Chapter 21 CHAPTER 21
SERA'S POV
It's been a week and I hate how it feels like my life is now revolving around a boy and his attention.
Sometimes it's there, like really there; we're stealing kisses in hallways, he's bringing me lunch, caressing my hair and cheeks and telling me I look better now that I'm eating. And he's right, I'm eating more because of him. I don't like being skinny anyway.
But then, on some days, it's like I imagined it all in my head.
I'm working on some jobs and once again, my mind strays.
He's attractive, that's without question but sometimes he makes me feel like I'm not enough.
Or perhaps I'm reading too much into things.
Love has never been my forte, I barely knew anyone who didn't think of me as absolute crap and now he's paying me attention every chance he gets.
It's something to be grateful for rather than letting my issues ruin a beautiful thing.
We're supposed to go somewhere during lunch today, a proper date, according to him, and I'm bursting with excitement.
And worry.
He'll definitely want to go further than the kiss we've been sharing, he said so.
I'm excited to spend time with him so if that's a sacrifice I have to make, isn't that what love is about?
Which begs the question, do I love Kane?
There are no more butterflies but I know he's doing me a favour by choosing me among the entire school filled with beautiful girls who'll kill to have him pay attention to them.
I looked at my bag again, worrying if this outfit would make him happy. He doesn't like me wearing fishnet stockings for a normal school day but I got a new pair specially for this date and hopefully he likes them alongside the maroon coloured gown I got.
It'll be my first time skipping school but it's just half of it and the maths teacher isn't back anyway so I'm only missing two classes.
It's a Friday and I can always study extra hard during the weekend.
The teacher in front of me was talking about the Civil War but I've covered the topic already and I was working.
She pointed at me to answer a question though and I had to put thoughts of Kane to rest, I don't want to look stupid to everyone.
Lunch rolled around and I went to the bathroom to change when everyone had gone off to the Cafeteria.
And then I waited.
Even Naomi wasn't with me and I didn't want to go and get food without knowing where he was taking us to. I don't want to tell him I'm fed and ruin the date.
But I was getting hungrier by the minute and lunch time was wrapping up.
The door opened and I looked up, excitement bubbling in my chest.
Then it deflated.
“You don't look happy to see me, is it because I don't have broad shoulders and killer abs?”
“Hi Naomi,” I chuckled.
On Fridays, we don't have the same classes so I guess she went to get food first before coming to see me.
“I thought you were going on a date? By the way, you look delicious.”
“I'm not your favourite food, stop looking at me that way before you bite me,” I joked, grabbing a muffin from her plate.
“Hey, if your man didn't get food for you today, better rush to the Cafeteria before those bulky boys clear everything off.”
“We're going on a date so I don't want to get myself stuffed.”
“Please, I know how you get when you're hungry. I'm not risking that. I'll be right back,” she gets up and hurries out of the door before I could say anything.
I sighed and took one more muffin. It won't fill me up anyway.
My phone lit up and I quickly opened it, hoping for a reply from Kane but it was just a notification from TikTok.
Angry, frustrated and sad, I turned off the entire notification feature and dropped the phone.
Naomi must have been fighting a horde at the Cafeteria because it took her longer than usual to get back and it was torture watching her plate steaming with the scent of food while my stomach demanded for something.
Finally, she came back and I zeroed in on the tray in her hands first but then I looked up.
“What's wrong? Did somebody fight with you?”
“What? No, not fighting. I just… Tell me about Kane again, how he treats you and everything.”
“Kane is the reason you look like someone stole your entire life savings?”
“Haha, you're funny but I'm not joking. I just want to know where you guys stand.”
“We're doing pretty well, I told you. He's sweet and whenever we're together, everything just feels right. I'm happy.”
“Well, he's not.”
Then she pulled out her phone and showed it to me.
“Oh.”
“Oh? That's all you're going to say?”
“The thing is a bit complicated Naomi.x
“Complicated isn't quite the word I'd use Sera. He's tongue deep in Cara's mouth!”
“Someone must have dared him to do it. They're friends and have been for a while now. I can't ask him to throw away all his old friends just because of me.”
“Can you hear yourself? What is wrong with you?” she hissed, disbelief in her eyes.
I sighed, a hot feeling in my chest.
“Look, you won't understand Naomi, just let it be.”
“To hell I'll let it be! I'm not going to let this asshole treat you like crap. You're here, waiting for him to come take you on a date he set up and he's down in the hallway, publicly kissing the school slut!”
“Don't call her that!”
“And now you're defending her too. Hell has truly frozen over.”
“See, you won't understand Naomi. You're pretty, those dimples have men chasing after you from every corner of this school and you're single by choice. I, on the other hand, barely have a slice of meat on my body. I don't have a social life or position, I'm an orphan, broke and literally doing assignments for rich kids in my school to have some savings. And someone like Kane likes me. It's unheard of. So what if he's kissing her? He's told me there's nothing between them and I believe him. He's introduced me to his friends and they're all cool with me and you have to be cool with him too, he's nice to me!”
“Damn girl, you're down bad.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“It's fine. Eat your food, I'll refrain from bringing him up again.”
I sighed, relief enveloping me.
Thank the universe my outburst didn't chase her off.