Howdy people? :D

Dedicated to: @NightmareAtBay!
I had this one coming for a while now. Thank you for being one of my first and also most constant reader, for making me feel that this story is worth telling and also for encouraging me to write when I decided to shelve it! Thank you Nighty! :D

Okay! Now you can enjoy the story, I shall not bug you guys anymore!

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CHAPTER 12

I pound down on the brakes as I spot a familiar house, my racing heart slowing it's pace to normal human rate. The very sight of my house gives me a sense of relief, the sense of being away from people and away from everything that haunts me.

I park the car and walk up to the door, fishing for the keys under the old shoe box by the side, as I find no lights inside the house. Once I lay my hands on the cold metal, I grab it and place it in the keyhole and with one twist of my wrist, the door opens. I place the keys in the tiny case on the table and head upstairs.

Once I freshen up and change into a comfortable nightgown, I begin to get restless and the need to sleep overpowers me. I quickly turn off the lights and try to shut out the world, allowing sleep to take me to a land, far away from reality, a beautiful land of dreams...

I wake up the next morning in a numb trance, completely unaware of my surroundings and devoid of any senses or emotions. I blink hard twice, trying to force the sleep out of my eyes.

I hurry downstairs, after I finish up all my daily chores and put on some decent clothes and grab my ocean blue hoodie. All I hope is for this day to be better and less- no, completely devoid of drama!

"Morning mama!" I greet with a smile so vibrant, I surprise myself.

"Morning hon! You okay? Last night, you were asleep by the time I got home."

"Yeah mom. I'm fine. Just a little tired." I shrug off.

I delve into breakfast which is a bowl of cornflakes and milk, giving me a sense of a non-existent diet. Amidst the tiny chatter with mom, I finish breakfast and bid goodbye, rushing to the bus stop. I reach college in time for the second class, walk in and mutter faint greetings to Lin and a few others and excuse myself to a corner seat from where the view of the teacher is miniscule. The day sure is gonna be long...

At long last, the day is done! The emotional void I have, multiplies ten fold as I drag myself through the cumbersome activities of another humdrum college day.

A FEW HOURS LATER

I reach the tuition building, park my car and run up the stairs. Walking down the corridor I spot a guy, wearing beige beach shorts and a black tee standing by the tiny window, outside the class. As I walk towards the room, I feel his eyes hawking my every step, making me uncomfortable and I bend down, pretending not to notice him and disappear into the room.

Something is definitely weird about him.

I look around for Phoebe but there's no trace of her. So I just decide to sit beside another girl, who seems to be giving out a friendly vibe.

"Hey! I'm Amy!" I greet the black haired girl, with huge eyes.

"I'm Sandra." She expresses with a warm smile and class begins.

After about an entire tiring hour, the class ends and the teacher walks out. I start frantically searching for my chemistry book as it is nowhere to be found in my load-of-crap bag!

I continue searching until I feel a tap on my back.

"Uh Amy. I guess this is yours." I turn around and a tall, dark guy, with black rimmed glasses smiles at me, with his hand stretching out the book for me.

"Oh thank you, I guess..." I reply, not even sure how it got to him in the first place.

"I'm Joseph. Jake asked me to return your book." With that, the teacher enters and I turn around.

Who the hell is Jake? Why did he have my book?

As these thoughts occupy my head, I get a faint memory of the previous night. I remember crying in class and then, somebody disrupting my peaceful venting with stupid banter. I don't entirely sketch his face, but I think, I remember seeing tiny bits through my tear clobbered eyes. Oh! I also remember giving him something.

My book! Genius me... Guess that mystery sorted itself.

I finish class and get ready to head home, not before stopping by Natty's class only to realize that she did not attend classes today. Confused of why she'll bail out on her classes, I decide to check on her once I reach home.

I reach my car and open it, looking around I spot a group of guys standing by the tree and one person stands out- the guy in the beach shorts. His face is not clear but being the tallest among the guys there, he did stand out. I clearly remember not seeing him in class today, maybe he's just lurking around. A weird guy indeed!

With one last look at the group and a fail attempt to focus on his face without getting caught, I zoom off into the deserted night street, serene silence engulfing it, darkness elevating it to an extent.

AFTER A DAY

The next day passes by uneventfully with just a few accidental encounters with Nathan, Stella or the gang. The more I try to avoid interactions with them, the more fate throws me right in front of them.

At present, Nat and me are walking down the street opposite college, called Rubinton Street, which leads to the bus stop.

"Amy, you alright? The sentimental, moody you ain't nice!" She says half-pouting in her most adorable way that always gets me.

"Yup Nat! I'm cool!" I chuckle out.

"So how are things going? Anything up that you have not told me or so?" She pops the question, taking me by surprise.

"Uh no Nat, nothing!" I shrug it off. I don't think I'm ready to tell her about anything.

We board the bus and after a dreary half-hour journey, I finally get off, biding her goodbye. I look down at my phone and almost freak out when I realize that there is just about an hour to go for tuitions.

I pace through the streets like an unbalanced horse and panting heavily, stop in front of my house. I knock on the door impatiently, my knuckles almost bruising from the hard impact. After what seems like eternity and beyond, a goofy smile faced John greets me.

