This chapter is dedicated to hannahsuarez949.
Thank you for checking out my book❤

*

I looked away immediately, I don't know why I suddenly felt nervous to even look at him.

From a distance of about thirty feet if I may add.

I adjusted my clothes and bag a bit before looking back to that direction.

I wish I never did.

Yeah. He was talking to a random girl I don't even know.

Yeah. She was smiling. Laughing.

Hmm...I never pinned Timothy as a funny type.

'Stop acting like you suddenly know everything about him shawty,'

Even my subconscious is starting to sound like Roxie. That girl is bad influence.

But it's right though, maybe he is...

Why do I even care?

Maybe because I thought I was the only girl he kind of has a close friendship relationship with...Or maybe I was thinking that when I walk in, he was going to be expecting me and really happy that I'm finally out and maybe try to start a conversation with me.

'High hopes girl...high hopes. You're not that important anymore. Things. Change.'

Yeah. Yeah. I'm just being a bitch now, he's owing me nothing. Absolutely nothing. I'm like the one indebted to him right now.

I just hope he feels as good as he looked right now.

I decided to make my way to class.

'He might actually notice you and try to run after you to talk'

No. He didn't because I was already seated on the chair at the very end of class waiting for the bell to be rung.

*

"You know I'll want to sit beside you," Roxie said to me at the end of the lesson.

The deserted back row suddenly became filled up with students.

Why?

Well, because Roxie has decided to sit beside me at the back row.

I tried to listen.

One part of me trying to understand what the teacher was saying.

The other trying to resist Roxie constant distractions.

Another looking towards Cheryl and my ex friends from behind.

Another, trying to resist looking towards the venomous bestfriends that ruined my life in the first place.

While the other stealing a glimpse of the blonde guy that was seated at the front row as always.

Look away. Look away.

"Are you even listening to me?" I suddenly heard Roxie ask.

"Um...yeah...what?"

I wasn't listening.

The teacher packed her things and left the class. The class became noisier and rowdy while some decided to leave the class as well.

"You weren't listening...well I asked if you've heard that we're going to have a soccer match on Friday night against Lenville High"

"Oh, I just came back and literally don't have any kind of connection with anyone here anymore, so I had no idea," I replied.

"Well, now you know and you're not telling me that you're not going."

"I'm not...I have no business with this school, soccer or those fucked up players.....anymore" I replied as I continued packing my things.

"I thought you've moved on."

"Yes...I'm trying so hard to break off from every damn thing that reminds me of my past...I don't want to."

"You are, as long as I'm alive and breathing, I'll take it upon myself to drag you out there to enjoy my favorite sport. Mark my words," she threatened.

"A threat?"

"Hundred percent," she replied and stood up to leave the class as I followed suit.

We got to the cafeteria but we had to stop like three times to greet a number of people.

So sad how she manages to make friends so easily.

Even Bella and her friends, they were like the nerdy association of Ashton.

I don't think I ever even spoke to them for the past six years of sharing a school with them.

We got to the cafeteria which was so unexpectedly filled up.

"Don't worry, go find a seat for us. I'll get food for the both of us," she offered and I was fine with that.

The cafeteria was a bit full but there were still a few empty tables. I walked towards one of them but I could still notice eyes staring at me.

I sat down quietly waiting for Roxie, my head hung low as I impatiently started fondling with my hands

About five minutes passed. Why the hell is Roxie wasting time, is she buying the whole cafeteria?

Then I spotted him.

He walked in.

He wasn't alone, clinging frustratingly to him was Claire.

Smiling. Laughing.

Is Timothy really that funny?

Roxie finally came, holding a tray of food, snacks, drinks.

Alot of food.

"Who's going to eat all of that?"

"Me."

I looked at her with a suprised look.

"Don't look at me like that, I spent time to specially pick all these, besides I can keep some for later...I might get hungry along the way," she argued.

She was speaking like she was embarking a journey along the desert.

"You're supposed to weigh about two hundred pounds by now, I wonder how you still look so fit when you clearly take in anything eatable in this world."

"Right? I also wonder...but I don't care."

She sat down and took a bite out of her doughnut.

"Takes like heaven," she moaned as she chewed while I picked up a sandwich.

I took a bite from the healthier snack.

And my eyes unconsciously searches for him.

I noticed him on a table with a few other boys...and girls.

He looked back at me and our eyes met.

Shit!

I looked away with immediate effect. Why do I suddenly feel so nervous around him.

Sorry, I mean when I'm a hundred meters away from him.

"Hmmm...someone has been stealing glances," Roxie suddenly said...and winked.

How can I forget how annoying that is.

"Wha...what..ar are you talking about?" I stammered, nervously biting a big chunk out of my sandwich.

"Is that your your Timothy or another because I don't think I notice any dishaveled hair plus he's like a headline in a number of girl's chats these days," she informed.

"Yeah...the same Timothy, but nevermind, I'm sure he's too 'busy' to even remember me," I replied.

"Are you sure?"

I felt my stomach tie a knot.

It wouldn't have been so if it was Roxie that asked that.

