The Tables Have Turned

Chapter 30

I went out of bed the next morning and did my morning routine but I felt as if I wasn’t really there. It was like I was doing everything but my mind was just not there.

I washed my eyes with freezing water, hoping to reduce the redness in there. All that crying and lack of sleep had to affect my appearance somehow.

By the time I was heading downstairs for breakfast, my eyes were better.

“Good morning,” I said as I walked into the kitchen.

I didn’t get a reply for the first few seconds but then everyone replied with a cheerful “morning!”

But I still caught the sympathy in their voices.

I sat down and it was just like any other breakfast but it was only me who felt different.

I was hurting and I was sad and I knew I could do nothing about it.

“Ready?” Chase asked as he stood up.

I nodded absent-mindedly as I followed him and Emily to the car.

I didn’t even notice that my breakfast was left untouched…

The ride to school was silent, just like the one from school yesterday. On our way to class, though, Chase spoke.

“Are you okay, Hailey?” He asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied, forcing a smile.

“I’m serious,” he said, stopping me from walking any further.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. No, I wasn’t fine and we both knew it.

He suddenly hugged me and I won’t lie, I felt a bit better.

“Thanks Chase,” I said. “I will be okay.”

And this time, my smile was genuine. I was going to be fine. I still loved Alex and yes, he did break my heart, but I would not let that keep me down. I would try harder to smile.

He grinned at me and we started walking back to class.

“You’re a strong girl, Hailey,” Chase said to me before going in.

I smiled. It wasn’t the first time he said that to me but it makes me feel stronger every time he does. I then followed him inside where most of our classmates were.

I wanted to scan the classroom to see if Alex was there or not yet but I forced myself not to do that. Instead, I went to my desk and put my bag on the floor next to it.

I let out a small scream when someone attacked me with a hug.

“Paul!” I yelled at the boy when I noticed that it was him.

“Hailey!” He yelled back and I rolled my eyes at him.

“Why is everyone staring at me?” I grumbled under my breath and Paul chuckled.

“They want to hear the gossip,” he replied, shrugging.

“Typical,” I said. Sure, I loved my classmates but we all know that they don’t really care that much about me. There are only a few that really do, and they are the ones that aren’t staring at me.

“Hi Hailey,” Mariah said, smiling at me.

“Hey,” I said. “Your boyfriend is over there.”

I winked at her and pointed to where Chase was standing with a bunch of guys. She blushed and tried to glance at Chase without me noticing but I did.

I chuckled and my heart swelled with happiness for that cute couple.

“Go,” I told her when I saw Chase look at her too but he couldn’t leave because Josh was talking to him. I knew she wanted to go.

“But I’m talking to you now a—”

I cut her off with a laugh and said, “Just go.”

She gave me an uncertain look and I rolled my eyes at her.

“I have Paul,” I said and that’s when I noticed that he wasn’t next to me anymore. “Or not,” I added with a laugh.

She laughed too and I pushed her to where Chase was.

“Don’t make me drag you all the way,” I joked and she chuckled.

She gave me one last smile and hurried to where her boyfriend was. I heard the guys make gagging noises when Chase kissed her and I laughed quietly.

I grabbed my jacket and put it on because I was feeling cold. I checked the heaters in class and found out that they were off.

I sighed and zipped up my jacket. It was so cold today! I think it’s the coldest day so far.

I sat on the floor and tried to take my books out of my cubby quickly. I pulled out my book and my blue copybook then stood up from the freezing ground. I spun around to go to my desk and that’s when I saw him.

There he was, in his usual school uniform but with an extra jacket in his hands today. He was putting his bag on the floor next to his desk which was behind mine.

I didn’t know that seeing him will make me feel so hurt and miserable. The fact that I couldn’t hug him or kiss him or even get the chance to see the loving look in his eyes, didn’t help at all.

I forced my feet to move and my eyes to gaze elsewhere.

I made sure not to look at him or walk close to him as I walked to my desk. I put my stuff on my desk and glanced at my watch.

There was only one minute left before the bell rings. I decided to stay in my seat and just wait for the teacher to come.

I took out my pencil case and put it on my desk as well.

I rested my head on my hand as I looked around the classroom. They weren’t staring at me anymore, thank God.

I noticed that there were two groups. There was a group of girls and a few guys in the back of the class and there was Chase and Mariah’s group which was to the right.

I also noticed that Paul and Alex were on their own in the front of the class, talking.

The shrill sound of the bell made me jump slightly before letting out a sigh of relief. I just wanted class to start to get my mind off things.

Everyone sat down as the teacher came in and started teaching.

The first period passed quickly and I wasn’t concentrating during most of it. I was just not in the mood for studying.

When the bell rang, I remembered that we had sports now and I groaned. Could this day get any worse?

I threw my book and copybook in my cubby, not bothering to fix them, and started walking with the rest of the class to the sports hall.

I went straight to the changing rooms and changed into the sweatpants and T-shirt before walking out, not bothering to gossip with the rest of the girls because I didn’t want them to ask about the whole breakup thing.

“Hey,” Coach Mathew called out. I lifted my gaze and met his.

“Hi,” I said, giving him a smile.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, frowning.

“Nothing,” I replied, shrugging.

