Chapter Thirty-Two: Psychotic Ex Christopher walked into first-period class five minutes late and Mrs. Greene wasn’t pleased – as usual. The moment he entered the class, she had given him one of her glares and said, “Late again, Hayes.” “She’s talking like I come late all the time,” Chris mumbled under his breath. “What was that?” The teacher demanded. “Nothing. I’m sorry,” Chris apologized. “It won’t happen again.” “That’s what you said the last time.” “It’s for real this time,” Chris replied. “Next time this happens, I won’t hesitate to give you detention,” she said. “Now, go sit.” “Thank you, ma’am,” Chris said and walked to his seat. Detention, he mused. That should be her last name since she loves it so much. Mrs. Detention, it suits her perfectly well. It was only after he had settled down that he noticed Hazel isn’t in her usual spot. He looked around, wondering if she is seating somewhere else, because it was something she can do. Maybe she’s gotten tired of him and d
Chapter Thirty-Three: The Deal "Music?" Chris breaks the silence after driving off the school grounds. Steph shrugs. "Sure." Chris pulls his phone out of his pocket carefully with his eyes on the road. He extends it to Steph. Because she's facing the window, she doesn't see him. "Hazel," he says to gain her attention. That nickname, Steph muses as she faces him a collects the phone with a puzzled look on her face. "What should I do with this?" She questions. "Connect it to the stereo and play some music," he instructs. Steph stares at the phone. "You need to input your password." He tells her his password without hesitation. Steph narrows her eyes at him before inputting it and the phone unlocks. "You just told me your password," she deadpans. "So?" He glances at her. "I can change it and you should feel honoured." Steph rolls her eyes. "Okay...." Steph drawls and connects the phone to the stereo. "Play the first one in my favourites." She does and one of Drake's songs s
Chapter Thirty-Four: Suspended Chris enters the school's cafeteria and sights, Jason, almost immediately. He's sitting with Max at their usual table. He feels eyes watching him as they usually do. He has no intention of eating anything or staying. He's only here for one thing. Max sees him and smiles, expecting him to join them but Chris doesn't. He heads in another direction, making a beeline for Ivy's table. The table she's always at. With her puppet and boyfriend. Ever since they fell apart in sophomore year, he has avoided her like a plague. He pays no attention to her cause she doesn't deserve it. The breakup might have been easier on him if it was like Jason's case. Hayley, his ex-girlfriend started having feelings for someone else and felt it wouldn't be fair to string Jason along. But no, Ivy had to cheat. She cheated and broke his heart. She could have just told him she was no longer interested in the relationship but she didn't. He blames his dad for how he feels. If his d
Chapter Thirty-Five: Lie Instead of Brooke heading in the direction her boyfriend did, she doesn't. She heads in the opposite direction, exiting the cafeteria. She goes in search of Jason with the intent of asking him what all that was all about. She finds him close to the principal's office with Max, probably waiting for someone. She approaches them. "Hey. Where's Chris?" She asks when she's close enough. "He's still with the principal," Max answers. "What was that all about?" Brooke inquires. "You didn't hear?" "Not really. I couldn't make out what was being said. I stay away from Ivy as much as I can even in the cafeteria." "I guess they weren't as loud as I thought. Well --" He stops talking when the door of the principal's office opens. They all stare as Chris comes out. Jason speaks first. "What did he say?" Chris shrugs, as if not affected by the situation at hand. "I've been suspended." Jason looks up and lets out a sigh as though he was expecting this. "Isn't th
Chapter Thirty-Six: Truth Honestly, Chris has been thinking about what Jason said to him at the parking lot. "I think you like her," Jason had said. Does he? No. He doesn't. Just as he said, Hazel isn't his type. Or is she? No. He's pretty sure she isn't. He doesn't like her. Or does he? No, he doesn't. He stops his contemplation as he hears his mum's car pull into the driveway. She's home and that means it's time to face the music. All he knows is that she won't be happy. Which mother would be happy her kid got suspended? She'll be mad at him. He walks to the door and opens it for them to enter. He grins on sighting Emily and she does too. She hugs him. "Chris." "How was school, Em?" He asks, ruffling her hair even though he knows she doesn't like when he does it. She swats his hands away. "It was fun." Chris then shifts his gaze to his mum who has a blank look on her face. She shuts the door. "Emily baby, go drop your backpack in your room and wait for me," his mum
Chapter Thirty-Seven: I Love You "What's the first thing you like about me?" Chris moves even closer to her. "You really wanna know?" He smirks. "Yes." He smiles as he tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. His hand lingers there as he stares intensely at her. Steph feels weird with the way he's staring at her but she doesn't look away. Instead, she swallows the lump in her throat. His eyes darken as they move to her lips and he remembers how it felt like kissing her. He wants to feel like that again so he finds himself leaning in. ... ... Stephanie stands there -- frozen. The air around seems to have shifted and she finds herself recalling the one and only time she has kissed him. When he begins to lean in, she mentally panics. Her head yells at her to do something to stop what she thinks is about to happen. Do something Steph! Pull away, say something, slap him, look away, run away. Just do something -- anything -- to stop what's about to happen. You shouldn't let him kiss y
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Apologies "Hey, Ivy wake up," Aspen says as she tries to wake the sleeping beauty. "Uh... Is it morning yet?" Ivy asks with her eyes closed, stretching her arms. "Yeah. We need to get ready. School starts in an hour." Aspen responds. Ivy lets out a loud groan before sitting up and opening her eyes slowly. She covers her mouth as she yawns. "I had the weirdest dream," she informs Aspen groggily. "What about?" "I dreamt that Luke broke up with me." Aspen doesn't say anything to that which makes Ivy study her face. The look on Aspen's face tells her it wasn't a dream. "It's real? It's real..... It's all real," Ivy whispers in disbelief and covers her face with her palms. Aspen sighs. Ivy has been like this since yesterday. The moment Luke broke up with her, it felt like things fell apart. Aspen would never have thought a day like this would come -- the day Ivy cries over a guy. "But I love him," Ivy mumbles with her face still in her palms. "I know, Ivy
Chapter Thirty-Nine: She's Pretty "I'm sure you’re very pleased with yourself," Stephanie says in place of a greeting as she joins Brooke at their usual table in the cafeteria. She hasn't been able to see Brooke since she got to school in the morning since they don't share any classes today. "Is that how to greet your best friend that you're seeing for the first time today?" Brooke smirks, folding her arms across her chest. "It's just the new way I greet best friends that are trying to play cupid," Steph retorts with a pointed look. Brooke seems unfazed by the look Steph’s giving her. Instead, she grins and takes a bite out of her sandwich. "Why didn’t you pick me up today?" "I sent Chris to pick you up," Brooke says as if it’s only normal and happens every time—she says it like she’s casually telling somebody about today’s weather. "Why did you do that?" Steph asks in exasperation. Brooke’s attitude towards it isn’t helping matters right now. She’s acting like Steph and Chris