FROZEN IN BETWEEN

FINAL IS NEAR

JUSTINE'S P.O.V

"When will you ready to go to Pittsburgh? Your Mom said something to me about that." Dad brought up the issue on the table during this morning's breakfast.

"Hmm...something I want to do soon." I nodded.

"How soon?"

"Soon as possible Daddy." I put my spoon and fork. "When will you let me?"

"I am letting you. See? That's why I'm asking. I want to contact Uncle Rayvon."

"Uncle Rayvon? You make me live in his house?" I excitedly cheered.

"Let's see what they think of it." Dad winked. "Alright good luck with your final!"

"Thank you Daddio!" I hugged him and walked him to the car.

"Drive safely, girl!"

Oh yes. I'm so happy Dad finally noticed my plan. Pittsburgh is the best place for me right now. I don't want to be here anymore. It's just one last final that I should do before end of study term and I'll move out. This should be that easy right? I started hating Orlando breeze. I don't want to meet anybody anymore.

"Hey Justine." A friend waved at me as I was standing by my locker.

"Hey Maddie, how you doing." I smiled back.

"I'm good, thanks." She approached me. "What's your final today?"

"Oh it's only math left. I've done the rest by the whole week this week." I answered. "What about you?"

"Gosh I just found out that Geography was hard..." Maddie rolled her eyes.

"Dang right." I chuckled.

"Hey, do you know that Sheryl and Toby are actually dating right now?"

She turned the topic all upside down. Why talking about him at the very 9 am? Why ruining my mood?

"Uh I'm not paying attention to that but certainly know they're dating." I closed my math book because all inspiration has gone.

"Yeah right? Oh my gosh it's a hot topic in my classroom. Those people were saying it's supposed to be you." Maddie kept talking about the particular topic.

"Wait what? Should be me what?" I choked.

"Dating him." She giggled. "Oh hey by the way it's just a gossip. And I gotta go. Bye bye!"

"Uh yeah..." I stared at her back. What did she just say again?

I walked to my classroom with a shocked expression. Well the short holiday was just over. It's not holiday probably, just a week off before the final. But in a week, what could actually go wrong? Who's making up the gossip? What is everybody talking about? So I was just passing the corridor up to the classroom when all seniors were whispering and pointing at me, it was about that?

"This is the final test of the grade before you can be a senior in this school. So make sure you do this carefully, read every line, take your moment, and good luck."

Our math teacher passed the paper test to us and counted the time down. I took a deep breath. I should pass it. I should go to Pittsburgh. Orlando has hurt me too much.

Two hours was quite short for this test, but I did it perfectly. The score A is possible but let's see. The thing is, as long as I pass the test, I'll be fine. After packing all the books on my locker, I drove back home by myself. Not so interested to join some club farewell meetings where everybody would hug each other and say how great this year been. Funny. They will actually meet again next year. It's me who's moving out and not literally into telling everybody here.

"Justine!"

I was about to close my front door til this girl came out from her car and walked toward me.

"Sher? Hi sorry I didn't see you."

"No problem I was actually waiting in my car. Can I come in?"

"Oh why even asking. Come on in. Sorry I just got home. Hey didn't you have a final too?"

"Me? No it's over yesterday." She sat on my living room couch.

"So..."

"Guess what?" She smirked.

"What?"

"Toby and I are officially okay! We're dating normally again!"

Bam. It was a thunder in a sunny day. You might as well just slap my cheek because it'd feel better than this. Yeah that's what I wanted. For the sake of Toby's happiness, they're going back together. But it's still hard to know. She could just keep it by herself. I have known enough.

"It's all because of you so I thank you so much!" She spinned me around.

"You're welcome Sheryl. Your happiness is mine too." I hugged her as well as holding back so much emotion.

"I know! Oh my goodness you're the best!"

"You too!" I fake a laugh.

"Hey I haven't come here before. I guess." She drank the coffee that I prepared for her.

"True that." I nodded. "From where did you get my address?"

"First, it's not too far. And second, I was going through Toby and your childhood pictures in his room and found a swing that I recognize well." She pointed outside. Yes, the swing that Toby built for me.

"Oh haha the swing. My father built that." I stacked another lie. What, you want me to tell who's doing that and ruin what's already ruined?

"Exactly. I was like oh I have passed the house with this swing few times before. Hahaha."

"Yeah..." And that's it, the awkward silence level was pretty high around here.

"It's a pleasure to meet you today Justine. Thank you so much for helping with this. You're the best. I'll see you soon?" Sheryl took her bag and walked outside.

"Sure sure. I'll be around." I walked her.

"Bye bye." Sheryl hugged me.

"Bye."

I closed the front door right after she turned the car machine. Not be able to hold it anymore. I cried against the wall in the living room, with unattended TV show that I intendedly turned on to kill the tension. Dammit, even a cartoon show looks horrible from this side. I want June to approach real soon. Enough. I've cried so many tears.