I looked to my side and notice Timothy standing beside our table.

"Hey," Roxie said, stretching her hands for a handshake which Timothy accepted.

Pretty much easy.

He dragged out the chair beside me and sat on it.

A feet apart.

"Oh...so you still remember that a certain Stella exists," I snapped at him.

"I'm also happy to see you," he replied sarcastically as I rolled my eyes at him.

"Whatever, what are you even doing here?" I asked, taking a sip out of my apple drink.

A more healthier drink.

"I can tell you're annoyed..."

"I'm not annoyed!" I snapped, cutting him short.

Bitch-like much.

"Oh, why so tense?" Roxie asked.

"I'm sorry...just got ahead of myself," I replied, not sure of whom I was apologizing to.

"How are you doing?" We asked at the same time.

That caused a round of chuckling.

"Go first," I insisted.

"Fine...I'm okay," he replied.

Okay. Just okay? Guy, you look way more than okay.

"Just okay? How are things going at home? Your mom and siblings? Have you settled things with them yet? Are you still living alone? Have you moved back home? How about Zach, is he causing trouble?" I blurted.

So many questions.

"Calm down with the questions B, it's confusing," Roxie complained before biting out of her chicken nugget.

"I guess. Everything is better at least, things are getting back to normal little by little. It's kind of hard for my mom to move on but she's pretty much having a hard time, Olive is doing okay and Tristan traveled back to Canada. I guess I'm getting along with my family now. No, I'm not living alone anymore. Yes, I've moved back home. Zach has gotten what he wanted so he's a bit on the low now but I can't say for later or tell what's on his mind," He replied.

Did he just answer all my questions...accordingly?

I know I was the one that asked but I wasn't expecting a straight foward answer.

"Oh."

"Yeah, now it's your turn," he started with a small smile drawn on his face.

Those dimples.

"How are you doing?" He asked again.

"I'm good...I guess. I'm still confused of how to live my life. Sometimes I don't even know what I want anymore. But so far...it's okay," I replied sincerely. There was no use of lying, I felt like he could read me and would possibly find out eventually.

"Everything will be fine. But then I wonder why you've been avoiding me?"

"Avoiding you?"

"Yeah...it felt like you didn't want to talk to me anymore. I couldn't spot you before class and when lesson was over, you quickly left," he continued.

"Oh, I just didn't see you there," I replied.

"Enough chattering, can we all eat before break period is over?" Roxie complained.

"But you've been eating all the while?"

"But I'm getting distracted by you two, don't you get it?"

I wanted to argue but Timothy interrupted.

"She's right, I'll be going now," he said as he stood up from the chair.

"Uuuhm..see you later then," he finally said before making his way back to his table.

"Yea...yea..yeah sure."

*

"Seriously?"

"Yeah...they've broken up, I got the information from a very good source. That bitch broke up with your ex like two weeks ago," Roxie said immediately she closed her locker.

School was over for the day so she wanted to get a textbook for our assignment.

"You've only been in here for like three days and it seems like you know everything already?" I said, doubting what she had just said.

"Why not? It's quite easy to make friends here plus all the information you shared earlier about your classmates so I have a connection to information and I also notice stuffs happening," she retorted.

"Cheryl broke up with Daniel? It's a bit new because girls never break up with him. He is the one that usually does, officially or non-officially. Though I already knew all this from the start, I still don't know why I went ahead to date him in the first place. Maybe I just wanted to show everyone that I could handle anything...anyone. But along the way, I guess I started developing little feelings and then that belief that he's changed...I changed the player to a little loyal boyfriend, the feeling made me forget who the hell I'm dealing with and at the end, I was the heart broken one...became part of the girls that he'd broken up with non-officially," I muttered.

"Just forget about that for now, okay? But if you don't mind, I can help him beat the hell out of him."

"It's not like it's going to change anything anymore," I replied, I started feeling weak and down. It seemed like my past can't just be forgotten.

It's not like he's the only one that hurt my feelings. His bestfriend hurt me more deeply.

A cut that will last forever. That I can never forget.

Roxie suddenly hugged me probably noticing another drastic change of mood.

Then I saw the talk of the devil, Landor Jackson at a corner.

He looked away immediately he found out I noticed him but I knew he was looking towards our direction.

Was he looking at me? Why would he be looking at me?

Has he been staring at Roxie?

My thought and the hug was cut short when Roxie's phone started vibrating continuously.

We broke the hug and she brought out her phone from her jacket pocket.

"It's my sis. I think I gotta go now, She's waiting for me because we're heading somewhere later today," she said.

"Take care then."

"Thanks, but if anything happens? Don't forget I'm just a call away, okay?"

I nodded in reply as she dashed through the hallway and to the door.

I walked to my locker to also get my textbook. When I was done, I decided to leave too. Ivy was coming to pick me up so I needed to wait for her in the parking lot.

As I turned to leave, I noticed Amber and Tianna from a distance.

Our gaze locked and before I knew it, they were already taking fast steps towards my direction.

I hope they weren't coming to meet me.

And if they were, I wonder what the hell they wanted from me now....

~~~~