Chapter 34

"Mom," I whined in a childish voice, walking over to her room with my pjs and bunny slippers on.

She was sitting down on her chair and applying lipstick in front of the table's mirror. She turned around and stared at me.

"Yes sweetheart?" she questioned.

I hope she doesn't notice. I started coughing dramatically and even apply blush on my cheeks to make my face pink.

"I don't feel so well today, I groaned, rubbing my stomach.

"What's wrong?" she asked, sounding worried.

"I think I'm coming down with the flu. I feel like vomiting," I said, fluttering my eyelashes.

I tried my best to sound as sick as I could, so I could stay home from school. She got out of her chair and walked towards me. She gently touched my forehead and cheeks, trying to see if it's warm.

Oh my gosh. My baby is burning up! We need to go straight to the hospital right now," she said, seeming like she's worried.

Hospital?! Oh hell no! As a child, I went in and out of the hospital a lot. It's such a scary and sad place. I am definitely not a big fan of going to the hospital. If i tried to avoid getting a simple and daily check up, then what make she think that I would want to go to the hopsital.

"No mom! I'm not that sick to go to the hospital. I'm not dying!" as I moved my forehand away from her hand.

"Are you sure? I mean you look really sick. I don't think you can go to school today," she assured.

"I mean.." I quietly said, giving her the puppy eyes.

She blinked her eyes with sarcasm and gave me this "nice try" look.

"Nice try. Get dressed for school before you're late for the bus," as she playfully smiled

Darn it. I pouted in defeat and slumped back to my room, dragging my feet. I wasn't in the mood to go to school today nor feel like dealing with Anne or Bradley. I guess my mom didn't buy my sick card. Cries.

After I arrived to school, I walked straight to my locker. I unlocked my locker and hanged my hoodie onto the hooker, which was on the side of my locker. As I was getting my books out for my classes, Anne walked towards me and opened her locker that was next to mine. I slightly glanced over at her in the corner of my eye and looked back at my locker. We haven't talked since our argument, so it was awkward between us. I haven't talked to Kyle either. I've been basically avoiding and ignoring them. It seems like they weren't bothered either. I shut my the door of my locker and carried my book bag with one of the strap on my shoulder, leaving in silence.

After that, classes were boring as usual. It was weird because I haven't seen Bradley all morning. He wasn't in any of the classes today either. Before he barely showed up to his classes, this year, he was in class more.

wondered where he was at. Not that I cared.

"Okay class," as Mrs. Jones, our English teacher began to speak. "At the end of the class, you guys can put your draft for your essay on my desk. Moving on, today we will start with our discussion on..."

Suddenly, the door from the back of the class opened. Everyone turned around to see who arrived late in class. Mrs. Jones hated kids who walked in her class late and disturbing her lectures. She stared at the person in the back with an unamused and annoyed expression. She sighed in irritation.

"It's nice to see that you decided to join our class Mr. Sen. Do you know what time it is?" as she arched her eyebrow with her arms crossed.

"Time for you to get a watch, he sneered.

Everyone quietly snickered at their seats.

"Do you think this is funny?" she yelled with an unamused expression.

"No.. wait. I do," he chortled.

Why is he being so rude?

"Since you think this is funny, you could head to the principal office," she screamed, pointing her finger at the door and telling him to leave from the back door.

"Fine by me. Peace out with this boring class," as he held up the peace sign, walking out the classroom.

Mrs. Jones shook her head and muttered something that no one could hear to herself.

After English class was over, I went to the girl's bathroom for my break. I turned on the sink water and washed my hands. As I turned off the water and wiped my hands on the paper towel, Anne opened the door and walked in towards the sink as well. I ignored her and walked pass by her. I was about to walk out the bathroom until she stopped me.

"How long are you going to ignore me?" she whined.

I glanced over at her and then back to the door.

I'm sorry for what I did Sophia, but the way you're acting is really childish."

"I'm childish? You're the one who started this," I said, feeling offended.

"I did? You're the one who's still upset over it when it's been a couple of days now like it's over,

"Of course. You only care about your own feelings,"

"Seriously Sophia.."

All of a sudden, someone behind us was clapping. I turned over and rolled my eyes. It was Christina and the red haired girl.

"Well, well, well... what do we have here?"

We both turned around to find Claudia and the red haired girl together standing next to each other with their arms crossed. They both looked at us up and down as we glared at the both of them.

"Fighting over a guy? You guys are nothing but a bunch of pathetic losers," as the red haired girl chewed her gum obnoxiously. "You should of seen her face when she saw them kissing," she jeered, glancing over at Claudia.

