"I've sent it" Matt said.

Kimberly smiled wryly and took a bite of her sandwich while looking at Matt. There was a different charm about Kim that Matt couldn't explain. But whatever it was, Matt quickly broke their eye contact and enjoyed his food in peace. At least, the pressure of being with Kimberly wasn't as great as the pressure of being with Avril.

"Thank you. This means a lot to me" Kim said.

"No problem" Matt replied without raising his head.

Kim didn't mind that at all. Matt wasn't the first person to be afraid of her. In fact, Kim was pretty sure Warren would react the same way as Matt. But, who cared about that? Kim needed Warren and she was going to see him no matter what.
Matt was the first to finish eating. Matt didn't waste any time and just nodded slowly at Kim. Kim understood Matt's gesture and nodded back. Matt quickly took out the trash and walked out of the cafeteria.

At first, Matt didn't think about Avril at all because of Kim's intimidating aura. Unfortunately, as soon as he left the table, he thought of Avril. Matt's gaze fell on the popular table. But, the girl he was looking for wasn't there. The table wasn't as crowded as before and now they were busy talking about something. Well, it looked like they had just lost the center of the popular.

Matt thought a bit about how to talk to Avril. The guilt was a little suffocating. Matt had trouble sleeping last night and that wasn't a good thing! Maybe Matt could keep an eye on Johanna? Avril would be visiting his house, right? Today, Matt would only be going home early because Mrs. Allister was going to Los Angeles. He would think about Avril another time.

"So? Is that called not being the center of attention?" someone said as Matt came out of the cafeteria.

Matt turned around and found Avril. Avril looked cute in a short peach skirt and white blouse. Avril's hair was down and Matt now noticed that the ends of the girl's hair were slightly curled. Unfortunately, it just makes Avril look even more perfect in Matt's eyes. In contrast to Avril's sweet face, the girl's face dimmed.

"Isn't what you did earlier also attracting attention?" Avril said quietly. Avril did say it softly but every word pierced Matt hard.

"Why are you silent, Matty?" Avril asked.

Usually, Matt didn't like Avril calling him that. Unfortunately, he felt he couldn't argue with Avril at all. Hey! Why does Matt feel guilty for something he didn't do? Matt wasn't even in a special relationship with Avril. In fact, he should have stayed away from her.

"I don't even feel like I'm attracting attention," Matt said trying to calm down. "No one noticed us like when you sat at my desk."

"It's just a table," said Avril irritably.

"You think so," said Matt. "Avril Miller, wherever you go, you will be the center of attention. It's like, it's in your blood."

Avril looked away from Matt. Her eyes stared at the floor with a frown on her forehead. "don't call me by my full name"

"You call me Matty! I think we're even" Matt said and turned away. The more time he spent with Avril, the more his common sense shrank.

"I call you Matty because I think it's cute! You call me Avril Miller because you don't like me" Avril said unhappily.

Matt sighed. Why was it so hard to ignore Avril? He turned around and now stood in front of Avril. Matt struggled to look down then his eyes found Avril's. She looked away and Matt watched her. He had to get this over with quickly before people saw him with Avril.

"Well, I don't dislike you" Matt said while suppressing the word dislike. "But, my answer is the same. I don't like being the center of attention. I hope you understand."

Next, Avril watched Matt with sparkling eyes. She looked at Matt and then was silent for a few moments. Afterward, Matt saw the light in her eyes again. Avril's spirit returned.

"That's enough for me, Matt!" Avril said softly.

Matt looked at Avril in confusion. For some reason, that sentence made Matt uncomfortable at all. Matt didn't say anything else. He turned and left Avril before she could say anything else that would make Matt even more uneasy. But, Matt knew. Avril Marie Miller did not give up easily at all.
***

In the three days since the incident, Avril had stopped stalking Matt. Strangely, something prompted Matt to ask Johanna. Which thankfully, Matt never did. Johanna would have thought him crazy if he asked Avril. Besides, it would make things worse if Johanna told Avril that Matt had asked her. Oh, and for another reason, Matt never asked Johanna to talk about anything other than the cooking shift.

Matt chose the cafeteria again. Of course! The cafeteria was the perfect place to look for Avril. Matt's attention was drawn to the popular table. Matt stole a few glances. He managed to find Johanna reading a book but not Avril.

"J, you must know where Avril is," Evan said impatiently.

Johanna glanced at Evan lazily. "Trust me, I haven't seen Avril in two days either."

"Is she sick?" Zed asked.

Johanna furrowed her brow. "Avril is rarely sick. But, she really hasn't been updating me! I'm not sure what she's up to."

Avril didn't say anything, but Johanna clearly saw Avril talking to Matt yesterday. J herself wasn't sure what her best friend was thinking but it was obvious she was really serious about her stepbrother. Oh, come on! since when did Johanna see her best friend give up? At that very moment, she saw her stepbrother walking stupidly towards the food bar. Matt must know something.

Matt walked with his mind busy. Avril seemed to be swallowed up by the earth. Normally, she would be on the school radio today. Now, Matt didn't even hear her voice at all. Another boring person was on the school radio and Matt heard complaints from almost everyone. Usually, even Avril's voice could get people excited. Matt even deliberately spun around the field. But, Avril even skipped cheers. This was weird.

Grabbing a burger and juice, Matt stood for a long time. How weird! Now that the girl was gone, Matt was looking for her.

"Get out of the way," Johanna said impatiently. "We don't need a statue in the cafeteria."

Matt was surprised but quickly moved out of the way. Johanna took a burger too with the book still in her hand. Then, she watched Matt with a sardonic look.

"What?" Matt said distastefully.

"Did Avril tell you?" Johanna asked. "It's strange how that girl disappeared. She didn't say anything."

"You're her best friend, J! Not me" Matt replied. Okay! So, Johanna doesn't know where Avril is either.

"I know you talked to her yesterday" Johanna hissed. "You better not say anything bad again or I'll kill you!"

"Something bad?" said Matt in surprise. There was no way Johanna knew.

"Don't play dumb, you know exactly what I mean," said Johanna. "Twice. You don't have to be that hard on Avril even if

she's being stupid for trying to get close to a loser like you."

"J, I..."

"Whatever it is, if anything happens to Avril, I will kill you," said Johanna.

After saying that, J left Matt. Johanna even deliberately hit Matt with her shoulder. This was not like Johanna at all. Although always cynical, Johanna had never been that angry with Matt. She was just reluctant to have anything to do with him.

Matt's feelings of guilt were growing. His last meeting with Avril wasn't very pleasant either. Even though Matt wanted to apologize at that time. But, why is Matt rejecting Avril even more? Oh, my! Matt turned around and his gaze met Johanna's again. The girl was looking at him with a disgusted expression now. Oh my! Where exactly is Avril now?