Chapter 42 Forty-Two

Chapter 42 Forty-Two


Kimberly

I was heading outside to get something from the cafeteria when I met Xavier on the way. I stopped on my track and wanted to say something, maybe just apologize even though I wasn’t wrong.

We were staring at each other, I opened my mouth but the words died in my throat and then he looked past me and walked away. Like I didn’t even  matter.

My shoulders slumped and I heaved a deep sigh, Why would I even matter to him? I wasn’t part of their class.

After getting the stuff from the cafeteria, I decided to go back to the class. The teacher was not there yet, so I was just going to sit there and maybe read a book.

As I walked into the class, I drew out my chair to sit and I heard students whispering. My shoulders stiffened, I paused, holding the chair, my senses heightened.

“I heard she is the one that exposed Xavier.”

“I’m not even surprised,she could do anything for attention.”

My stomach dropped. I dug my nails into the chair so hard that they almost broke.

“Wait…that means the news about Xavier is true?”

“Don’t know, but for now let’s say it’s.”

I sat down burying my head on my books, trying as much as possible to get their talk away from my head and just then I heard the footsteps of someone approaching near me.

“Hey,” the person tapped on my desk abruptly.

I raised my head slowly.

Cassie. Oh not again. I mentally rolled my eyes. What does she want this time?

“I heard you are the one spreading the news, " she said, her eyes hard and cold.

“What news,”I asked,trying to act like I didn't know what she was talking about, my brows wrinkled.

She scoffed. 

“I’m not a fool you know, don’t play with me.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I said, my tone a bit low.

“Oh please,” she rolled her eyes.

She leaned closer, jabbing her fingers on my chest.

“I just want to let you know that you should mind your business and stop the rumors about my boyfriend,” she warned.

There was an incredulous stare on my face.

“That’s not up to me, I swear.”

“Well,” she tilted her head to the side,“ Maybe if you’re not going to mind your business this time then get ready to be ruined,” she cackled and strutted away.

My heart thudded, Am I supposed to be scared?. 

I headed back to the hallway to drop something in my locker. My eyes met Xavier again. But he hasn’t seen me yet.

I opened my mouth not knowing if I should scream his name, because he was a distance away from me.

No, that will be embarrassing.

I don’t know if I should run up to meet him.

Oh scratch that,he was almost near me now. 

“Kimberly breath, you’re just going to say I’m sorry,” I said to myself and then I exhaled.

He was finally close to me.

“Xavier,” I called out.

But he didn’t even look my way. 

“Xavier,” I called again, my tone a bit louder.

But he just walked past me, like I didn’t exist.

My chest ached. And I placed my palm on my chest. I felt an actual pain in my chest.

It hurt more than his bullying ever did. Now everyone thinks I am the one that spread the rumor and his actions were just justifying it.

One minute he was the one begging to see me and now he is the one walking past me like I was air.

I went back to the class, sitting quietly on my chair.

My eyes shifted to my side, I didn’t even know Anaya was sitting close to me. She was staring at a magazine in her hand, she seemed deeply engrossed in whatever she was reading.

I pushed my chair closer and nudged her with my elbow, before she finally looked up to me.

“Hey.”

“You’ve been scarce this day,” I said simply.

“And you,” she dropped the magazine on the table, leaning forward, “People are saying you told everyone about Xavier.”

“I didn’t do that,” I shook my head vigorously.

Anaya raised her eyebrows, staring at me a little too much.

“Well I don’t even know if I should believe you, I don’t really trust anyone these days,”she shrugged.

My mouth went dry , I didn’t even know what to say, why is everyone not believing me? Why did they even think I would do that?

Well, I knew why she must be thinking that way. Since after the incident when Cassie read her letter to the class, despite having forgiven me, she was in a way still keeping me at arms length.

The bell rang which means school has ended for the day. Everyone was rushing out. I wondered why they always do this, not like we were running from a monster or something.

As I got out of the class, I bumped into Andre. I pulled him by his arm to a corner.

His look was dazed, like he was totally confused.

“How did you know about the drug test?” I asked directly, my voice barely above a whisper.

His brows squished.

“Everyone knows,” he shrugged.

I sighed, placing my palm on my forehead and putting one hand on my waist.

“I know…but I heard it from you first after he …” I paused, not knowing how to even explain it.

“So how about that maths work? Are you still able to do it?” He asked, changing the topic.

“Yeah… I mean I will just work on it later,” I brushed the question off, with a wave  of my hand.

My eyes shifted back to him. Focusing on him. I crossed my arms.

“Back to my question,” I snapped my fingers, “When Xavier told me about it, it was like nobody knew and then I heard it from you, how?”

He shrugged,“Kimberly you’re not even sure if someone knew and like I told you earlier, I heard it  from people .”

“And besides, if he gets suspended, the athletics team will pick someone else, he is not the only player there, the game will survive without him,” he rambled.

I started walking away, thinking deeply.

Only two people knew about the secret, Xavier and I. Yet Andre knows too.How? Something is definitely not adding up.