"John! What took you so long?" I slap him playfully.

"Uh Amy I wa-" He stands upright, rubbing his chin, preparing himself to give a 30line explanation so I cut him off.

"Got no time bro! See ya!" I ruffle his hair and run upstairs.

ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER

Parking my car on the street, I sprint up the stairs and down the corridors until I spot the room on the right. But I realize something, due to the speed of my running I can't seem to control my legs and before I can blink I barge into the room and fall on the floor.

"Excuse me miss?" Asks a very annoyed Mr Anderson as I disrupt his continuity in teaching something about an atom's radioactive nature.

I look up and find the entire class staring down at the floor- at me, laughing their asses off! I wipe the dust off my pants and with a coy smile, scurry of to sit beside Sandra in the second seat.

Concentration and me seem to have a terrible bond, as it deserts me when I need it the most.

I blink, sit up straight, rub my eyes, turn around, twist in my seat and try various other things in a sad attempt to stay awake during his tedious lecture and thank heavens when I see him walking out!

I gather my stuff and leave to the next room for our next class which is electronics. I notice the weird guy from the other day, again super faintly as he passes by my seat. I should work on my skills to get proper glimpse of people with just one glance.

Class begins and as Mr Robert is amidst his lecture, I hear incessant coughing from somewhere behind. I twist in my seat and slightly whip my head backwards to realize it is Mr Weirdo! That name sounds cool though...

I quickly avert my eyes to the front before anybody can notice. Horrendous coughing followed by weird noises fill the room, disrupting the class and everybody turns around to catch the culprit- Mr Wierdo! I know it and do not turn, in turn increasing the intensity of his coughs which almost sound fake by now. I whip my head and it stops, I turn around and it starts yet again.

Is he doing it on purpose to gain my attention? Why would he? He doesn't even know me!

His act annoys me further and luckily Mr Robert agrees, as he requests the guy to leave the room and so he does. As Mr Weirdo passes by me, I scrunch up my nose in disgust of the strong alcohol smell emanating from him, doing the talking for his behavior.

After a few minutes of distracted hushed whispers, Mr Robert continues class again, until it's finally​ done and I gather up my stuff to leave. On walking out, I find no trace of the guy and I feel a weird restlessness that seems to have settled upon me. I shake the thought off and head home.

AFTER A LONG NIGHT

I humbly wake up the next morning and find myself sprawled upon the cold floor, my fuzzy warm blanket at a miles distance from me and a bruise on the side of my head. I rub on it in an attempt to ease the sting and end up worsening it, so I give up!

I lift myself off the floor and a groan escapes my lips. I head into the shower and blur into the steam that fills the room. My thoughts waft up into the hot air and relieves me off my stress as I calm down with water trickling down my body.

The shower has always been my place of solitude, the place where I can peacefully think, cry, laugh, sing, dance without the fear of judgment or people's opinions. The place where I can be myself without inhibitions or expectations.

Once done with my long but relaxing shower, I head downstairs for a quick breakfast and then run down to the bus stop.

AT COLLEGE

"I don't like you Natty!" I whine as she snatches the last of the pancakes from my plate.

She grins like an idiot and sticks her tongue out.

"Get lost bro." I pout and walk towards the cafeteria entrance.

"Amy!" I hear a shrill, familiar voice cry out. I turn around and stare at the person.

"Jack! How you?" A smile graces my face as I watch his animated reaction on seeing me. He leaves the counter and in a second, is standing beside me with a plate of pancakes ready to be devoured, in his hands.

"I'm great. This is for you, and also Natty." I notice a faint red line brush his cheeks as he lowers his head in an attempt to hide it.

How adorable!

"Uh... Jack, How are things with Miranda?" I dread as I ask this, watching his cheerfulness falter.

"We broke up." He says with an unreadable expression and then smiles. "Thank you Amy! This is for the better, we were never meant to be."

I stand there, half-smiling half-guilty, and half-crazy brewing up a plan that should definitely work out for Nat and Jack and make up for what I did to him.

I snap out of it and see Jack staring at me, with confusion etched brilliantly on his face as I realize I must look like a retarded joker.

"I'm glad. Hey, why don't you hang around with us and get to know Natty better... and also show her you care? Show her the different side of yours and I'm sure you won't fall short for her. Trust me!" I smile and walk away with the pancakes, towards Nat.

"Hey Nat! Look, free pancakes! Jack sent them for yo- uh us." I quickly say as I know she'll freak out if she gets to know about Jack's liking towards her.

"Oh my! That is so sweet! Thank him for me." She says, with a glint of happiness in her eyes. Yayy! Food is the best way to anybody's heart!

"And also Nat, let's go out on Sunday! You, me and Jack!" I swear I almost see her spit out her coffee the moment she heard his name.

"What Amy? J-Jack? Why is he coming?" She asks with a flat stare.

"What? You don't like him? It would be nice to hang out with him, he's a fun guy Nat." I say in my last attempt to convince her.

"Okay, whatever you say." She finishes with a smirky grin.

