Warmth

▪ 7 ▪

The next day when I walked into the classroom, there were whispers around me. But I wasn't the type who cared much about what people around me said or thought about me. I just automatically assumed that it must be something about my horrible appearance, thanks to the stupid drug I took yesterday. I was never smoking crack again.

I slumped down on my usual seat and Phoebe beside me like always. I avoided Nathan's presence in the room with all my might even when I felt his gaze on me. 

But when the angry teacher marched inside the classroom everything else washed out of everyone's mind.

The school somehow found out about yesterday's wild party. High school parties took place all the time but this was the first time school found that drugs like meth, crack, pot- the heavy stuff were involved and our school was pretty strict about those kinds of things. 

The fuming teacher screamed at us for a while then he screamed some more. 

Then he told us that those who went to that party would have to come to the teacher's office and admit their involvement on their own otherwise the entire class would be suspended for two weeks. And if we didn't come out clean on our own, the school would release the names of those students publicly- meaning they already knew who went to the party already.

Everyone gasped and the teacher stormed out of the room without continuing the class, leaving us at our own expense. 

After discussing with Phoebe, I decided that I'd come out clean on my own. I'd go to the office during lunch break.

During lunch break, after I admitted everything to the teacher who responded with severe disappointment saying that he'd have to inform my mother too. I accepted everything with a blank mood and the lunch break ended by the time I got released.

I was about to enter the classroom when I heard someone saying my name inside the room. I immediately took a step back and stood behind the door to listen to what they were talking about.

"I'm telling you it was her. I saw her at the party." A voice I couldn't recognize said.

"Sasha wouldn't go to such parties. I know she loves parties but this was way too much, even for her." It was that familiar deep voice I fell head over heels for.

My stomach dropped hearing him.

"Dude, I saw her kissing Takahashi at the party too." Another voice said.

"What? I saw her getting hot with Will too, man!"

"What..." Nathan's voice fell.

"Oh the shit doesn't stop there," I could literally hear the smirk in this person's voice. "After she got stoned, she started screaming... your name!!"

My eyes widened in horror.

"My name?" Nathan asked, confused.

"Yeah, like this, 'why did you do this to me, Nathan? Why?! Why??!'" Someone started screaming dramatically and I felt like the ground beneath me was disappearing.

Everyone started laughing but I didn't hear Nathan's voice among them.

"God! I didn't know you were so chummy with that girl, Nate!"

"I wasn't chummy with her. She was just a... friend."

"I always thought she liked you, bro. I caught her staring at you during chemistry so many times that it almost creeped me out."

"I--"

"Did she asked you out or something?" The guy snorted then started talking in a nasally voice. "'Oh, Nathan, please accept my love! Even though I'm a scary looking grunge, please accept me! Oh I can't live without you, Joy, my love!!'"

"She's not scary. She's actually a very nice person." Nathan said calmly. "She's just misunderstood."

"Oh my God, Nate!" The other guy fake gasped. "You're almost making me think that you're in love with her!"

My breath hitched.

"Don't be ridiculous. She's just a friend, that's all."

"So you wouldn't accept if she ever asked you out?"

My heart started beating rapidly and before I was about to move away from there, I heard Joy's emotionless voice.

"Are you joking? Of course not. No way I'd ever date a girl like her."

Then I ran.

_

Word count: 666