Two Options

I blinked my eye lashes rapidly as I could hear his heavy footsteps closer to me.

"Every action has a consequence." He voiced out.

I clutched my hand bag tightly and swallowed hard.

"You know, I don't talk too much but I've something to tell you." His shoulder brushed mine as walked past me to my front.

My gaze met with his eyes. The dream flashed through my mind. My lips quivered.

"No one...not even my father talks back at me, the way you did back there in the hallway." He snapped, his brows furrowed.

I twisted my fingers together, stepping back.

"So because of that." He said, moving towards me. "You've a price to pay."

My brows knitted together.

"And you have only two options." He said, his gaze burned into mine.

"You either get the hell out of that school.. I mean I get you out of that school or..you kneel and apologize in front of the whole school."

"What!" I screamed out, my heart thudded in my ears.

"And you know what that means." He said, walking away.

"You get withdrawn from school, become a forever disappointment to your family."

"So choose wisely, you've just two weeks to decide, don't let your ego burn you down and remember the clock is ticking." He voiced out, jamming his car door shut.

My throat bobbed as he drove past me.

I shut my eye lids, took in quick breaths and flung it open.

I wish this wasn't happening.

My eyes scanned around before my legs agreed to move.

I pushed open the entrance door of the house and stepped in.

My gaze fell on Emile and then Ivy.

"Welcome back." Emile said, shifting her gaze from the TV at me.

"Thanks." I managed to mutter.

"What took you so long, Clara. You'd left school before I and Ethan did." Ivy cut in.

I rolled my eyes. "You're talking like you don't know I trekked." I uttered.

"Really? I thought you were kidding." Ivy said.

I exhaled. "That doesn't matter now." I replied, walking out of the sitting room.

"I need to talk to you." Ivy voiced out.

I stopped and turned  to face her. "About what?" I asked.

"About our friendship." She said, rising to her feet.

"Let's make it some other day please... I've.... a lot...to figure out." I stammered.

"But.."

"I already gave you a response, Ivy. So please leave me alone for now." I muttered.

"But that was the reason I came to your house, what the hell is going on with you, Clara." Ivy added.

I took in a deep breath and released it. "I just need space, Ivy. S..P..A..C..E. That's all I want from you." I voiced out and hurried out of the sitting room before she said another word.

I shut the door of my room behind me and sank onto my bed.

Pulled off my sandal. My back throbbed as I laid on the bed.

My eyelids squeezed shut. The dream, his threats, his words, everything came into my mind in a flash.

I was done for. There's nothing I can do. 

Becoming a drop out is something I always prayed against and being humiliated in front of the whole school also wasn't near to anything I'd prayed for.

I opened my eye lids. Tears prickled at the corner of my eyes.

My gaze sullen, I never thought I would ever have anything to do with the celebrity king.

I never knew I had a future like this with someone that can do anything he wants and get freely away with it.

He and his guys had once urinated into a male student's mouth, beaten students that crossed their path and given extra punishment to little offenses.

My finger nails bore holes into my palms. Ivy caused this, she caused all of this.

My cheeks burned as hot tears fell. And now I've to pay for something I didn't even plan for.

Something I..

My heart skipped a beat as my room door suddenly flung open.

I quickly cleaned off my tears with the back of my hand and exhaled.

Ivy and Emile walked in.

"Clara! This is unlike you. You're still in the same clothes you wore from school for almost thirty minutes now." Ivy said, walking towards my bed.

Tears threatened to fall off my eyes again, I blinked fast and looked away.

"Tell us what you are hiding, Clara. Who knows we could find a solution to it." Emile chipped in, sitting next to Ivy on the bed.

I shrugged. "Nothing is happening, I am fine." I said.

"That's a lie, I know you, Clara..I know.."

"Enough, Ivy. Enough!" I screamed, sitting on the bed.

My eyes shone with tears as her brows drew together.

"You caused it. You did!" I snapped, pointing at her.