A COUPLE OF DREARY LECTURES LATER

As I walk out of my last class for the day, I realize that being an idiot with the memory of a goldfish, I've left my phone behind in class. So I hurry up the stairs and barge into the classroom, running up to my seat. I find my phone and also two girls making out in the corner of the room.

I quietly walk away not wanting to disturb them in any way though I don't get a clear idea of who they are. As I stroll lazily down the corridor, tired from the run upstairs, I feel a hand land on my shoulders. Startled as any normal human would be, I shriek and jump, attempting to scream before I'm turned around and my scream dies.

Nathan...

His face has almost become a forgotten thing, his scent no longer familiar or his touch longing...

"What is it Mr Nathan?" I ask, annoyance seeping through every word.

"Amy! Please... Please talk to me." He hangs his head low and his eyes pleading in desperation as he stares down at me. I swear, if I hadn't got the highest level of self-control I would easily melt at this sight.

"I'm sorry. I don't get what you're saying." I maintain my cold-demeanor, taking every ounce of my patience to not snap at him.

"Amy! What is wrong with you? How can you pretend to not know anything? How can you forget that night! How can you act like I mean nothing to you? How can your heart be this cold!" He flings accusations at me with a force that could easily weigh down my conscience had I been at fault! But no, I wasn't! It was he and now he must prepare to hear a piece of my mind!

"Really? You asking me this sounds funny when you seem to forget people, feelings and relationships with the blink of an eye! Did that night really mean anything to you? Did I ever mean anything to you Nathan?" I screech at the top of my hoarse voice, struggling to speak through the tears that blind me.

"Off course you do sweeth-"

"Ohh that's why you kissed Miranda! To celebrate your love for me!"

He stands speechless! The expression on his face is a riot of shock, guilt, sadness, pain and many other such emotions. He gasps as he realizes that I'm​ aware of his doings from the very beginning.

"Amy I... I d-do-" He stutters in a poor attempt to cover up but I have had enough of this crap!

"Nathan! Stop! Don't even try. Whatever we had was nothing to you and I know it. Don't stoop down further trying to justify it." I turn to walk away but feel a strong steel hold latch into my wrists.

"Amy please, listen to me once." He pleads and though I don't melt, I decide to give him a chance to explain, knowing very well that it won't change anything.

I nod and wait for him to speak. He lets go of my hand and straightens himself before he starts.

"Amy, you're right! I am a terrible person to have hurt you! You are such a pretty and sweet girl, bold and independent and anybody could fall in love with you." He pauses to look at me, to catch the effect of his sugary words but finds none, as I continue to stare at him with a blank face.

"Cut to the chase." I utter in a bored tone, losing my shit over his unbearable fake charm. He seems to have lost continuity and after fumbling for words he speaks yet again.

"I was dating Miranda and that morning we had a terrible fight. I was upset and hurt, I wanted to get over it. I couldn't think of any way to, other than finding another person and you were the only one I could see. I knew you liked me and I-" Before he can complete that sentence, I feel my palm hit with force against what seems to be his chin! His honesty deserves better but his words, unleashes the dragons chained in my heart.

I stand shocked for a second as I realize that I just slapped my teacher but quickly recover as the anger boils within me. He does not deserve any respect whatsoever!

How dare he use me like that? Was he kidding? He cheated on Miranda to get over a stupid fight?

I no longer have control over anything I say...

"Are you insane? You kissed me to fucking get over your stupid fight? You cheat on her to get over a fight? You used me to get over a damn fight?! You took advantage of my attraction towards you!" I yell with tears leaving a trail as they roll down onto my shirt. I notice him clutching onto his cheeks, not able to believe the fact that I slapped him. He stands motionless and shocked while I continue to berate him.

"Did you ever love me? Or for that matter, even like me?" It comes out in a broken voice that I hate myself for. I cannot show him how affected I am by this. His response is silence and a guilty face, that pricks!

"Amy, I did."

"You never loved anybody Nathan, so don't give me that bullshit as an excuse! If you loved her, you would never hurt her, let alone 'kiss' somebody else. All this is just strewn-crap that I do not care for. I thought you'd have a valid reason that may make me hate you any less, but you prove me wrong yet again."

"But Amy I was hurt!" He yells back.

"Sure you were, Nathan! The next time you are hurt, don't just kiss a girl, sleep with her, it'll heal you more!" I scream, sarcasm and anger overpowering my tone.

"Amy liste-"

"No, it's done! You hurt me, you hurt Miranda and you hurt Jack! Nothing can ever make up for it and nothing can help us forget that. Miranda might just be like you but I'm not! I can't forget and very well, can't forgive! Sorry about that! Goodbye Mr Nathan! I guess we're done talking!"

I gather up the last bit of courage left in me, no longer restraining the tears as they pour freely out of my sockets and walk away from there... from him.

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What are your thoughts on Nathan's accusations and Amy's reactions? Was the slap justified?

And a question, am I the only one who sees bits and pieces of sentences, and even two copies of the same sentence throughout the chapters?

I hope you guys love this chapter and really look forward to hearing your thoughts on it! ❤