Chapter 16 SLOANE
Chapter 16
SLOANE
I was ten. I was ten years old when I stepped into my class and I saw the people I thought were my friends, hissing and mocking me. Their eyes bored at me, looking at me with pure disgust.
My mind ran wild, wondering what I had done. I was turned into an outcast. I leaned towards my seatmate, “Did something happen?” I asked, my voice low, a whisper, yet eager with curiosity, I needed to know what I did, why everyone was staring.
She simply looked at me with utter disgust. Her brows arched and she leaned back, “Please stay away from me.” The words rolled off her mouth with this annoyance, this displeasure that I couldn't wrap my head around.
What have I done? What did I do?
She pulled her chair away from me, like I was a parasite. I sank into my chair, racking my brain, thinking about what I might have done in the last twenty-four hours because everything was fine when we went home just the day before that day. But no matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn't think of anything.
Then my friends walked in. My face lit up, and I rushed from my seat, running up to them. “Sandy? Jules, why are you so late? Did something happen?” I asked, worried and concerned, holding their hands.
Sandy gasped as she jerked her hands away from mine, “You disgusting pig.” she hissed, low enough but I heard her loud and clear.
My heart hit my ribcage, my brows squeezed. I felt shivers travel through my spine, goosebumps flowing through my body. I felt the air on my skin rise, and my eyes flickered in confusion.
“What?” I rasped, confused.
It was then that I realized one of my friends was not in class yet.
“Where is Elise?” I asked. “Would she be late too?”
Jules laughed, “How can you shamelessly ask about her when you caused her expulsion?” Jules barked. “Do you think we wouldn't find out that you were the one who reported her to the teachers?”
Huh? What was going on?
I was beyond confused. I was trembling, my knee went weak, my palm got sweaty, my heart was beating fast against my ribcage, and I was sure it was going to break.
I had no idea what they were talking about. I never told the teacher anything. I didn't even visit the teacher's room despite being the class president. I knew nothing about the expulsion but no matter how hard I tried to explain, how hard I tried to vindicate myself, I was the loser who reported her friend just because I wanted I to remain class president.
The bully started small, but soon, the legs of my chair were broken. My desk was vandalized. My notes were torn. Milk was poured on me, and my sports wear was chopped into pieces.
It kept getting worse.
Until he stepped in. Jasper. He defended me. Revealed the truth. Jules and Sandy were the ones who got Elise in trouble and framed me. The bully stopped but I never had friends again.
Jasper and I were friends but that moment changed everything for us.
It felt like I owed him my life. Despite his reputation being at risk, knowing he could get bullied too, he stepped forward, defended me, and even reported to the teachers and our parents, punishing Jules and Sandy.
The bully was on the verge of taking my life. They were locking me up in lockers, the bathroom, framing me for things I didn't do. My grades were going down. I was demoted from being class president.
So when Jasper stepped in and stopped the bullying, he saved my life.
He had been on my side ever since. When we got to junior high. I met Jules and Sandy again and even though they didn't bully me, they spread rumors about me. Things they did to me, they claimed I did to them. They turned me into a bully. Something I wasn't. In the class I sat alone, I ate alone, read alone, walked alone. They made sure I had it rough but every single time, Jasper was the one who helped me up.
After practice, he’d come to me, eat with me, read with me, walk with me. Laugh with me. Take me to karaoke to see slow-ass boring songs that I hated but whatever who cares. Jasper was more than a friend, he was an anchor that kept me ashore.
So yes, I want to keep him. Because he is precious to me. He is partly the reason I am still alive. If he hadn't helped me that day, maybe I would have died at their hands or maybe I might have killed myself or become someone I never recognized.
Xaden was my crush. The boy I loved and even though I snuck around with him, Jasper still holds a bigger place in my heart.
I lay on my bed after a warm shower, recalling how Jasper threatened to cut me off if he saw me with Xaden again.
Does this mean I have to stop seeing Xaden? Just after we made up after five years? Can I even bring myself to ignore Xaden?
Ahh… this is so hard. Why do they have to be enemies? Can’t I have them both? I want to have them both!
I grumbled, kicking my feet on the bed angrily when I gently knock came on my window.
Oh shit! I jumped in fright. Eyes flickering. My eyes dart towards the window, the moon finding its way into my room. The cool breeze blows my curtain, making it sway side by side. But something was missing.
The reason behind the knock I heard. My eyes flickered, heart beating heavily. I tilted my head, leaned forward “Who is there?” I whispered, lifting my head to check.
Am I hearing things now?
I was about to lie on my bed when Xaden showed himself. My mouth widened to scream out but I quickly slammed my hands over my mouth to swallow it back before I drew Jasper’s attention to me.
Xaden waved with a smile while standing by my window.
Is he sneaking into my room?