Chapter 20 Reconciliation
Alex
Avoiding Cecilia turned out to be harder than I expected. And it wasn’t because I caught her stalking me. Before that, she avoided me just as much as I avoided her.
But somehow, this feels worse.
Every time I entered a classroom, I became hyper aware of whether she was there. Every time someone laughed too loudly in the hallway, my eyes instinctively searched for blonde hair and annoying blue eyes. It was getting ridiculous.
By lunch, we still hadn’t spoken. Not after yesterday, not after I basically accused her of being some heartless rich girl who wanted to humiliate me.
The memory made guilt twist sharply in my stomach again. Because deep down, I knew Cecilia wasn’t cruel.
Dramatic? Absolutely.
Stubborn? Definitely.
Capable of vandalizing cars and destroying other people's property? Unfortunately yes.
But cruel? I shook my head.
She wasn't a cruel person and I hated that it took seeing tears in her eyes to realize that. The only reason we couldn’t avoid each other completely was detention.
Again.
At this point, Watkins was probably considering giving us permanent residence in the empty classrooms. I wouldn't put it past the man.
I got there first and dropped my backpack onto one of the desks before sitting down.
A few minutes later, the classroom door creaked open quietly and she stepped inside. And for the first time ever, she looked nervous around me. It threw me off immediately. I don't think I've ever seen her nervous.
Her blonde bob framed her face neatly while the sleeves of her oversized sweater swallowed part of her hands. She paused awkwardly near the doorway before finally walking towards me.
Neither of us spoke at first. Then she sighed softly.
“Okay,” she muttered. “This is awkward.”
I snorted quietly despite myself. “A little.”
Silence settled again briefly before Cecilia finally sat across from me. She fiddled with the strap of her bag for a second before speaking.
“I’m sorry.”
I blinked in surprise. I don't think I've ever heard her say those words either.
“For stalking you,” she clarified quickly. “And showing up at your workplace and acting insane.”
I leaned back slightly in my chair. “You were acting a little insane.”
“A little?” She scoffed softly. “I was one step away from hiding in your trunk.”
I laughed before I could stop myself.
Cecilia looked relieved by the sound. Then her expression softened again. “But seriously… I really didn’t mean anything bad by it.”
I stayed quiet while she continued.
“And despite whatever horrible opinion you have of me,” she said carefully, “I would never use your financial situation against you.”
Something about the sincerity in her voice hit me immediately. There was no mockery there, not pity, just pure honesty.
Cecilia held my gaze. “I have more conscience than that, Alex.”
I rubbed a hand over my face tiredly before sighing. “I know.”
She blinked slowly.
“I mean it,” I admitted quietly. “I shouldn’t have said all that stuff yesterday.”
Cecilia stayed silent.
“I just…” I shook my head slightly. “I panicked.”
“At the idea of me seeing you work?”
I nodded once.
She studied me carefully for a second before asking softly, “Why?”
I hesitated. Talking about my family still felt strange, almost like I was admitting to be weak. But something about Cecilia’s expression made it easier somehow.
“My parents separated a few months ago,” I admitted quietly. “Right before senior year.”
Her face softened instantly.
“My mom lost her job after everything happened.” I shrugged slightly like it didn’t bother me. “Things got complicated financially.”
Cecilia frowned slightly. “So you started working to help?”
“Yeah.”
The answer sounded simple. But it wasn’t simple. Nothing about watching your family struggle was simple.
“I just didn’t want my mom handling everything alone,” I admitted. “My little brother already notices enough stuff.”
For a second, Cecilia didn’t say anything.
Then she smiled softly. “You know,” she said quietly, “you’re doing a really good job.”
The words caught me off guard. “What?”
“You’re helping your family.” She shrugged lightly. “That’s kind of admirable.”
I looked away awkwardly. “No it’s not.”
“Yes it is.”
“It’s just responsibility.”
“And most people our age run away from responsibility,” she pointed out.
I didn’t know what to say to that. Cecilia leaned forward slightly.
“And don’t worry,” she added. “I won’t tell anyone.”
I looked back at her immediately. “Thank you.”
“Besides,” she added dramatically, “you already embarrass yourself enough without my help.”
I stared at her flatly. “There she is.”
“Who?”
“The menace.”
She gasped in fake offense. “Excuse you?”
“You vandalized my car.”