"How pathetic," Claudia said with that annoying pitchy voice, agreeing with the red haired girl.

"You were the one who told Kyle?" I asked with curiosity, glaring at her.

"I told you not to get in my way," the red haired girl smirked.

"Who are you again?" I asked, glancing at her.

She looked extremely offended.

"Everyone knows who I am," as she flipped her hair behind her shoulder.

"Clearly, we don't," Anne said, standing up for me for the first time.

I snickered at Anne's funny comment. The red haired scoffed in anger.

"I'm Jenny," she growled.

"Jenny? Oh you're the girl who got rejected by the football player who wanted your sister? And plus, didn't he rejected getting a blowjob from you?" I asked sarcastically, giving her the innocent eyes.

Claudia was so surprised that she even snickered.

"What the hell did you just say?!" she snarled.

"The truth...?" I shrugged with my elbows folded and hands up.

Jenny glared at Claudia who then proceed to glare at me.

"Who do you think you're talking to? You bitch," she hissed, bumping her shoulder on me.

Anne turned on the sink water and splash the water on them. They shirked as the water hit their face. I mean why wear makeup if you look like a clown anyways? Anne grabbed my arm and we ran out the bathroom door, dying with laughter.

"If I catch you bitches, you're dead meat!" they shouted from the inside of the bathroom.

We ran outside and breathed heavily in fatigue from all of this running. I didn't know why we ran, but I don't think they would of chased us anyways since it's going to ruin their brand shoes. We walked outside to the bench area and sat in the shade near the trees. I tried to catch my breath. We both looked at each other and bursted into laughter.

"Did you see their face? It was hilarious," as I laughed loudly.

"They look like melting clowns," as she cracked up.

Im not going to lie, but not being able to talk to Anne really hurt me. I felt so alone. I missed our friendship a lot even though we didn't talk for three days. As our laughter die down, it became quiet between us. I stared at the beautiful blue sky and puffy white clouds with amazed.

"I am truly sorry for the other day Sophia. I honestly didn't want to hurt your feelings. I really wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. I know it was really wrong of me, Anne suddenly said, apologizing with sincerity.

I glanced over at her who looked down at her hands, rubbing her fingers out of nervousness. I knew she didn't like confrontation.

"It's fine. I shouldn't come at you like that," I asserted.

"No you had every right to. I am such a bad friend," she commented.

"Yeah you are," I agreed, nodding my head but didn't take my gaze off the sky.

She stared at me with sadness. I glanced over and gave her a little smile.

"For lying to me that day. I appreciate you for apologizing to me because I know you didn't mean it," I said softly.

"I promise I won't ever let a guy come in between us. If you don't want me to date Kyle, I won't," she replied.

"I didn't like Kyle like that anyway. I only had a crush on him. Now that I think about it, he's alright. If you're truly happy with him, then you have my blessings," I said sincerely, giving her a warm smile.

"You make me feel like a crappy friend," she frowned.

"Stop! You're a good friend, but next time just tell me okay?"

"I definitely will! I won't let you down," she exclaimed.

I chuckled along with a smile.

"But, damn I didn't know you had a little sass to you, as I snapped my fingers.

"Im just so tired of them," as she rolled her eyes.

"Tell me about it," I nodded.

We sat in silence. I turned over to look at her face.

"I hope you don't mind me asking. How did you and Kyle meet?"

She turned to look at me. She nodded. We sat there during the whole lunch period and told me everything that happened between the both of them.

After my classes were done, I went straight to the library, waiting for Bradley. I sat in the back area of the library where no one was at. I opened up my jansport bookbag and grabbed the algebra textbook out, setting up everything first before he comes. After waiting for a couple of minutes, I stared at the clock impatiently. I leaned back on my chair with my hand on my cheek, resting it with my elbow and shaking my leg with a feeling of aggravation.

"It has been 10 minutes now. where the hell is he?" I mumbled with an annoyed look.

I stared at the clock once again. I rolled my eyes, hoping that he didn't stood me up. As much as I didn't want to tutor him, I am a decent person who wouldn't want anyone to fail unless they did something cruel to me. I took out my phone and called his number, which I got from Mr. Tims.

The number you have dialed cannot be reached right now. Please leave a message. Beep.

"Oh hell no," I whispered, feeling irritated.

I grabbed my phone and stuffed my things back into my book bag and quietly walked out of the library. I was not going to get him away with these, so I went to look for him. I walked to the lockers, but everyone has left already so it was pretty much an empty hallway.

