Chapter 34 Suspended.
Chris enters the school's cafeteria and sights, Jason, almost immediately. He's sitting with Max at their usual table. He feels eyes watching him as they usually do. He has no intention of eating anything or staying. He's only here for one thing. Max sees him and smiles, expecting him to join them but Chris doesn't. He heads in another direction, making a beeline for Ivy's table. The table she's always at. With her puppet and boyfriend.
Ever since they fell apart in sophomore year, he has avoided her like a plague. He pays no attention to her cause she doesn't deserve it. The breakup might have been easier on him if it was like Jason's case. Hayley, his ex-girlfriend started having feelings for someone else and felt it wouldn't be fair to string Jason along. But no, Ivy had to cheat. She cheated and broke his heart. She could have just told him she was no longer interested in the relationship but she didn't.
He blames his dad for how he feels. If his dad -- who doesn't deserve to be called that -- didn't lay the foundation, he might not detest cheaters so much. He might see cheating as something that has the probability of happening in a relationship. After it happens, try to move on.
But thanks to his Dad, he doesn't. He decided to give the relationship a chance only to have his heart broken by the girl he loved -- or thought he loved. The girl is Ivy Sommers. The girl that harassed Hazel in the girls' bathroom. The girl that is dating the guy that she doesn't deserve and she knows it. The girl that he has his eyes on as he walks to her table. He halts his steps when he gets there and the three people occupying the table look up to see their visitor.
"Hello Ivy," Chris says menacingly. "Or should I say Poison
Ivy?"
Ivy is shocked to see Chris at their table but she doesn't show it. The fact that he's talking to her too -- even though not nicely -- is something serious too. She smirks and gives him a once-over.
"Oh, it's you. You've come out of hiding. I thought you'd avoid me for the rest of the high school."
"I wasn't hiding, I just don't like seeing your face. If anyone needs to hide, it's you."
"Okay, what's going on here?" Luke asks in bewilderment.
"Stay out of this," Chris says to Luke.
"She's my girlfriend. It's my business," Luke quips.
Chris laughs humorlessly. "Your girlfriend? Are you sure?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Luke rises to his feet.
"Oh," Chris looks around dramatically. "Your girlfriend--" he does air quotes, "--hasn't told you a lot about herself, has she? I'd be glad to do the honors."
Luke glances at Ivy before focusing on Chris, waiting for what he has to say.
Aspen just watches. She loves drama and one is right in front of her.
They've managed to attract the attention of almost everyone in the cafeteria, leaving them to wonder what's going on. Tables close to Ivy's can hear their conversation. Others -- not so well.
Jason and Max share confused looks, wondering what's up.
Ivy doesn't have any idea why Chris would approach their table at all. Since she cheated on him, he has cut her out of his life. She wouldn't be surprised if he's denying ever knowing her.
"Luke, your girlfriend who happens to be my ex is not who you think she is," Chris tells Luke who is watching him with curiosity. Luke has a puzzled look on his face as he shifts his focus from Chris to Ivy.
Ivy has no idea what Chris is planning or hoping to achieve but she's getting scared though she doesn't show it. Who she is to Luke is not who she is to the rest of the school population. She tries her best to keep Luke from seeing her other side, only portraying to be the perfect sweet girlfriend.
But it seems like Chris, her ex is about to blow her cover. Would Luke still wanna be with her if he knows? She'd make sure of it. He always listens to whatever she says anyway.
"Your girlfriend is a bully," Chris asserts which results in Luke shaking his head in disbelief.
"She's not."
Chris snickers. "She sure as hell is. She's a bitch."
"Don't call her that," Luke says through gritted teeth. He moves closer to Chris so that they're standing in front of each other.
"But that's what she is," Chris smirks. "Everyone in this school knows -- well, except you."
"You're lying."
"I wish I am but it's the truth. Don't worry, you'll get used to it." Chris nods as if to reassure him. He shifts his gaze to Ivy. She's the reason he's actually here. Not her oblivious boyfriend.
"Hey Bitch," he hollers.
"I said you shouldn't call her that." He pushes Chris on the shoulders which results in him taking two steps back.
"Don't touch me. Don't you get it? Do I have to spell it out? Ivy has been pretending around you. She knows you won't like the real her that's why she's pretending. She's a bully, a bitch."
Luke's hand hits Chris's chest in warning. "Don't call her that."
Chris' right hand that he doesn't even realize has clenched into a fist comes in contact with Luke's face, causing his face to whip to the opposite side with force.
Cue loud gasps from the audience.
"What the fuck!" Ivy exclaims and appears at Luke's side.
