36 - Necessary Evil

JUNE’S POV

Walking into school today after what happened yesterday made it hard to focus.

I kept replaying the conversations in my head as I brushed my teeth this morning.

Adrien’s shirtless physique popped up in my head more than once and I had to shake it off.

“June!” Jules yelled my name from afar, waving me in her direction.

“Good morning.” I greeted.

“You didn’t get my text?” She asked.

“No, why?” I said as I pulled out my phone.

“Don’t worry about it.” She said quickly and put my phone away.

I didn’t read into it.

“Let’s go for class, Savannah hasn’t shown up.” She said as the bell rang.

“No surprise there.” I said with a bored expression.

Literature lessons were fun, except today. My brain was begging to be released.

“Get me out of here.” Jules whispered, looking as tired as I was.

Miss Caroline made all of us give an account of two books we’d been revising.

“Alright, submit your sheets and you can leave.” She said, smiling like she had fulfilled her life’s purpose.

“Do you think she enjoys torturing us?” Jules spoke as we walked to our lockers.

“Think? I’m sure she fantasizes about it.” I replied and we both laughed.

I heard a familar voice coming from the school monitor.

“Is there supposed to be an announcement today?” I asked Jules.

“None that I’m aware of. Let’s move closer so we don’t miss any information.” She suggested and we moved towards the crowd who had started gathering beneath the screen.

I heard muffled voices in the background before I could make out anything.

The recording crackled.

“June, yeah?” I heard a voice I didn’t recognize speak.

I felt a couple eyes glance at me before whispering.

Beside me, Jules went still.

“Let’s go,” Jules suggested.

There was something in hee voice that made my pulse quicken.

“No, let’s hear this.” I responded.

“Anyone who can date the bitch must be insane.” The crowd reacted instantly. Some people laughed and I felt heat crawl up my neck.

“She thinks she’s better than all of us.” A female voice spoke this time.

“She’s pretty hot though.” Another voice said.

“How did you do it Dowman?”

More laughter.

“God knows.”

My heart was racing so fast I could barely hear the next few words.

“June-” Jules was about to speak when we heard a familar voice speaking.

Everything inside me froze, I knew that voice.

Adrien.

“…or I could date her, easily.” He said. A hint of pride at his voice.

“She’d never go for you.” They laughed.

“But she’d go for James?” I heard him laugh. “You lot are acting like it’s impossible.”

“She is.”

“Really?” Adrien spoke.

“Okay, a bet then?”

“A month. If you don’t get her, you don’t win.” James said.

Everyone went quiet.

“Yeah. Sure.”

Any hope in me that thought he would say something different died.

The video ended.

Adrien’s eyes found mine. I hoped the disgust I felt was evident in my gaze.

Jules pulled me out of the halls.

“I know you’re upset but-”

“I’m not upset.” I lied.

“I just need a moment, okay? I’ll see you later.” I hugged her and walked away, leaving her standing in the courtyard.

There were some things you couldn’t come back from, hearing the truth was one of them.

It was ironic.

Just yesterday, I’d been terrified of telling Adrien the truth.

I spent the night feeling guilty for deceiving him.

Turns out I wasn’t the only liar.

I stayed by myself throughout the day, trying to sort through whatever it was that I was feeling.

At some point, I noticed I was scratching my palm again and I immediately stopped.

If Adrien were here, he would’ve probably make me stop.

The thought came so naturally, it made me sick.

I shouldn’t be thinking about him. Not after that.

I was a challenge, a prize to be won.

That was why he noticed my itching, brought me food, checked up on me, stayed it the hospital. That was why he ended up seeing parts of my life nobody saw.

Bloody athletes.

A bitter laugh escaped me.

It was sickening, I felt nauseous just thinking about everything.

The worst part was that I didn’t know if I had the right to be angry.

Technically, I’m not the hero in this story either.

I lied every single day.

The only difference between me and Adrien was that his lie had been exposed first.

Right?

The question sat heavily in my chest. Because if it was true, then why did everything hurt so much?

Why did I hope there was something I was missing?

There wasn’t.

I hated that thought most of all.

“Well, well , well.” Lori’s voice sounded in the courtyard as she cackled.

Her laugh interrupted my thoughts.

“I tried to warn you darling but you were so convinced…” she shook her head dramatically , chuckling in the process.

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“I’m glad you’re entertained.” I frowned.

“Of course.” She grinned.

“I’m not doing this with you.” I stood up to leave but she moved and blocked my path.

“Oh, but you are,” she stepped closer. “The entire school is talking about it. Rapunzel and her prince.”

My jaw tightened.

“Then go talk to them.” I said.

“But you’re so much fun. The video spoke for itself.”

Her words landed harder than I wanted them to.

She noticed.

“It’s funny how quickly people change their minds.” She said as she examined her manicured nails.

“One minute they’re convinced they have something special.” She smiled.

“The next, the whole school sees something entirely different.”

“You did it.” I said.

“You can’t step on my toes and live happily ever after now, can you?” She laughed.

“You’re disgusting.” I spat.

“If I were you, I’d be very careful with who I trust.” She said.

“What?” I blurted.

Normally, I wouldn’t care. But today was no normal day.

“Everyone has secrets June.” Her smile faded slightly, not completely.

“Yours might just be next.” She shrugged and walked away.

She couldn’t know.

It wasn’t possible.