Chapter 23 Tyra's Crush
Phoebe
I took a deep breath before opening the classroom door, trying to steady my heartbeat that felt like a war drum. After last night’s awkward conversation, it felt like the entire world was conspiring against my sanity. I had to pretend nothing had happened. Showing weakness was not an option.
The classroom was already packed when I walked in. The chatter and laughter filled the air, as if no one cared that I was carrying a secret as heavy as a mountain. I spotted Tyra sitting at the same desk as yesterday, her small smile looking more like a trap. Avoiding her gaze, I hurried to my own seat.
But before I could sit down, Tyra was already beside me.
“Hey, Phoebe,” she greeted cheerfully, and I let out the breath I had been holding.
“Hi,” I replied curtly, forcing a tight smile and pretending to focus on the notebook in front of me.
That day felt like an endless test of patience. Wherever I went, Tyra followed. She was like a shadow I couldn’t shake. When I went to the cafeteria, she tagged along. When I tried to study in the library, she sat at my table. Even when I sought refuge in the back garden for some fresh air, Tyra was right there with me.
“What’s up with you, Tyra? You’re like a shadow today,” I finally asked when we both sat on a bench in the garden.
She smiled, but it was an awkward smile, as if she was hiding something. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay,” she said.
“I’m fine,” I replied flatly, trying to dismiss her without being too obvious.
But Tyra wasn’t giving up that easily. She looked at me with eyes full of something I couldn’t quite decipher—uncertainty, maybe.
“I know this might sound strange, but I really need to talk to you,” she said, her voice quieter now.
I frowned. “About what?”
She took a deep breath, as if bracing herself for something big. “About Phoenix.”
The name made my body tense up. Phoenix. My twin brother, who was now lying comatose in a hospital bed. I tried to read Tyra’s expression, searching for clues about what she might know. Did she know about last night’s conversation? Or was there something else she wanted to say?
“What do you mean?” I asked cautiously.
She bit her bottom lip, hesitating. “I know this might not be the right time, but I need to confess. I… I have feelings for Phoenix.”
Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning. I stared at her, struggling to process what she had just said. Tyra… had feelings for Phoenix? How was that even possible?
“Tyra, Phoenix is… in a coma,” I said, trying to sound calm even though my mind was spinning.
“I know,” she said quickly. “And it makes me feel so guilty. I should’ve told him before all of this happened. I just… I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer.”
I didn’t know what to say. How was I supposed to react to this confession, especially after last night’s conversation, which had already left me wary of Tyra?
“So, you think I can help you with this?” I asked finally, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.
She shook her head. “I don’t know, Phoebe. I just… I needed you to know. I wanted to be honest.”
I looked at Tyra with a gaze I couldn’t even decipher myself. Part of me wanted to believe her, to see her as someone genuine. But another part of me couldn’t forget the tone of her voice last night, the way she spoke to me and about things I didn’t fully understand.
“Are you sure this is the right time to talk about this?” I asked at last.
Tyra stayed silent, but before she could respond, someone called my name. I turned to see Finley standing behind us.
“What are you two talking about?” he asked, his tone cold and suspicious.
I swallowed hard. This situation was getting more complicated by the second. Tyra looked pale, and I could feel that this conversation was about to take a turn I wasn’t prepared for.
“Biology homework,” I said quickly, trying to defuse the tension before things got worse.
“No, Phoebe. This is important,” Tyra said, her voice trembling. She stood up, facing Finley with a look of defiance.
“Don’t start, Tyra,” Finley said, narrowing his eyes. “You stirred things up last night.”
My heart felt like it stopped beating. The tension rose without my permission, and a few students had started glancing our way.
I stood up, trying to keep my hands from shaking. “Can you two calm down? Everyone’s staring at us,” I said, trying to sound as composed as possible.
Finley looked at me, then back at Tyra. “Seems like Tyra forgot that some things are better left unsaid,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“I didn’t forget,” Tyra snapped. “But I need to tell Phoebe. I don’t want you two to misunderstand me.”
I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for something big to happen. Instead of focusing on Tyra, my attention shifted to Finley. His jaw was clenched, his gaze locked onto Tyra with a sharpness that made the air feel heavy.
“Alright, Tyra. What do you want?” I asked finally, challenging her to continue.
Finley and Tyra exchanged glances. Finley’s glare was met with Tyra’s pleading look. But before either of them could speak, the school bell rang in the distance.
“This isn’t over,” I said before heading back to my seat, ignoring the two of them still standing behind me.
My unease was momentarily interrupted when Ms. Tina walked into the classroom carrying a potted plant. I had never seen flowers quite like the purple ones blooming in that pot.
“Open your textbooks to page 20,” Ms. Tina instructed, and I complied.
On the page, the topic was clearly about flowers. I began reading slowly, my mind wandering back to the image of the strange purple flowers.