Chapter 8 Unhappy

*Tessa*

"Sorry, I had to follow my dad to play a game earlier."

Wes finally responds to my message hours after he left them unread.

I pick up my phone sadly after I hear the notification. He hasn't always been like this, so I wonder why I feel so unseen by him.

His only response was just to address why he didn't respond to my message, but he still hasn't responded to anything I said about the kidnapping.

It feels like he doesn't care or want to keep being bothered with all I have to say.

I place my phone on the table and walk back to the bed, squeezing myself into Marin, as she watches the movie.

"What did he say this time around that's making you wear a long face?" She grumbles.

"It's nothing. He didn't say anything, actually. It's the fact that he didn't say anything that bothers me. He's busy with his dad anyway, that could be the reason why his attention is divided."

The need to constantly make excuses for his shortcomings was beginning to get to me. I don't know why, but this time around, I'm more bothered that I could have been killed if Knox hadn't been present. I really needed Wes to give me words that would comfort me or show that he cared to know how I was doing and the details of how we were able to survive it.

"Don't act all cringe when I ask you this question." I sit up to look Marin in the face. "Do you think I'm a bit excessive for Wes? Maybe I'm not acting like his type of girl or fitting appropriately."

Marin doesn't like him, and I know she wasn't going to give me any advice that favours Wes, so I didn't bother to ask about me.

She smiles and uses her hand to brush through my hair. "I've told you several times. That boy is not a good match for you. You're way above him. The only good thing about him is the fact that he's from a wealthy home. I don't like his manners. If he doesn't have value for you, then what's the point, Tessa?" She rolls her eyes and adds. " I know you think I'm saying all this just because I don't like him. Which I very much don't, nonetheless, if he makes you happy, there's nothing I'd choose your joy over my thoughts. You're not excessive. You're perfect. Wes should get a life. Do you need me to call him?"

"Oh, no! At all. Thank you. I've gotten the perfect response I need. He didn't tell me I'm excessive or anything. I just wanted to know."

I didn't want Marin to cause me more trouble with Wes. I know her mouth is big enough to say worse things to his face.

My phone beeps.

"Ughhhhhh!" She groans, "He can't be around now. I'm just getting to the exciting part of the story. Ughhh!" She nags a little.

Marin's driver was waiting outside to pick her up.

"I wish you could stay back a little longer." I hold Marin by her arm and escort her down the stairs.

"I wish I could, too? Can't we do a little hide and seek?" Marin turns to gaze at Knox, who walks behind us. "Let's see if Knox can catch up with us."

My mood is dull, and I'd rather stay out, hugging someone.

"Nah. I think Knox has had a rough day already today. There's no use trying to make it worse for him."

"True."

We both walked towards the Mercedes that came to pick her up.

She hugs me, and I press her into my body tightly.

"See you tomorrow."

"Are we really going to be having school tomorrow despite the break-in?" I ask, more out of fear than concern.

"I don't know either. We will find out when tomorrow comes."

Her driver closes the door and passes the front to get to where he will sit.

"Thanks for having her stay with you all through this." He adds. His correctly spoken words hit just right with his Indian accent.

Knox stands next to me as we both watch Miran leave.

"You're too unhappy for a boy who doesn't care for you. What exactly makes you like him this much, then?" Knox says, walking after me as I pace my steps upstairs.

I didn't know he could see that I was unhappy. I know he doesn't really like Wes, either.

"It's not that he doesn't care about me. He's probably just having his moments, and it's okay because everyone has them." I defend Wes.

Perhaps, that's what I think I'm doing.

"Do you game?"

"No. You do?"

I'm caught by surprise that someone like Knox will know how to play the game.

"Who are you, Knox?" I turn to him, "Just when I think I know you enough, I realize I don't know you at all."

I am not bothered by his mysterious self anyway, but it just might please me to know more about him since he knows almost everything about me now.

"You can't know much about me. It will be bad for your safety." He says with an assuring glance at me.

Knox is quite as handsome as Marin had been saying. I am just seeing how perfect his eyes are as I glance at him.

We stand for a while, no word, no comment, just glaring at one another.

My phone chimes, and it cuts loudly through the silence that fills the air.

I smile and leave Knox behind the door and walk into my room.

My phone lay on the table just a few steps away from the door.

"Shawn is throwing a party in his house. The party starts at 1 am. His parents are out of town. Let's go together. I'd pick you up."

I read a message from Wes.

I didn't feel like going, but I knew it made him mad the last time. I don't want to make him feel like I'm doing it intentionally.