He rolled his eyes at me, clearly not believing me.

“Your boyfriend keeps on glaring at me,” he said as his gaze went to something behind my shoulder. I knew Alex was standing somewhere over there. I didn’t turn around so that it won’t be obvious.

“He’s not my boyfriend, anymore,” I replied. “So that glare is probably directed at me.”

“Why? What happened?” Coach asked, surprised.

“It’s called breakup,” I said, smirking at him.

“Ha ha,” he laughed sarcastically. “But really, you guys were doing great.”

“That’s a really weird conversation to have with your teacher,” I muttered and he laughed.

“Come on, Hailey,” he said. “You make me feel so old! I’m only five years older than you.”

“But you’re still my teacher,” I pointed out.

“Fine, don’t tell me,” he said. “I’ll find out by the end of this period.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh really? And how will you do that, Coach?”

“I have my ways,” he said, winking at me and I shook my head at him.

“Start running!” He suddenly yelled at us and I jumped, a surprised squeal escaping my lips as I almost fell on my butt.

He burst out laughing as I tried to calm my hammering heart. Who screams like that when a person is right next to them?!

When he calmed down, he ordered me to start running. I heard him laugh again when I took off. Idiot.

I skillfully avoided Alex throughout the whole period and I felt proud of myself because I didn’t even make eye contact with him once!

Coach blew his whistle loudly ten minutes before the bell rang and told us to go change. I followed everyone to the changing room but coach stopped me before I could go inside.

“He’s a jerk,” coach said and my eyes widened.

“You’re a teacher! You can’t talk like that!” I scolded him, knowing exactly who he was talking about.

“I can when someone does such a dick move,” he replied and I almost chocked on my own saliva. “I’m going to give him hell during practice from now on.” He said the last part more to himself

“Who did you ask?” I questioned.

“Carson and Bridget,” he said and I sighed.

“Don’t- don’t be too hard on him,” I said. “You don’t know the whole story. I deserved that.”

He frowned at me. “No one deserves that. And why don’t you tell me the whole story then?”

I didn’t want to tell him. I didn’t want people to look at me differently because of what I did two years ago. I mean, no one likes to say their mistakes out loud. Plus if he thinks Alex is a jerk for doing that, what will he think of me when I tell him?

“I don’t have time,” I said, giving him the lamest excuse in the world. “But please be a fair teacher.”

“Coaches are never fair,” he said, smirking. “They are strict and evil.”

I laughed at that. “But you’re different.”

“Am I now?” He asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

I nodded and he gave me a smug smile.

“Such a kid,” I muttered under my breath as I walked to the changing rooms.

“I heard that!” He called out and I just laughed.

I desperately wanted to change back because the sports clothes were making me feel so cold and I could feel a stomach ache starting.

Stomach aches for me are the first symptoms of winter’s arrival.

I changed back into the warmer clothes that didn’t do much to keep me warm. I wished that the heaters were on.

I sighed when I saw Mr. Papadakis in class. I was so cold and tired and History was not the class I wanted to be in.

I sat in my chair, not bothering to get my History book and copybook. I wrapped my arms around my stomach and just stared at the green board in the front of the class.

“Stomach ache?” Chase asked and I nodded.

“It’s from the cold,” I explained.

He was about to say something but Mr. Papadakis shot us a glare and told us to shut up.

Sighing, I rested my head on my desk and tried to sleep a bit. Sleeping will help my stomach ache and I would feel less drowsy once I wake up.

Surprisingly, it worked. Soon, Mr. Papadakis raspy, old voice faded and I was asleep.

I woke up around thirty minutes later. The first thing I saw was Chase’s face because my head which was resting on the desk was facing him.

He smiled at me and I gave him a sleepy smile.

I sat up and winced when a pain shot through my back and neck.

That’s what you get for sleeping on a desk, I told myself.

That was when I noticed the big black jacket on my shoulders. I frowned at it and held the sleeves. I turned to Chase to ask him where it came from, but Alex’s scent suddenly hit me and I directly knew that it was his jacket.

Why? Was the first question that popped into my mind.

Why did he give me his jacket? I turned my questioning look to Chase and he shrugged. I then turned to Alex and raised my eyebrows at him.

He avoided looking at me and I rolled my eyes. I removed the jacket from my shoulders and felt the cold increase. I extended my arm to give him back his jacket and he shook his head.

“Keep it,” he said in a quiet voice, still not looking into my eyes. “I’m good.”

I stayed frozen for a bit as my heart beat increased.

“I won’t say no,” I replied as casually as I can. “I’m freezing. When you want it back, tell me.”

He nodded his head and I turned back around to face the front as I put on his jacket. I tried not to let it show, but I was enjoying his scent that was now surrounding me.

It was a cute gesture but I knew better than to over-think because that was just what any normal person would do. If I had a jacket I didn’t want to wear, I’d give it to a cold person too.

It didn’t mean anything and we all knew it. Alex wouldn’t want to act like a boyfriend after he just broke up with me. It didn’t make any sense so I concluded that it was a gesture that meant absolutely nothing. I knew I shouldn’t allow myself to feel like that, but I enjoyed having his jacket on me.

I have to get over him, I thought to myself, but I knew that the amount of love I have for him won’t be disappearing any time soon.

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