“You blackmailed me first.”
“That happened after the vandalism.”
“Technicality.”
I shook my head while fighting back another laugh. “You’re unbelievable.”
“And yet you’re obsessed with me.”
I nearly choked. “What?”
Cecilia grinned smugly. “You heard me.”
“Your ego is terrifying.”
“You like it.”
“I absolutely do not.”
“Liar.”
I opened my mouth to argue and then suddenly paused. That feeling was back again, like someone was watching.
My eyes shifted automatically towards the small window near the classroom door. A shadow moved. I frowned immediately and stood up.
Cecilia blinked. “What are you doing?”
“I thought I saw someone.”
I walked toward the hallway quickly and looked outside.
Nothing.
The hallway was completely empty. A weird chill crawled up my spine. I could have sworn I saw someone there.
Cecilia appeared beside me and peeked outside too. “There’s literally nobody there.”
I frowned slightly. “I swear I saw something.”
She snorted softly. “You’re paranoid.”
“Maybe.” I tried to shrug the feeling off.
“You definitely are.”
I kept staring down the hallway for another second before finally stepping back inside. Still, the uneasy feeling didn’t fully disappear. Almost like someone had been there moments ago. Watching.
Cecilia nudged my shoulder lightly as she walked past me. “Relax, detective Gomez.”
“I’m serious.”
“And I’m serious too.” She sat back down.
“Nobody is stalking you besides me.”
I gave her a look. “That is not comforting.”
She grinned unapologetically.
The rest of detention passed surprisingly peacefully after that. And by the time detention ended, the weird heaviness between us from yesterday had mostly faded.
Cecilia packed her bag slowly before glancing at me. “So… are we still enemies?”
I considered the question carefully and then smirked. “Unfortunately for you, yes.”
She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Rude.”
“You’ll survive.”
“Obviously.” She chuckled and tucked her short hair dramatically.
I watched her leave the classroom before finally grabbing my own backpack.
A few hours later, I found myself outside Nancy’s college campus. Students walked across the courtyard laughing loudly while the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement.
Nancy spotted me almost immediately from where she sat near the fountain. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously as I approached.
“You only come here voluntarily when you’ve done something wrong. Did you break another one of Barry's favourite mugs again?”
“Wow,” I muttered. “Nice to see you too.”
She crossed her arms. “Okay, not the mugs. What did you break?”
“Your trust apparently.”
Nancy snorted. Then her expression softened slightly when I sat beside her. “You okay?”
I stared ahead quietly for a second before sighing. “Not really.”
She waited patiently.
“I’m sorry for snapping at you yesterday,” I admitted finally. “You were trying to help and I acted like an ass.”
Nancy looked smug immediately. “I do enjoy hearing apologies.”
“Don’t make it weird.”
“Too late.” she grinned.
I shook my head slightly before continuing. “I’ve just been tired lately.”
Nancy stayed quiet.
“Tired of pretending everything’s fine,” I admitted. “Tired of worrying about money and school and my family and everything else.”
The words spilled out easier than expected. “And honestly?” I laughed weakly. “I’m not really used to people caring enough to ask if I’m okay.”
Nancy’s expression softened immediately. “Alex…”
I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. “You’re kind of like the older sister I never had.”
Nancy gasped dramatically. “Oh my God.”
“What?”
“That’s disgustingly emotional.”
“Forget I said anything.”
“Nope.” She grinned proudly. “Say it again. I'll record it.”
I rolled my eyes and then unexpectedly, Nancy pulled me into a hug. I froze for half a second before awkwardly hugging her back.
“You idiot,” she muttered softly. “You don’t have to handle everything alone.”
Something tight in my chest loosened slightly. “Yeah,” I muttered quietly. “I’m starting to realize that.”
Nancy pulled away and immediately ruined the moment by flicking my forehead.
“Ow.” I winced. “What was that for?”
“That was for being emotionally constipated.”
“You’re evil.”
“And yet you love me.”
“Debatable. I'm thinking of taking it back.” I sighed. She grinned triumphantly.
When I finally returned to my car later that evening, I pulled out my pho
ne and glanced at the blackmail video I had of Cecilia spray painting my car while muttering insults under her breath.
A week ago, deleting it would’ve felt like losing leverage. Now it just felt unnecessary.
I stared at the screen briefly and then pressed delete.