Chapter 7 Ryan
We rode the rest of the way in silence. I kept my gaze fixed on the window, watching the blur of passing trees as I tried to stabilise my emotions. Beside me, Barth was as cold as ice, his jaw tightened, his hands gripping the steering wheel that his knuckles were turned white.
He didn’t look at me after my insult, he didn’t say a word, he simply drove. As the gates of the campus opened, Barth clicked the locks, parking the car in the place designed for him only.
He stepped out of the car with a fluid, practiced grace. He didn’t cast a single glance at the passenger side, leaving me to fumble with my own door. As I stepped out into the crisp morning air, the sound of the car door closing behind me made me suck in a breath, reminding me that I was all alone.
I held onto my bag, taking in deep breaths as I walked towards the school double doors. Students were sitting on benches, others walking pairs. As soon as they spotted me, they looked up from their phones, talking amongst themselves while giving me pitful looks.
I pursed my lips, walking past them but the whispers didn’t stop.
“I heard that she had panic attack because she didn’t know which fork to use.”
“Look at those eyes. She’s been up all night. Probably realized she’s one mistake away from being kicked away into the gutter she rose from.”
“She’s such a disappointment, tarnishing the Vanguard’s name like that. Mr Vanguard must be ashamed of her!”
Just three more steps, I whispered to myself feeling my palms sweaty as I tightened my grip around the straps of my bag.
As I walked towards the stairs, a voice loomed over me. It was Tan.
“Yvonne! Darling, we saw the photos. Are you feeling well? You looked… well a bit unhinged last night,” She said in a fake sugary voice that masked insults with concerns.
I tried to smile. “Yes…” my voice sounded croaked and I coughed slightly making her and her friends giggle. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“I don’t know how you are supposed to be fine after ruining the Vanguard’s name like that. Didn’t expect much from a Brooklyn brat though.”
I felt my jaw tightened as my hands curled up into a fist. I tried to walk pass her but her friends blocked my way.
“I’m not done talking, dear Yvonne. If I were you, I wouldn’t show my face to anyone after that pathetic performance.”
My eyes began to well up but I didn’t let the tears drop. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction that I was weak. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Barth. He and the other students were looking our way.
Our eyes met, mine pleading and he laughed at something one of his friends said and they all walked away.
“Well, we are having a dance off soon though, not expecting to come though but we would appreciate some of your commoner performances there, Brooklyn.”
She laughed walking away with her friends and I watched them, my eyes giving way as the tears flowed freely down my cheeks.
The tears felt hot against the skin of my cheek, no matter how I tried I couldn’t stop. I wasn’t only crying about the humilitation I had faced, I was crying because of how lost I am because of Barth, betraying my mother and Aurick who had been nothing but nice to me.
I felt like a broken statue for everyone to gawk at, was waiting for the next insult, the next laugh but instead a shadow fell over me.
“You know,” a relaxed, slightly husky voice said from above me. “Crying on the North stairs is a bold move. Most people pick the basement library. A better option for sobbing and fewer people staring at you.”
I wiped my eyes, looking up. My brows shot up on realizing that he was one of Barth’s teammates. He was wearing the vanguard team jacket, his brunette hair perfectly styled. He was staring at me with a look of amusement.
“I’m not… I wasn’t sobbing,” I responded. “What do you want?”
He tilted his head, chuckling. “Yeah right, you weren’t. I’m Ryan, and I don’t want anything,” he reached out into his pocket and handed me a clean handkerchief. “Take it. It’s better than using your sleeves, we wouldn’t want your clothes covered in tears and snot would we?”
I shrugged, muttering a thanks as I took it wiping my tears.
“You really don’t have to take everything to heart you know. Tan is a thorn in everyone’s flesh but you crying publicly is giving her the satisfaction she craves.”
“Did Barth send you here?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking and I immediately wished I didn’t.
He furrowed his brow, staring at me. “Barth didn’t send me here.”
“Of course,” I chuckled sadly.
He walked away… he doesn’t care about me.
“Uhm, you really don’t have to take Barth’s actions into too much consideration. Don’t take him personal.”
“He walked away…”
“Look, I’ve known Barth since we were kids. He likes to act like he doesn’t care but deep down, he does. He’s kind of complicated in a way but he’s a sweetheart when you get past that shell.”
I rolled my eyes giving out a genuine laugh. “A sweetheart indeed.”
Ryan held out a hand to pull me up. “You see, I made you laugh. Come on, I will walk to the Arts wing. Nobody will mess with you if you’re with me.”
I smiled, accepting his offer unbeknownst to us, someone was watching us from the second floor balcony with an intensity in that gaze that it could bore a hole through my back.