Before Me, Him

Chapter 70

     - It's finally done! – says Emily as she stretches her back on the cafeteria chair.

     Our exams were finally done and we would have our so desired Christmas vacation. Two weeks have passed ever since that day and I still haven't found in myself the courage to talk with them. Truthfully I wouldn't say it is a lack of courage. Instead, it's more a feeling of guilt. I don't remember Philip from my childhood but I trust what he told me and knowing that he bears those types of feelings for me... It feels wrong to be with Jacob without properly talking to Philip first. He deserves some type of answer to appease his uneasy feelings but I haven't found the chance to say it yet.

     These past weeks have been insane. I cannot even begin to describe it. Emily has been studying like mad like everyone else so we barely hang out. Everyone was split, in their own corner, doing their thing just to pass on the subjects. Even if I truly wanted to talk to Philip or Jacob, I didn't have the chance to do so. I wake up from my daydream when the guys bring their food onto the table where we were sitting.

     - How did your finals go? – Dean questions Emily as he sits beside her and gives her a soft kiss on the cheek.

     - Good! You better still remember your promise! Now we have to go on tons of dates! – her eyes were sparkling with excitement.

     - I haven't forgotten cutie. Where do you want to go tomorrow? – Dean picks his water bottle as he laughs at Emily's childish side.

     - That reminds me. – Philip says as he removes some tickets from his bag and gives it to me. - This play is tonight and I have a free entry. I was thinking that maybe you could join me, that is if you'd like.

     - Philip, as her friend you should know her job is tonight. Of course, she won't be able to go. – Jacob states as he leans on the table smiling coldly.

     - I'm old enough to make my own decisions Jacob. – I focus my eyes on him. "Who does he think he is to be answering for me?" Jacob sighs and sits back straight as he drank his juice. – Sadly it's like Jacob said, I have to work today so I'm not free, sorry Philip.

     - It's alright, I forgot you were still working there. Maybe another time. – we both smile at each other awkwardly.

     We were about to finish our lunch when a certain unwanted presence decides to show up, ruining up my mood: Mason.

     - Emily are you free? I need some help. – he says as his voice stutters slightly while he gripped tightly his books.

     - I can help you. – I state as a beat my hands on the table and smile coldly at him. "I'm not letting you do as you want to" I think to myself.

- I guess you'll have to do. – he sighs as I leave the table.

     As we walked back to the council room the silence was king and the distance between us was the queen. This guy makes me extremely suspicious and I do not believe that the reason behind that hug was concern.

     - Why are you that far away? – he stops and looks back towards me.

     - No reason.

     - You realize that I'm definitely not into you right? I already told you, I want Emily. She's clever, pretty, and charming. You're mediocre, ugly, and old-fashioned. – he fixes his glasses with a blunt line on his lips. That's when it all made sense. He was showing that fake concern because I'm her cousin, if I start approving of him he will be one step closer to Emily. "Bastard" I thought to myself as I bite my lip.

     The council room was empty when we arrived however the president just sat on his chair normally and started to boss me around. I needed to gather several student files and to help clean up the room since it was a complete mess. I start gathering the documents Mason had asked for through the students' names and numbers and, as I was searching for them I find Jacob's file. I froze. "Should I read it? Should I leave it?" I questioned myself as doubt started to cloud my mind. "It's fine right? It's just a random school file so it should be fine." I concluded.

     - So he's in the fourth year of an engineering degree. That's interesting. – I mumble to myself as I slowly flip the pages however my fingers stop on the section that had his previous school records and I froze. "Pearl Highschool" that's a school in Hollum that was very close to my parent's house. – What's the meaning of this?

     I close the file and immediately walk back to the president's room. I didn't want to read anything else because my heart was already hurting enough with the inconsistency of Jacob's past. I place the documents on Mason's desk and as I was about to leave he stops me with his words.

     - You know June, I really hate being in the dark in some matters. It's almost as bad as lying. – his sadistic smile appears on his lips. "Does he know that I looked inside the documents? Or maybe he knows about Jacob?" I was thinking to myself as I tried to find a proper answer to reply without showing off too much.

     - What do you mean by that? – honestly, that's the only thing I could come up with. There was no other way for me to not expose myself than to feign ignorance.

     - I don't mean anything special. It's just a small outburst of mine. – his scary smile is still stamped on his face. This was most definitely not a "small outburst". He was toying with me. – Don't forget to go to the clubs and grab the account books.

     His attention turns back into the records as his smile disappears from his face.

     - You know Mason if you're that scared of the dark you should light a match but make sure to be careful. Boys who play with fire tend to get their fingers burned. – I state as I walk outside the door, not giving him a chance of replying back to me.

     His whole personality is sort of a mystery for me, I haven't been able to fully understand it as a whole since it changes according to the different situations he encounters himself in. It's almost as if he has two different personalities, one extremely shy and insecure while the other is extremely determined and confident. It makes absolutely no sense.