thanks. I heard him talking shit behind my back.
The whole place is sickening. It's all white and minimal. Everyone is busy. And these are all senior high school students? Dang, they'll grow old pretty fast.
I went on the elevator and was about to press the button when someone hurriedly jumped in. "Wait up," she motioned her hand to stop. She's breathing rapidly.
I wandered my sight on her. She has a camera hanging around her neck. I noticed her face. The same face on the identification card. She's got a ribbon on her hair. Damn, that's familiar. She was the one who almost got hit when I was in the rooftop!
She must have noticed I've been staring at her for too long. "Do you need something? Because I have nothing to offer." she boldy stated, facing me.
"Are you Iris?"
"I am and I am not in the mood for some silly jokes, mister." she rolled her eyes and was about to leave when I grabbed her hand.
"I found this..." I showed her the ID.
"How did you— you! I know you! You're probably one of them!" I barely heard what she said. She pushed me on my shoulder with all her strength.
"Listen, I don't care about who you are, miss. I am out of this. " I leaned toward her and tapped her cheek.
"What's your name?" she asked, out of curiosity.
"And why? Do we have a problem here?"
"No, no! I just wanna know..."
"I'm afraid I can't tell you my name." I grinned.
"Then how did you find this?" she asked, a little nervous. She slightly slapped me with the yellow wallet that I returned. I was about to hit her back when she winced. Calm down, Noah. She's a girl.
I couldn't tell her the truth. Tsk, what will I tell her, anyway? That I mugged a local gang member and it turned out to be her stupid wallet?
"Listen, Iris, miss,"
"It's Claire. Call me Claire." she interrupted.
"No, I prefer Iris." Who wouldn't want a name after a good song? She must be crazy.
"I guarantee you that I have nothing to do with this. I am the hero here, don't you get it?" I leaned forward, so close to her reddish face.
"Then you're in danger." she gritted her teeth and looked away.
"Danger?" I scoffed, "Wait a second...why are you so scared?" I am so close to completing the puzzle.
"Get out of here!" she pushed me away and ran.
I left the building looking dumb. I went to walk around the campus until my feet brought me up the rooftop.
What's that girl talking about? Danger? How the hell I am in danger? I'm in danger all of my life.
I took the withdrawal letter from my pocket. I couldn't wait to get the fuck out of this school. I know this school is trying to get rid of me, anyway. I'd get a job and live this life for God knows how it would go.
I grunted when the piece of paper flew out of my hand. I watched it go and I was stunned to see someone behind me. The letter had flown near her feet and when I was just about to grab it from the ground, she took it and read the content.
"That's none of your business! Why are you here?"
"I followed you," she took a one step forward and gave me the letter.
"What do you want?" I crossed my arms and leaned on the wall.
"I need your help... " she exhaled.
"Listen, Iris, you're asking the wrong person." I said.
"I told you, call me Claire." she is already irritated.
"Good for you, you're dropping out." she said like it was the best idea.
"No, good for you, you look like you're living a good life." I retorted, judging her.
"You're a hypocrite!" she took a deep breath and spoke, "Last time, when I was walking home..." I looked at her as soon as she started telling a story.
"I saw something... something bad," she whimpered.
"The guy who took my wallet... he... he caught me taking pictures. He was with someone, a younger man... and... and they were threatening a poor girl... forcing her to take drugs..."
My ears started ringing and I couldn't find the right words to say. All I did was grabbed her hand and pulled her to an embrace.
"Fuck. I know that man..." It's Joe and his crew! I should have just killed his puppet that day!
"What did they do to you? Why didn't you call the cops?!"
"I wanted to, but they warned me. He wanted a connection. He knows my name... and the school I go to... I'm afraid they also know where I live..."
That bastard!
"Do you still have the photos?"
"They've got my camera..." I shushed her. Her voice is almost too low and weak.
"Let's go!" I commanded.
"Where are we going?"
"To my place...and stop crying, will you?!"
I felt bad. I am not a fan of gentleness.
"How can I trust you? I don't even know your name!"
"If you don't trust me then why did you follow me here in the first place?" That shut her up.
"Because you're the only person who could help me! The moment you returned my wallet, I knew you'd help me."
"Don't be so comfortable, Iris. You don't know me."
She doesn't have an idea that I could be her misfortune. Goddamn. All I wanted is to stay out of trouble and drop the fuck out of this school, I didn't wish for a girl to swing into my hopeless life!
We sneaked behind the back gate. I am glancing around, checking the area. "Hold on, are you crazy? I can't jump that high. I'm wearing a skirt!"
"Do you wanna get caught and have a bad reputation? Then do it!" I bet she couldn't afford to be seen with a loser like me. She's a princess in this school.
"Don't look!" she put my hands to cover my eyes.
"I'm not a fucking maniac."
"All boys are." she really is testing my patience.
I hold her waist to lift her up the bricked wall. What a good girl. She grunts and still trying to cover her showing skin.
"Don't look, you idiot!" I managed to let out a devilish laughter.
"So, you like laces, huh?" I couldn't help but to tease her. It's a good thing she is smiling now.
"You! Argh!"
"It's alright. Now, don't be mad at me." I put my hands in front my face for defense.
"Tsk... what would our teachers say? We'll be dead if they find out we skipped classes." she asked, clearly concerned.
"Are you seriously thinking about that? We've got a bigger problem here." I shook my head in disbelief.
"Where do you live?"
"Main street. My place is hella messy, if you don't mind."
We walked the distance and soon reached my house. She seemed shocked to see my place. My landlady likes the area clean and pleasant. From the outside of the apartment, everywhere has plants and flowers, but when you go inside my room, it's depressing.
"It's actually pretty nice, you live alone?" she kinda felt uncomfortable asking me if i live alone.
"Wait till you see my room." I opened the door for her and slammed it right after we got in.
"Make yourself comfortable," I told her.
While she was looking around, I grabbed the telephone and my cellular phone.
Come on, Hans! Pick it up! I need your word on this!
"Uhm, what are you doing?" she wondered.
"Making a call," I responded.
"Don't call the cops! They won't help us!" she hurriedly went to my direction and interrupted.
"Shush, this isn't the cops,"
Hell, I'm not even a fan of police.
"Hey, Hans... you there, buddy? Listen, I've got an emergency." I trailed off when my friend answered the call.
He snapped at me on the other line, asking where the hell I am so I explained everything. From how I mugged someone and it turned out to be a pretty girl's wallet and now she's here sitting on my couch, watching me hatch a plan with my friend over the telephone.
"Uh huh, you'll do that for me? That's good." I almost whispered because I didn't want her to hear me.
I put the phone down when she came closer. "Are you guys done? And who on earth was that?!"
"Calm down, he's a friend."
"What now? Am I just supposed to trust you and this friend of yours?" Is she always this angry? The fuck. Why don't she just say thank you?!
"Where do you say you live?"
"Cherry Lane, blue house, big windows, why?"
"Ooh, in a fancy neighborhood? I knew it, you're a richie."
"And what does that mean, mister?"
"It means you're in a lot of trouble!" I scared her.
" What were you doing in an alley where you saw that man anyway?" I questioned her out of curiosity.
"Nothing!" she quickly defended.
"This is getting interesting." I lowered and peeked on the blinds and saw a normal street and a normal neighborhood. I won't be surprised if I started getting threats too. This girl is a nightmare.
"Listen, are you going to help me? Or not?" She scooted closer... very close.
"I will, but you're gonna have to follow my words. Be a good girl. And trust me. Isn't that very easy?" I touched her chin and was about to kiss her pinkish lips when we heard a loud knock on the door.
Damn!