When False Turns to Fate

Chapter 4

So here's the next chapter. Hope you all like it. Please give me feedback and let me know what you think of my story so far.

Shoutout to WrenRoad for encouraging me to keep writing and letting me know that she truly enjoyed it. It means a lot! ❤️

Now without further ado.... Enjoy!

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I am attempting to hold back tears. This CANNOT be right. I gaze at the sheet in my hands, hoping I misread it. Nope- still there, stupid letter.

My school gives us a sheet with our grades every few weeks to let us know if we need to bring them up before they become permanent. My sheet for this quarter so far says I have C+ in World history. I'm a straight A student! How does this even happen?

Ugh! I need to stop being such a baby. It's probably just a mistake, but it still stings. If this stays on my record, I'll never get a scholarship.

"What's wrong Holls?" I hear Masey question. She sounds really concerned, so I must not be doing a very good job of concealing my horror. I pass my grades over to her and she gasps when she sees it.

She is just like me, fairly smart and cares about her future school more than the air she breathes. Call us a little high strung, but a good college scholarship means not starting my life out in debt. I'd rather be high strung, thank you very much.

She pats my back soothingly and hands me back the paper that contains the wretched grade that ruined my day. Ugh I hate high school. "What do you say we go to Ms. Hart's class and ask her about this?" She suggests, grabbing my backpack for me. I nod and stand up from my desk in advisory. Masey lets the teacher know where we are going before guiding me out of the door.

I can hardly talk when I get to Ms. Hart's class. I begin to speak when she asks me what I need, but the words become choked and I almost start crying. Eventually Masey speaks for me, rubbing my back to help me keep back the tears. I HAVE to get good grades. Scholarships only go to people with good grades and a C+ is not a good grade

Ms. Hart nods her head when Masey stops talking and types something into the computer. She lets a puzzled hmmm escape her mouth before looking up at me, confused. "My computer says you didn't turn in your project on Egypt. Which is strange because I know I read it. Do you happen to still have it?"

My heart sank. Why do I never keep my assignments?!?! "No ma'am I threw it away. Is there any way I can earn back the points?" I asked, desperate.

"I'm afraid if you don't have it you will need to do the project again. I wish there was an easier way, but I have to have proof. Some students would lie and tell me a wrong grade if I just entered the score they 'remember getting'. I will give you the rest of the month to turn in your new project and we will put that in as your grade."

I nod, dazed. It took me three weeks to finish that project and there is only a week and a half left in the month. Masey and I walk in silence to lunch after that. She knows as well as I do this assignment will be all but impossible.

Now there definitely isn't anything that could make this day worse.

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Worse. This is definitely worse. . Why would someone do this to ME! I try to be a good person! What did I do to deserve this day?!?!

I've just come out of the locker room shower to find my clean clothes have been stolen. All that remained was my backpack and a note that said," you shouldn't just leave things out for anyone to take ;)" of course, I know who did this. Alona Vanderbilt- once a friend, now a complete enemy- is the only one who could be so cruel. She and I had gotten along great until Michael and I had started dating. Apparently she had eyes for Michael and even though I hadn't known, she was absolutely furious with me when he and I began dating. She swore she would get me back for that. I didn't think she was serious though. Why now? I don't even know- considering I broke up with Michael weeks ago.

I am absolutely FURIOUS! I grab my nasty, sweaty gym clothes and my perfume bottle and attempt to mask the smell of clothes fresh from the weight room. I honestly can't think of anything more embarrassing than walking the hall and people telling me to take a shower.

Pulling the foul smelling things on and dousing myself in another layer of perfume, I exit the locker room stall with an expression that would cause even the most confident of people to shrink back in fear.

I walk out of the school building glad that I can finally go home and spend the evening watching Netflix. Oh wait! I have a world history assignment to work on. My foul mood has gotten even worse-if that's even possible. I'm almost to my Impala when a deep voice behind me calls my name.

I turn around to see its Brett, and somehow I manage a weak smile. "Hey what's up?" I attempt at conversation.

He doesn't buy my crap, as per usual, and looks at me with a concerned face. I drop the act immediately, heading into his outstretched arms for a hug. I just wish this whole day could be over with. It's been absolutely terrible.

Brett is the best friend to make me feel better though. He smoothes my damp hair with his palm and whispers encouragement in my ear as I just stand there sobbing pathetically. If I was with anyone else I would be extremely embarrassed, but with Brett I know I'm safe to let everything out.

I'm not sure when he does it, but I look up to see he's carrying me to his truck. I stay silent except for the sobs that escape my lips a few times. He lets the tailgate down, sits me on the edge and then hops up next to me. I lean my head on his shoulder and we just stare at nothing for a while until the tears have dried and the parking lot of the school has been almost completely evacuated.

"So I guess you're probably wondering what that was about.." I state matter-of-factly. He just looks at me with a smile and shrugs," you don't have to tell me."

I smile and tackle him into a hug. This is why he and I are such good friends. He's always there for me. It doesn't matter what I'm facing. He just hugs me and tells me everything will be ok. No questions asked - he just does it.

I find it kind of unfair not to tell him- after all he just did for me. I explain everything to him, and by the end, I'm quite exhausted.

I jump off the tailgate of his truck and give him one last hug before heading to my car. I take in a huge breath and let it out slowly. Today could've been worse and I need to just focus on the positive things in the situation.

I think I'm finally ready to get started on my world history project.

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What do you guys think? Are Holly and Brett really JUST friends?

Let me know what you think should happen and your thoughts about the story! Again thanks for reading and I hope you stick around until the end! ❤️

-M.J. 😚