"What are you talking about, Clara?" She asked, her lips parted.

My legs ached as I rose up from the bed.

"You're a devil, Ivy. You turned me into this..you..you..you..shit!" 

"What." She said, her brows shot up.

"Really is that what you are going to say? You're acting all innocent now, really?"

"What has taken over you, Clara!" Ivy screamed.

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. "It's you..you...took..over..." I was still talking when Emile interrupted.

"What's wrong? You haven't told us anything and now you are accusing Ivy of what?"

"I wasn't talking to you, Emile!" So, stay out of this." I voiced out.

Her eyes widened, "what!" 

"Yes, you heard me right. Ivy knew I had a crush on Ethan but what did she do..she went for him neglecting my feelings." I voiced out.

"What! Really? You're quarreling with your best friend because of a guy..I'm so disappointed in..."

"Shut the fuck up..shut it....you see that same day, something else happened and now..it's ruining my life."

"But Clara...you...never..told me you liked him." Ivy uttered, rising up from the bed.

"You..only told me..you liked how composed he was." She said, walking towards me.

I shrugged. "That  doesn't matter now..I mean I don't think I feel anything for him now..or maybe I do feel but something else is just taking my attention." I voiced out, gesturing with my hands.

"I'm in danger girls...can't you see it!" I yelled, tears fell down my cheeks again.

I blinked my eye lashes rapidly as Ivy's hand laid on my shoulder.

"I..I'm in between two options that I can't even pick from. He's..he's...he's...his options are tearing me up!" I spoke out.

"Who's he?" Emile asked, cleaning my tears with the back of her hands.

"It's... It's....my cross to carry....and....and..I would just love to keep it to myself."

I fastened the last button of my short jean gown and flung my handbag over my shoulder.

Ivy and Emile were taking me out after I refused to tell them who he was.

They wanted me to stop worrying and feel safe having fun with them instead.

I took in a deep breath and released it slowly. I wished Ivy could just have a guess that it was James Hunter.

"Clara!" I heard Ivy's voice.

"On my way!" I voiced out, hurrying towards the door.

I looked back at my room, took in quick breaths and opened the door.

My heels hit the floor softly as I walked down the stairs.

"Here she comes!" Ivy screamed, her lips curled up to a smile.

I blinked rapidly. "I was wrong, Ivy's actually the kind of friend I needed. Kind, jovial and always caring."

My eyes brimmed as I walked towards her. "I'm sorry Ivy..I'm so sorry." I said.

"It's okay, Clara." She said, holding my wrist. "You already told me that countless times in the room."

"It wasn't really your fault." Emile chipped in, moving to us.

"You just had the wrong understanding of it and that can happen to anyone. And...that isn't the main thing now."

"To be honest with you, a few hours ago was the first time I saw you at your least . You were shedding hot tears and yet you couldn't control it.".

"I know you want both of us to be safe, that's why you don't want to tell us who he is."

"But that doesn't matter now, because whenever you're ready to talk.."

"We are also here to listen." Ivy interrupted.

"Ooh that's so sweet." I said, my eyes shone with tears.

"Yeah but enough of this uncomfortable moment, we need to go and enjoy ourselves now."

"I already informed mom that we would be home late." Emile uttered.

"Called my mom also and told her I was going to be home late." Ivy added.

"Finally back!"

I exhaled, stretched out my arms and sank onto my bed. 

My hand ached a little as I dropped my handbag on my bed table.

I gazed at the time. 11:51am. 

I blinked my eye lids repeatedly. It was good having fun in difficult times. 

My heart felt lighter as I pulled off my heels.

My phone suddenly beeped. I straightened up, taking it from the bed table.

I turned my phone on and unlocked the screen.

My blood ran cold the second my gaze met with the message on my phone screen.

"Thirteen days left. Don't let your ego destroy you."

I looked up at the sender. Arty.

My heart skipped a beat, that was James Hunter artist name.

How on earth did he get my number!