This chapter is dedicated to PKaurxz  for giving this book a chance and for all your lovely votes💎

Character;

Cheryl.

                               *
My face was flushed of all colors.

The smirk on her face...

The boldness in her voice...

She obviously knew something she wasn't meant to.

My heart was racing...

"W..Wh...What...a...are...y...y..you...talking..a...about?" I stammered.

"Please hold yourself together...I hate stammerers, they irritate me," she spat, looking at her nails.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? How dare you talk to me anyhow you feel like?" I retorted, trying to keep myself together and stay firm.

"Calm down...I'm not here to cause trouble, I was just wondering...Were Veronica and you not friends?" Her voice sounded as sweet and innocent as it could ever be but I knew something else was behind it.

She was definitely here to cause trouble...

A big one at that.

And she must've already known what transpired between Veronica and I.

She must have been the one that...

"Yeah...I'm the one that sent the video, if that's what you're racking your little brain about...and besides, it's still all intact," she said with a wide grin on her face.

I couldn't say anything...'cus I was totally short of words.

The bell rang...

"Oops...seems like I'll take my leave now, try not to miss me too much," she said swirling on her heels and swaying her hips, walking away from a dazzled me.

*

Cheryl!

I tried to let the fact settle in my head.

I'd always made life miserable for that girl.

It'd always been my fun, I bet she hates my guts. She could do anything to bring me down and she has a perfect opportunity.

Was she going to report me? Everyone's going to know what I did!

I was sitting in the library...

The library for goodness sake!

I'd never acknowledged the fact that the school has a Library till now. I just needed solitude, and a quiet place at the moment.

My head was on the table, on top of a book opened in front of me, so at least no one would notice even if a tear should drop down my eyes.

Besides, the bathroom was not close to an option.

I felt someone sit down on the other chair infront of me. I raised my head and it was Timothy.

What is he doing here?

I wanted to lay my head back down on the table...

"Are you okay?" He asked, concern filled in his voice but I couldn't tell if it was real or not.

Why was he even talking to me? Wasn't he supposed to stay as far away from me as possible? I killed Veronica! I'm a murderer! Isn't he afraid that I can do same to him?!

"Just leave," I faintly replied.

"I'm sorry for asking that stupid question, it's clear that you're not fine," he replied.

I couldn't say anything. What does he expect me to say?!

"I was a bit worried, you weren't in school on Friday and I almost didn't notice you in class today."

Great! Now he's stalking me.

Note the sarcasm.

"You're not a bad person...don't hurt yourself," he said calmly.

"I'm not gonna hurt myself, I'm gonna hurt you if you don't stay away from me," I spat with so much venom.

I'm not in a right state of mind.

"I know you're not talking in a right state of mind and you feel like you're such a horrible person, but don't be to hard on yourself and don't let it eat you up inside, you could start by letting it out and at least share it with someone you trust," he said while I just stared in awe at him.

This guy could read me so much.

Was I so transparent or is it just....him.

"We've been looking all over for you," I heard Amber's voice, directed to me.

I looked up and she was standing few metres away from me with.....Tianna?

They walked towards my table and looked quite shocked and I wondered why...

Then it clicked, I was sitting in the library with Timothy.

Nothing just seemed right.

"We'll be presenting our project tomorrow," he suddenly said and I gave a quick nod before he stood up and left.

"Hey," I briefly greeted the both of them.

"You know, Stella...you don't have to let all thay pride you've got bring you down," Amber suddenly said.

Where the fuck did this come from?

"What are you saying?" I asked with a baffled expression.

"You know you'd hurt Tianna right?" She continued.

Oh! Tianna!

I looked over to her, her slender figure standing behind Amber, she was looking everywhere else except me.

"You know you hurt her with your words but you find it hard to apologize, instead you let it fuck you up for days," Amber said, staring into me.

Does she think I behave this way because of Tianna?

Yeah...I felt bad for what I did but it wasn't just the case on my neck right now, I had something bigger haunting me and it just keeps getting worse.

"Yeah....yeah...I'm really sorry," I sincerely said looking at Tianna who was surprisingly looking at me.

I cannot remember the last time I apologized to anyone....not even my friends.

But what can I say, every other thing happening have just been a big suprise to me.

"You crossed your limits," Tianna said, talking for the first time she got here, staring at me.

"I said I'm sorry! What else do you want from me? Should I also get to my knees or maybe pay you to forgive me?!" I sparked at Tianna.

"It wasn't all my fault ya'know....my sister's boyfriend was cheating on her with you! How else do you expect me to behave....smile at you? And thank you for being so cheap?!" I continued, sarcasm written all over my face as I made the last sentence.

Now people's eyes were on us.

A few people were in the library and I could tell that I caught almost all of them's attention....including Timothy. He stared at me with different expressions but one stood out....

Disgust.

I realised I'd almost made the same mistake again.

"No need to worry....I already broke up with him," Tianna said calmly before turning to leave the library.

I ran to stop her...

"I'm really sorry," I blurted when I was already standing infront of her.

"Yeah...I know," she said without even looking at my face.

I turned over to Amber for support and she walked towards us and took Tianna's hands in hers.

"Don't worry....I'll talk to her," she said as they both walked out of the library.

*

Why do I even care about what he thinks?

I never care what anyone thinks about me!

I was in the car with Kelly, we were driving home. We could be completely silent on the outside but I bet we both have a lot going on in our minds.

"Stella....can we talk?" She asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah...sure," I replied trying not to divert my attention from the road.

"About dad," she said and I suddenly felt my hands clench tighter on the steering wheel.

"I don't wanna talk about him," I blandly replied.

"Please...."

"No!"

"Everyone has a reason for everything they make and I'm sure dad has one too..."

"There's no excuse for leaving your family....your wife and three children! Think about it!" I screamed at her and she said nothing else, she looked away before searching for something in her bag.

"I just wished we could be a complete family...maybe it's just too much to ask,' she faintly said before switching on her head set and sliding it over her ears.

No one said a word in the car after that.

*

I walked towards the door with Kelly trailing slowly behind me.

I was hearing voices from inside, it seemed like people were having an argument. I slowly pushed the door open and my mom and dad who were standing a few metres away from each other, looked towards the door in shock, a horrified look on their face and they were breathing heavily.

Were they having an argument?

I noticed Ivy who was standing on the staircase. She stood for a while before walking upstairs.

Kelly also looked as confused as I was and my mom looked tense.

My dad looked towards me....

"Please can we talk?"

~~~~~~~~