𝐆𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 || #𝟏

Chapter 26

"Oh," Claudia says. Disappointed, "I actually thought Jasmine might've been guilty. Honestly, I kind of wished she did push Alexis down the stairs. But she's still the goody-two-shoes she's always been."

"Everyone!" Mrs G orders, "go get changed. We've got to wrap this up."

-- ------ --

After a while, everyone dispersed. I waited outside of the school in the night, waiting for Claudia to bring the car around. Claudia is actually a decent driver, she doesn't suck as much as I thought she would. Of course, it took a while for her to actually get the hang of everything, but once she mastered the basics and obtained her driver's license, she basically drives for the family now.

Shawn appears from the corner of my vision, in a long black coat, presumably waiting for his parents to pick him up. I make my way slowly towards him, my boots clanking against the ground.

"Hey," I greet, approaching him. He turns around, looks at me, and smiles. "I just wanted to say thanks for defending me, and also for clearing my name."

"I mean, you were innocent. It felt like the right thing to do, I didn't want you to get punished for something you didn't do. Although Alexis is probably mad with me right now, she let me know over text. It'll be a while before I get on her good side again."

"I'm sorry."

"For what? You did nothing wrong."

"I probably just ruined your relationship with your girlfriend," I wryly explained. My hands in the pockets of my jacket as I press on - "I know Alexis and I have had our differences... But I'm glad that she has someone like you. Maybe you'll be a good influence on her."

"Yeah, maybe."

This isn't what I truly think. It took a while, but I've come to terms with the fact that I do, in fact, like Shawn. Luke's nice, but I only see him as a friend. I feel horrible for being so boring on our so-called 'dates' but I can't fake emotion.

Shawn's different, in a way. I don't know why, but I just like him.

But he doesn't like me back. He likes Alexis, and if that's what he really wants, good for him. I just hope that he'll be happy. The most I can hope for with Alexis is that she stops her manipulative behaviour, and becomes nicer to everybody. But who am I kidding? She obviously hadn't stopped, so I can only hope Shawn helps.

"Can I ask you something? I don't want to come off as rude, or offensive." I suddenly say, looking at him.

"Yeah sure, go ahead."

"Why do you like Alexis? I'm genuinely curious."

"Why is that?"

"Well, aside from her posse who are with her because to them, she's someone to be worshipped... But to you, she isn't."

"She's a... Difficult person to read," Shawn says, "the first time I met her I thought she was rude. But then after the first rehearsal, she started being nice to me. Then, she admitted her feelings to me. The feeling was mutual, but lately our relationship just isn't what it was like when it first started. I mean, you witnessed it first hand. Lying, manipulation, it wasn't always like that."

"So... She was actually nice?"

"If I wasn't there to witness it in person, I'd think it was unbelievable as well... Trust me."

Ms Gob, our maths teacher suddenly struts out of the school. She slams the door shut, waggles on over to her car, before shooting a dirty glare at us.

"Why are y'all still here?" She calls out, "aren't your parents picking you up or something?"

"We're just waiting for them!" Shawn calls back, covering for the both of us.

"Jasmine!" She shrieks, "have you done your maths homework?"

"Uh... Yeah!"

"The one I gave out yesterday? The one meant to be handed in next week?"

"Yes!"

Ms Gob inwardly sighs, taking off her glasses. She shuffles around with her jeans for a bit, and then takes out what seems to be a piece of chocolate. She throws it at me, and I somehow manage to catch it midair before it lands in the trash.

"That was meant to go in the trash!"

"Oh, sorry!" I throw the chocolate in the trash. Why'd she throw out a piece of perfectly good chocolate? I huff in disappointment.

Ms Gob fumbles around with her car keys for a minute, before finding the right one. The whole time, we hear her mumbles about how much, in her words, she hates 'smart kids' that try too hard. How is this lady even qualified to teach at a high school?

Claudia finally pulls over in front of us in her car, rolls down the window and says - "Get in, loser."

"Oh uh, that's my ride. Time to go," I grin, walking over to the car. I wave goodbye to Shawn, and as the car is speeding out of the carpark - I can see that he had been looking at us the whole time.

Shawn POV

I can't believe it. Why was it at this moment that I finally realised that I had feelings for Jasmine? Why is it at this moment that I realised that I like both Alexis, and Jasmine?

As I watch her, and her older sister leave the parking lot - this random revelation came into my mind. The way that I'd smile whenever I was around her, or laugh when we texted, had I really liked her all along? And this was the moment that I found out?

Well, whatever I feel for Jasmine... I can't tell her, it'd ruin her and Luke, and Luke's my friend.