Chapter 116 Alicia

Chapter 116 Alicia

#MONDAY MORNING#

SETH'S POINT OF VIEW

The classroom was already filled with the usual noise.Chairs scraped against the floor. Conversations overlapped from every corner of the room, while some students were busy copying homework they had conveniently forgotten to do over the weekend.

I sat at my usual seat at the back, leaning against my chair as I watched everyone settle down.

But honestly, I wasn't paying much attention to any of them.My eyes kept drifting toward the front of the classroom.Toward her......Zoe.

She was sitting at her desk, arranging her books neatly in front of her,I smiled.

I didn't even realize I was smiling until I caught myself.I quickly looked away, shaking my head.

What was wrong with me?I glanced at her again.Yep....Still smiling.

I sighed and leaned farther back in my chair.Saturday kept replaying in my mind.

The bike ride,The way Zoe had laughed when I almost took the wrong turn.The way we had talked about random things while riding around the city.

For once, I hadn't felt like I needed to pretend.I hadn't needed to be the funny guy.I hadn't needed to act like everything was fine.I had simply been Seth and somehow, being around Zoe made that easy.

I smiled again......There was no point lying to myself anymore.I liked her.....A lot.

Maybe I'd been trying not to admit it because admitting it made everything feel more serious.

But after Saturday?There was no denying it.I had fallen for her.I lowered my eyes to my desk, trying to hide the stupid smile forming on my face.

"You're in trouble, Seth," I muttered to myself.I chuckled quietly.

And strangely, I didn't mind.For the first time in a long time, I was actually happy about opening up to someone.

Someone I trusted.Someone who made me feel like I could breathe.

My eyes drifted toward Zoe again.She suddenly turned slightly, and I quickly looked down.I smiled,I was hopeless.But just as I was about to let myself get lost in my thoughts again, something else came to mind.

Mom,My smile slowly faded.I still couldn't understand her.Yesterday had been strange.....like really strange.

She had been different,Completely different.For the first time in what felt like forever, she hadn't touched a drink.

Instead, she'd actually cooked for me.I remembered walking into the kitchen and seeing her preparing breakfast.

She had even smiled at me.....A real smile.Not the forced one she'd been giving me lately.

I had been so shocked that I actually stood there staring at her.

"Mom, are you okay?"She had laughed softly.

"Of course I'm okay."

"Then why are you acting like this?"She'd looked at me with an amused expression.

"Like what?"

"Like... you."She'd laughed again.I had frowned.

"Seriously, Mom. What's going on?"She had simply shaken her head.

"Nothing."Then she'd gone back to what she was doing.

I'd stared at her suspiciously.

"Are you sure?"She'd looked at me again.

"Can't I cook for my son?"I hadn't known what to say to that.

So I'd simply smiled.And honestly?I was happy.I'd missed this version of my mother.

The mother who laughed,The mother who cooked,The mother who actually looked like herself but something about the sudden change bothered me.

It had happened too quickly.One day she was drowning herself in sadness, and the next she was suddenly cheerful and affectionate.I didn't understand it but maybe I shouldn't complain.

Maybe this was finally a good thing.I sighed and looked toward the front of the classroom again.Zoe was still there and just like that, my thoughts about Mom disappeared.

I smiled.....Maybe today was going to be a good day.At least, that's what I thought until the classroom door opened.

I looked up and my smile disappeared as Andy walked in......he wasn't alone.Someone was walking right behind him,I blinked.....The new boy.

My eyebrows rose.Why were they walking in together?The room immediately became quieter,then the whispers started.

"Is that the new guy?"

"Yeah."

"Axel, right?"

"Why is he coming in with Andy?"

"Wait... He was absent all through last week right?"

Axel seemed completely unbothered by the attention.

Andy, on the other hand, looked like he wanted the entire room to disappear.

He rolled his eyes at the whispers and walked toward his seat.

As he passed, I caught his attention.Our eyes met and for a second, neither of us said anything.Then Andy immediately looked away.

I frowned slightly.Something was definitely going on,I looked at Axel then back at Andy.

Then suddenly......A sharp ache pulsed through my head.I winced.

"Ah..."I raised my hand to my forehead and rubbed it gently......Not again.

I closed my eyes for a moment,The nightmare,Saturday night.....It came back to me in flashes.

The road,The noise.I swallowed.Why was I having that nightmare again?

I rubbed my temple.It was becoming too frequent.And every time I woke up, it felt more real than the last.

I lowered my head and continued rubbing my temple.I was still thinking about it when the classroom door opened again.

This time, I didn't look up immediately.I heard footsteps,Then several students greeted.

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, sir."

"Morning."The teacher responded.

"Good morning, everyone."I kept my head down.My headache was still bothering me.

Then I heard him clear his throat.

"Before we begin, I have an announcement to make."The classroom gradually became quiet.

"We have a new transfer student joining us today."A few students immediately started murmuring.

"Another one?"

"We're almost done with high school."

"Why are people still transferring?"I smiled faintly despite myself.

The teacher raised his hand.

"Alright, alright. Settle down."The murmuring slowly stopped.

"I want everyone to make her feel welcome. Please be respectful."He turned toward the classroom door.

"Come in."I still wasn't looking up.Then the teacher spoke again.

"Please introduce yourself, Alicia."My fingers stopped moving against my temple.

Something about the name caught my attention.Slowly, I raised my head.

"Hi, everyone."My eyes widened.

"I'm Alicia Adams."My heart stopped.

"It's nice to meet you all. I hope we get along."I stared at her.

My body went completely still.It was her.....The girl from the bridge.....Alicia.