Chapter 15: I didn't make It

Tiffany

I could feel my chest rise and fall as I stared into his emerald eyes. My brain was a tangled mess.

I should definitely get off him right now, but I absolutely couldn't bring myself to stand up.

My body isn't listening to me anymore, and God, I need it to listen to me right now!

His eyes, the way he looks at me... Justin's face draw is nearer, and my heart threatens to jump out of my rib cage.

NO!

I scream in my head and quickly stand up from Justin's legs, making sure to put a significant distance between us.

My cheeks heat up significantly as I try to calm my racing heart.

Justin's mouth moved like he was about to say something. "Don't say anything that would make this already awkward situation more awkward," I cut him off before he could speak.

I pick up my bag and notes and quickly move to the far end of the hall.

I needed to make sure I was far away from Justin.

Thankfully, he didn't say anything to me. He only just watched me walk away, and I think I heard him sigh, but I really didn't pay attention.

_

I sat on my bed, my hands hovering around my laptop as I stared at absolutely nothing.

My attention wasn't on the screen because I was painfully replaying what happened in class today.

"Urghhhh," I scream in frustration. "Get this off your head, Tiffany," I reprimand myself, falling on the bed with flushed cheeks.

My phone ping beside me, and I turn to see Justin's name on the screen, I immediately turn it face down on the bed.

He is the last person I want to talk to right now.

I needed to remind myself of what he did, I need to remind myself of why I hate him so much.

My phone rang, distracting me, and I glared at it.

It better not be Justin calling, I pick it up to see Ava on the screen.

"Omg, Tiffany, I'm so sorry!" I hear her say, and I blink.

"Sorry about what?" I ask, completely oblivious.

"You haven’t checked the I*******m update?" She asked me. "Just check," she said, hanging up.

Could it be another news of me and Justin? But Ava wouldn't act like that if that's the case, right?

I checked the time, and it's already passed 12am, I hadn't noticed because I was too busy not thinking about Justin even though he was basically the only thing in my head.

Today is the I*******m update day. It's usually the day the school uploads a snippet of the front page news and the name of the writer.

I completely forgot, This would tell me if I would be at the front page when the paper is released in the next two days.

My heart skipped a beat as I tap on the I*******m profile.

Ava's voice rings in my head, which made me even more scared as my eyes fall on the post and the name of the writer.

_

I sat on a rock as I stared at the trees, the weather was changing, and it would be snowing soon.

I looked up at the clear sky and sighed. I couldn't bring myself to cry.

I feel sad, I swear I am hurt like crazy but the tears just won't fall like I thought they would.

Maybe I've used up all my tears over the past years, and now my tear glands have run dry.

I sigh and look down at the grass and rocks. "Can't run away forever," I said to myself and got up.

It's 12 noon, and I had just returned from Mrs. Willow's office, who, of course, didn't give me the news I wanted to hear or the reassurance I was craving for.

I didn't make the front page... again.

It shouldn't hurt this much since I've been losing my chances for years now, but it hurts. It actually hurts.

I walked out of the Grove and made my way to the main road to call a taxi, but instead, a familiar car stopped in front of me, and Justin came out of it.

He rushed towards me and grabbed my shoulders. "Where have you been? Ava and I have been looking for you!" He screamed, and I blinked.

"Why? I'm not a child," I removed his hands from my shoulder.

"Well... you should have at least taken your phone so we would be able to know your whereabouts," He reprimanded and brought out his phone. "I need to tell Ava I found you," he said, typing on his phone.

"Like I said, I'm not a child," I reminded him and looked at me with pity eyes.

Oh for fuck sake.

"Isolating yourself won't change anything," His voice became softer.

"Don't... just don't... you're the last person I want feeling sorry for me. It's not the first time I didn't make the front page!" I yell at him.

Justin ran his hand down his face. "Get in, let's go somewhere," He said, walking towards his car.

"Are you seriously trying to kidnap me?" I asked him, and he frowns.

"Get in, Tiffany," He said again, and I sighed before entering the car.

Justin didn't say anything the entire drive. He simply focused on the road and ignored me like I wasn't sitting next to him.

I didn't know where he was taking us, and I began to realize how stupid I was for actually getting into his car after trying to avoid him.

He stopped in front of a cemetery, and I turned to him. "So you want to bury me alive?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Not funny, Tiffany. We are here to see my mom. It's her death anniversary," Justin replies, getting down from the car.

"What?" I asked, also getting down from the car. "Are you serious right now?" I asked.

"Let's go," he ignored me and made his way into the cemetery, and I was too stunned to move. I only stared at him.

"Aren't you coming?" Justin pauses and turns towards me.

I let out a sigh and walked towards him.