"Where the freak is he?" I whispered to myself grumpily.

I roamed around school, trying to look for him. Seriously, he is acting like a child who decided to act up and I have to go find him. I began to walk around the hallway and look at each of the classroom to see if he could possibly be in there. I thought about all of the possible places that he could of went. It's either he left and went home or he's hiding somewhere in the school with his friends. I walked to the school field to find a couple of guys warming up who were basically all shirtless. I stood on concrete steps next to the bleachers, searching for Bradley, but he wasn't there.

40

I walked back inside the school and decided to go home since he stood me up. As I walked outside, I stood there and waited for the bus. All of a sudden, I saw a tiny smoke in the air. I turned around to see Bradley smoking a cigarette while leaning against the wall. I swear how many times does he need to smoke a day?

"Hey Bradley," I angrily shouted.

He turned around and stared at me. I walked up to him with my arms crossed, glaring at him.

"Uhm did you forget that you have a tutoring appointment today?" I asked in irritation.

"Oh tutoring? Yeah about that... eh I don't feel like it today," he grinned.

I grabbed the cigarette off his hand and threw it on the ground, stomping on it with my black nike sneakers.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he growled with anger in his eyes.

Okay. since you don't feel like it today, then I guess I will let Mr. Tims know that you're going to fail his class and repeat the 11th grade, I addressed.

"Are you threatening me?" he barked.

"Actually, I'm not threatening you. I'm letting you know that I will tell Mr. Tims if you are not going to contribute into your studies," I snapped back.

"Go ahead do you think I care?" he scoffed.

"You will once I tell him," I angrily said.

"Fine. Say goodbye to playing soccer for the season."

I turned around and walked away. But, before I was walked away, he said something smart.

"I could careless, so see you snitch," he replied.

"Why are you acting like an asshole today?"

"What do you mean? I am always the same baby," as he winked.

First of all, don't call me that. That's gross. Seconds you were extremely rude to Mrs. Jones today and even skipped every class," as I tried to continued, he cut me off.

"You know your constant nagging is really annoying. It's not a good look on you," he mocked.

"Excuse me?" I queried, feeling offended.

I stared at him with disgust, arching the both of my eyebrows downward together in the middle.

"If you keep making that face expression, you're just going to create more wrinkles for yourself and you got a lot already," he teased.

I scoffed in anger.

"What is up with you today? Like is something wrong?

"it's none of your business," he bluntly said with an annoyed and bothered look.

"It is actually. If you stop showing up to tutoring, you could fail and repeat the whole year again," as I stepped closer to him.

"I honestly don't have a damn about my grade, so get out of my face."

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why," I said, putting my hands on my hips.

"I'm warning you right now Sophia. You better get out of my face, he growled, staring down at me.

"Why don't you make me?" as I angrily stared up at him.

He scoffed and smirked in anger. As he walked over to the right, I stepped over to the right as well, blocking him from leaving.

"Listen little girl. Why don't go worry about your work?" he spat.

"Just when I thought we were becoming friends, you're the usual asshole," I scoffed with disappointment.

"Friends?" he chuckled coldly. "We were never friends. I never considered you as one," he replied with this cold smirk. "Aren't you suppose to be mad at me for snitching you out?"

Right... I shook my head, biting my lip and feeling upset. I'll admit what he just said really hurt me. I mean i thought we were becoming friends, but i guess i was wrong. I was crestfallen in myself. Not only that, I did accused him for something he didn't do. It made me feel like more of a horrible person.

"Well.. I wanted to tell you that.." as I glanced at the ground.

He let out a small bitter laugh. I shot my head back up and stared at him with confusion.

"Of course. You know people like you piss me off. Once you found out the truth after accusing someone with no evidence, you want to come back and apologize like you're the innocent victim. It doesn't work that way," he snarled.

He was ticking me off. He didn't even yet me finish my sentence! I clenched my fist in frustration. I walked back to him and grabbed his tie, pulling it down. His face moved in closer into mine, leveling. He was so tall that I wanted him to see the anger in my eyes. I wanted to show him that I wasn't going to back down. Suddenly, he grabbed onto my wrist, tightly gripping it and making me release his tie.

"Ouch," I whined, gasping in pain. "Let go of my wrist!" I yelled, wobbling my wrist.

He chuckled in amusement with a smirk on his face. All of a sudden, he leaned in and kissed me on the lips. I stood there, not knowing what to do as my dark brown eyes opened widely, feeling speechless.