Chapter 15 New friend
Chapter fifteen
Stephanie
After the entire fiasco with Sophie at assembly, I was more than ready for the day to be over. But of course, high school had this persky thing called classes.
“That's going to be the end of today's class. Do well to turn in your assignment before the end of the week. Have a great lunch!” the teacher, Ms Masey, said in an upbeat voice.
I could tell she was more than happy to end the class for the day. I didn't blame her, It was hard to teach a class where more than half of the students weren't paying attention. They huddled in the back, some of them whispering, some throwing stuff at each other, others were doing things that were clearly disrupting the class.
At Bradford High, disrupting the class would have landed you in at least one month detention. I didn't know how the teachers here survived. If I was a teacher at KSE, I wouldn't last a week before I went crazy.
But despite the large number of clearly uninterested students, there were a few sitting at the front that were actually paying attention to the class, including Cisco, Brooklyn, and Kendrix. The latter was surprising to me.
I didn't expect Kendrix to actually care about school. He was William's only son and set to inherit all of his wealth, and he was already so good at football—I may or may not have checked YouTube for some of his game clips and he was good—to see him care about school was unsettling.
“I know I look good and you can't stop staring at me, but we're in a classroom. Wanna drool over me later, Princess?” Kendrix winked at me.
I blinked out of my thoughts and gaped at him. “No, I wasn't… I was… I did not drool over you.!” I glared at him
“Sure, you didn't.” he chuckled and began shoving his books in his backpack.
So yeah, the universe actually hates me because after assembly, Kendrix had again sat beside me for the entirety of the morning lectures.
Brooklyn had fallen somewhere in the middle with Cisco while JJ was sitting at the back with the other uninterested students. There was no sign of Sophie and I couldn't be more grateful. Either she wasn't in this class or she wasn't in our grade at all.
It really didn't matter as long as she was not here. I still wanted to punch her in the face, and if she was here, I probably would have. But I didn't think Ms Masey would allow that level of disruption in her class.
“Let's go to the cafeteria together.” Kendrix stood up and slung his backpack on his shoulder.
My brows furrowed in suspicion. “Why?”
“Because people go to the cafeteria together.”
“Yeah, friends not step siblings. We don't even like each other, remember?”
“Maybe this would change that.” he shrugged. “I can use my good looks to get you more food. You should be grateful that I'm making you this offer.”
My lips parted in disbelief. “Does your love for yourself knows no bounds?”
“None.” He shook his head. “Now, lunch?”
“Pass.” I stood up and picked up my backpack from my desk.
“Why?” I could have sworn I detected a hint of disappointment in his tone, but I didn't care.
“Aside from the obvious fact that we don't like each other and you probably have some ulterior motive for inviting me?” I arched an eyebrow but his face remained unreadable.
“Brooke and I are meeting the school counselor first before going to lunch.” I added.
He stroked his chin with his thumb and forefinger at if in deep thoughts. I don't think he realized he was doing it, and for some reasons, I didn't want to call his attention to it. He looked like such a grandpa.
“I have a mandatory meeting with Coach for the rest of the lunch. Can't you guys switch your meeting with the counselor to align with ours?”
“No can do.”
Okay, now I was officially curious. He had ignored me for days now. Why would he suddenly want to hang out with me at school of all places? I fully expected him to keep his distance because he didn't want anyone to know we were related.
That was what I intended to do.
“I can just take you to your therapist after school and wait until this session is done.”
“Okay, why are you being so weird?”
He looked genuinely surprised. “I'm not being weird.”
“You are. Since I moved in two weeks ago, this is the first time you've actively tried to spend time with me. It's clear your want something.”
He seem to search for words, his face turning red. “Well…”
“Steph! We gotta go so we can still have enough time for lunch.” Brooklyn called, interrupting whatever Kendrix was about to say.
My eyes darted back to Kendrix but his moment of hesitation had vanished. “Go. I'll see you at home then, or after lunch when you come back to your seat.”
He began walking away, not giving me a chance to respond.
Okay, that was all kind of weird.
I shook the thoughts out of my head she strode towards Brooklyn. Cisco and JJ went after Kendrix as we all walked out of the classroom.
“What was that about?” Brooke asked after the boys were out of earshot.
“Would you believe me when I say I don't know?”
Brooklyn nodded. We walked in silence towards the counselor's office. I wanted to strike up some conversation, if only to calm my nerves about this upcoming meeting.
At Bradford High, meeting with the counselor meant you were either in trouble or you were about to be. Although, Brooklyn had assured me that wasn't the case here and that the counselor met with all new students, I was still not convinced.
“Thank you for agreeing to do this with me. It really means a lot.” I said.
“I've told you not to thank me, Steph. What are friends for.” she smiled.
“Well, I've never had friends treat me the way you have in these past few days.” The words left my mouth before I could fully register it.
I've done a good job of not thinking about Emily and Noah today, but saying those words dragged up the memory I was trying so hard to forget. That betrayal that stung more than anything.
I hadn't spoken to Emily since I saw the video, her calls and texts had gone unanswered. What was I even going to say to her?
That I hated her for betraying me so deeply? That she was heartless for consoling me when she had been the reason for my heartbreak?
None of those words felt enough. Nothing could ever be enough to describe what she did to me. So I had chosen my favorite coping mechanism.
Pretense. Deflect. And not think about my horrible life.
Brooklyn's face fell at she stared at me and I immediately knew what she was thinking. She was the only person I told about Emily. Granted, I had been drunk when I told her and was grateful she hadn't brought it up since then.
“I don't have many girl friends, Stephanie. It's always been me and the boys for as long as I can remember. I don't…get along well with most of the girls in my world.” a flicker of something crossed her expression but it was gone within the blink of an eye.
“But I know one thing for sure, no good friend would ever treat you the way yours did. Good friends won't stab you in the back like that and then smile in your face. Your friend and ex boyfriend were shitty people for doing that to you and they deserve to burn in hell.
What they don't deserve is wearing you down mentally and making you doubt everyone around you, or worse, doubting yourself. Don't give them that satisfaction.”
My lips stretched into a smile, my first genuine smile in ages. The sincerity in her tone, not the fake concern I was used to receiving from Emily, made the smile widen. There were no knots in my stomach this time, no sense of wrongness or the deep rooted self-loathing.
“I didn't know you could give such pep talk.” I chuckled, in an attempt to hide the feeling bubbling inside me.
“Well, I'm best friends with footballers and they usually need a good pep talk after a loss so…” she shrugged but I saw the emotion she was trying hard to hide. The genuine concern in her eyes.
“Thanks, B. I really appreciate it.” I smiled.
“B, that's probably the best nickname I've ever received. JJ would be so mad to hear someone beat him at his game.” she said
“Oh, I wouldn't dare. And you seriously want to tell me it's the best nickname you've ever received?” I gave her a knowing look.
I had heard Cisco call her Lyn a few times now. It was honestly the most adorable nickname I've ever heard.
Brooklyn rolled her eyes and shoved me playfully while I chuckled.
“Just go in before Ms Clark start to get mad. That woman hates lateness and she's really cranky.” she gestured to the counselor's door.
“And don't worry, everything will be fine.”
I nodded and walked in before my nerves got the better of me. But I couldn't stop the feeling that I had lost an old friend and the universe had sent me a better one instead.
Yes, I could make this new life work.