Chapter 22 A Wrong Version Of Us
Ryan’s necklace was gone and I didn’t even bother to pick it up from the floor as I walked out of the gym. The tingling sensation still on my lips, I touched it, a smile crept on my face. I walked into the house, my heart doing a dance inside it’s cage. For the first time since moving to New Jersey, I didn’t feel like an outsider. I felt like I belonged—to him.
For the next one hour, I spent it on my phone, scrolling through Barth’s socials, filling my gallery with screenshots of his photos and videos. My heart swelled when I saw pictures of his rare, beautiful smile.
I jumped out of my bed. I needed to see him. I needed to talk to him, to tell him that I didn’t care about the rules anymore. I checked his room but he wasn’t there. He wasn’t in the gym house either or anywhere outside so I asked from a maid.
Heading towards the library, the sound of a high pitched familiar giggle made my hand went cold as my fingers gripped the handle opening the door.
“Oh, Barth, don’t be ridiculous,” Tan’s voice echoed loudly in the library.
I peered through the gap in the door, my brows shooting up in confusion.
What was she doing here?
“You know you have always been better at planning at the guest list than I am. Remember how much fun we had planning the summer formal?”
Barth was sitting at the desk, but Tan wasn’t across from him. She was standing behind him, her hands relaxing on his shoulders, her chin practically tucked into the crook of his neck.
Barth didn’t pull away. He just sighed, looking down at a stack of papers. “We just need to finish this, Tan. We have to make it perfect or else…”
“Ssshhh,” She said with a small smile, placing a finger on her lips. My hands clenched tightly at my sides. Our eyes met and she gave out a surprised but vicious smile.
“We always were the perfect team,” She whispered, walking in front of him like a prefect seductress, placing a peck on his temple.
She reached out to grab his face as she leaned in to give him a kiss. Subconsciously, I slammed the door open. Barth caught her hands, pushing her away, his eyes widened as he spot me in front of the door.
His eyes moved from Tan to me. Tan was smiling widely.
“Yvonne, have you come to join us?”
My chest heaved as I stared at Barth, locking eyes with him. We just kissed an hour ago and he was already with her? Remembering how I had told him I wanted him, bile crept up to my throat and I felt disgusted with myself.
He had stood up for me at the Christmas party or was that just for show?
Barth shook his head as if hearing my thoughts and trying to dispel them. “Yvonne, it’s not what you think… Nothing happened, I promise.”
“Nothing happened?” I repeated, giving out a sad laugh. “I’m such a fool.”
“Yes. Believe me…”
Tan’s eyes drifted from me to Barth, her brows furrowed. “Uhm, this type of situation or should I say conversation only occurs between lovers. Is there something I’m missing here?”
Barth’s eyes hardened as he glared at her. “Pack your stuff and get out!”
I shook my head, the air around me felt suffocating and I turned around, walking away. I heard Barth’s chair scrap on the floor as he stood up, calling after me but I didn’t stop walking, running away from him.
I reached my room and slammed the door hard against his face, locking it.
“Yvonne, listen to me!” He cried out, knocking on the door. “I promise you nothing happened. I swear! Nothing happened.”
“I saw her kiss you, Barth. Her hands were all over you and you seemed to like it…”
“No! That’s not true. I stopped her before she could even kiss me. I didn’t let her near me. Yvonne, please don’t lock me out.”
A deep silence engulfed us both and for a brief moment, I thought he had given up and walked away. Until, his voice sounded behind the door again.
“Please Yvonne, I’m telling you. Please believe me, I don’t have anything with Tan anymore. She’s just here because my dad asked that we work on planning the next charity gala together. That’s all. I have nothing to do with her. Please hear me out.”
I could feel my heart soften as I listened to his plea, my hand hovered over the door knob. I closed my eyes, blinking back my tears.
“You know, I have always thought you both look good together. The school’s queen bee and the well-sought after hockey pro player. She’s the right choice for you,” I nodded to myself.
“What the hell are you saying!?” He shouted, his voice echoing down the hallway. “I never said I wanted her. It’s you!”
“And you sure have an odd way of showing that to me,” I scoffed.
“But, you want me too… right?” He asked and I could hear the pleading in his voice.
“No!” I said sharply. “I don’t want you!”
“Do not lie to me, Yvonne. That kiss proved otherwise!”
“That kiss might nothing to me,” I retorted. “I don’t want you, Barth. Please leave me alone!”
“Yvonne….”
“Get out, Barth or I will call Aurick or my mum!” I threatened, on the verge of breaking down.
“Fine,” He responded, his tone oddly submissive. “If that’s what you want. Then, I will leave.”
I heard his retracting footsteps as he stepped away from my door, walking down the hallway until I couldn’t hear them anymore and I broke down in the middle of my room and sobbed.