Chapter Six

"Once again, nice work, Scott. We're bringing them in for more questioning," Matt said into the phone.

"Okay, see you after school," I said before hanging up.

"Well, Riles, we did it again," Joey said, smiling at me.

"Indeed, we did, Joseph," I said, smiling back.

"Don't call me that." He frowned.

"Don't call you what?" I asked innocently.

"You know exactly what," he said, glaring at me.

"I'm sorry," I said, pouting and he gave me his signature half smile. I knew he always acted like he hated his full name, but in reality, I think part of him didn't actually mind.

"It's fine, Riley," he said.

I smiled as I pulled into the parking lot. Joey and I decided to ride together to school instead of taking separate cars just like Emily and Rachel.

"Remember, keep watching Jesse, Taylor, Christopher, and James and make sure you have your earpieces," I said when we all met up as a group in the school.

"Oh, my gosh!" Rachel squealed randomly.

"What?" Joey asked, pulling his fingers out of his ears while I looked around, all alert.

"I didn't tell you!" Rachel squealed.

I frowned at her and stopped looking around. "I thought something was wrong."

"So... I was walking into school this morning and this really hot guy walked up to me and asked me on a date!" she said, smiling widely.

"Congrats! Did you say yes?" Emily asked.

"Of course, I did!" she said with a duh tone while my frown deepened.

"Rachel," Joey said with a warning tone.

"This is the biggest mission you have ever been on and you're going on a date?" I whispered harshly.

"Yeah, but—" Rachel started to say but I cut her off.

"You need to cancel the date right away. You know you cannot mix your agent life with your social life," I said, giving her a disapproving look.

"Sorry, Rachel, but I have to agree with Riles. You don't mix those two together," Joey said, frowning.

"You two just don't understand! You have lived this life since you were what? Twelve? Probably even younger then that! I don't even remember Cole saying we can't date on missions," Rachel said, getting defensive.

"Well, then, you have to think back to when you signed up for this lifestyle," I said, quoting her words from earlier. "I'm just trying to be a good friend and look out for you before you get freaking brainwashed and lose your job," I said, now more hurt than mad. I just shook my head and walked toward class when the bell rang.

"Riles," Joey said, running up to me. "Are you okay?"

"I may have lived this life since I was a kid but I didn't choose to live an agent life at first," I said as we walked down the now empty hallway.

"She and Em will understand one day. Bye, Riles. Talk to you later," Joey said and I said my goodbye and walked into Mr. Trout’s room.

"You're late. Detention after school, April," Mr. Trout said, not looking up.

"Sorry, sir," I said and walked to the back of the Calculus room to my assigned seat next to Jesse. I sighed quietly, as he didn't even bother turning away from the window to see me walk in.

"Detention on your second week of high school. Geez, Riles," Matt said in the earpiece and I just rolled my eyes.

"Since I have nothing planned for today beside the worksheet you should have picked up at the beginning of class, you will be working with the person next to you on your right and getting to learn stuff about them. I'll pass around the question sheets. Make sure to fill all of them in,” Mr. Trout announced, and I smiled as I realized I finally had a reason to talk to Jesse. Although, I found it strange that the teacher was making us do it, I didn’t question it much.

My smile quickly disappeared as Jesse just turned around and glared at me. He finally made eye contact with me, and it was a cold-hearted glare. Wow, Riley, you're making great process. I looked at Lily, and she gave me an apologetic look.

"Here you go, Jesse and April," Mr. Trout said, handing us both papers and detention slips. I wonder what he did.

"What did you get a detention for?" I asked, speaking my thoughts aloud.

No answer.

"It's fine, you don't have to answer. Let's start with the first question. What's your favorite color?"

No answer.

"What's your favorite animal?" I said, trying again.

No answer.

"We can skip those and come back to them. What's your favorite band and type of music?"

No answer.

I sighed. This wasn't working out well. He just kept looking either out the window or at the board with a blank stare. I didn't know how long I could do this fake attitude. His lack of response was starting to irritate me now.

"Twenty-five minutes left. Remember, this is thirty points," Mr. Trout said, sitting down at his desk.

"Okay, listen here, Jesse Farone. Everyone may bow down at your feet and avoid you in the halls because you're supposed to be some scary bad ass, but I'm telling you now I'm not going to do that," I snapped.

He looked at me and smirked, finally showing another emotion other than glaring or being blank.

"You talk a lot," he said, then his smirk disappeared and he looked back at the board blankly.

"You s-spoke," I stuttered, amazed, and the whole class seemed to be looking at us now also.

"Class, back to work," Mr. Trout said, looking surprised, too. After a few minutes, everyone turned back around but I was still just staring at Jesse.

"Staring is rude," he snapped, not turning his face from the board.

"So is not speaking when you are asked a question," I said, snapping back.

"Being late. Black. A dog. My Chemical Romance and anything but pop," he said, well, more like grunted.,

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Your answers to the questions. I was late so I got the detention. My favorite color is black and my favorite band is My Chemical Romance. My favorite type of music is anything but pop."

I sat there, dumbfounded. He spoke more than five words. The bell rang, and he quickly stormed out of the classroom without looking back.

"I bet he only talked to her because she shoved her chest in his face," one girl whispered to her friend while walking in front of me.

"Maybe I should get surgery on mine so he'll notice me," the friend said.

I snorted but quickly covered it with a cough when they looked back. The things girls do to be noticed.