Jason and Max -- who have been watching like everyone else -- are shocked that Chris punched Luke. They immediately leave their table and appear at both sides of Chris to stop him from doing anything that'd get him in trouble.
Chris watches Ivy inspect Luke's face for any damages. He hadn't meant to punch Luke, it just happened. He's angry. He's mad at Ivy. Mad that she broke his heart in sophomore year. Mad that she went on with her life like nothing happened. Mad that she had the guts to threaten Hazel. Mad that she harassed Hazel and managed to leave a bruise on her wrist. Mad that Luke is so oblivious. Mad that someone as good as Luke is standing up for that bitch. She doesn't deserve him. She doesn't deserve anyone. She only deserves people as shitty as her.
"Are you insane?" Ivy bellows at him.
"I should be asking you that," Chris says, anger flickering in his eyes.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ivy yells in exasperation.
Luke watches them, his cheek throbbing. 'Damn! That hurts,' he thinks. He doesn't know what's happening but he can see that Chris is really angry.
"You had the guts to threaten Hazel, huh?" Chris rages. "Who do you think you are?"
Ivy's eyebrows scrunch in confusion as she tries to recall threatening anyone named Hazel. To be honest, she has done a lot of it to different people and most times, didn't bother to know the person's name.
Chris notices the look of utter confusion on her face and realizes that he didn't say her real name.
"I'm talking about Stephanie, what you did to her this morning."
'Oh! Her.' Ivy thinks. How could she have forgotten about the loser she had to teach a lesson this morning? But why does Chris care? She wonders.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she feigns ignorance.
"Don't give me that bullshit. I know you know what I'm talking about. Or do you need me to jog your memory with a slap?" He says even though he knows he can't slap her.
"Wait, are you talking about the same Stephanie I know?" Luke finally speaks again.
No one answers him.
"I can't believe I ever dated you. I can't believe I once thought you were a sweet, cute, harmless girl. You're nothing but a spoilt, conceited, narcissistic bitch. God! I don't even know how I got involved with you in the first place. I don't know what freshman I saw in you." Chris shakes his head before running a hand through his hair.
'Okay, that must have hurt,' Aspen thinks.
"I came here to warn you to stay away from Hazel. Stay. Away. From. Stephanie. Leave her alone. If you don't, I wouldn't mind disorganizing your face that you love so much."
Okay, he sure as hell wouldn't do that. She's a girl. He'd never hit a girl but there are other ways to get the message across.
Luke turns to face Ivy. "Is what he's saying true?"
Ivy shakes her head in denial and begins to shed crocodile tears. "No, no. He's lying to you, babe. Please believe me."
Luke turns to face, Chris. "I think it's time for you to leave. I've heard about how you dated Ivy and cheated on her."
Chris's mouth drops open.
"Now you're trying to break our relationship up. Please, move on. She doesn't want you. Why would I believe a manwhore like you over my girlfriend?"
Something snaps in Chris and before Jason or Max can stop him, his knuckles collide with Luke's face again. Luke loses his balance, staggers backward, and falls to the ground.
Jason and Max hold him before he can cause any more damage. Ivy kneels beside Luke, tears rolling down her cheeks.
'Look at her. A pathological liar. She lied to Luke about our relationship and made me look like the bad guy.'
Unfortunately for Chris, the moment his fist collided with Luke's face, the principal walked into the cafeteria.
"What's going on here?" The principal demands.
"It's Chris. He has gone mad," Ivy cries.
"Christopher Hayes, to my office. Now." The principal commands.
Chris pulls away from Jason and Max's grip and heads out of the cafeteria. The two follow him.
Once out of the cafeteria, Max speaks first.
"Dude. What was that for?"
Chris sighs, not really in the mood to talk.
"Why the fuck did you do that?" Jason demands.
"Language Carter!" The principal chides Jason as he walks by.
"Hayes, my office."
Chris slips his hands into his pockets and makes to follow the man but Jason stops him.
"We're going to discuss this later. Don't think I'll forget about it."
Chris gives a subtle nod and heads to the principal's office.
Once seated, the man asks.
"Why did you punch him, Hayes?"
Chris doesn't answer. Instead, he stares at the poster on the white wall above the principal's head.
The man narrows his eyes at Chris. "Answer me, Hayes."
Chris stays silent.
"You know we don't condone violence in this school. I don't know what made you do that but you'll have to be punished."
Chris still doesn't say anything.
"Since you can't explain yourself, you can spend the rest of the week thinking about your actions."
Chris looks at the principal now and raises an eyebrow in question.
"You're suspended for the rest of the week."
"What?"
The principal smiles. "So you can talk now, huh? You may leave."
Chris stands and heads out.
"Make sure you help your mum with the chores, Hayes."
His mum won't like this.