Till It Last (Shattered#2)

Chapter#29

Stella didn't feel like eating.

No one would if they could read the word scrawled on bottom of her plastic lunch box. The only reason she was able to spot it was ; it was transparent.

"How did she get to my . . ." She trailed off darkly , not at all surprised as she stared at the bold words.

B E T C H

"Atleast she can't spell." Stella smiled in a morbid manner and then shaking her head , she took the chicken sandwich loaded with mayonnaise , more than necessary , and chomped on.

It was bland and cold.

But she chewed on , not about to give up on life over a silly stupid sandwich!

That's the only food she could get anyways.

While swallowing the first bite, she took another and instantly bile rushed to her throat as she got a glob of mayonnaise in her mouth , her eyes widened in disgust and maybe she would have spit it out but the idea of wasting away her only source of food made her force it down her throat , without tasting it.

"Jesus!" Quickly, she dabbed at the sides of her mouth , still not getting over the moment.

Lunch meant one thing for her ; hunger.

A wild hunger that settled deep in her bones , chilling her spine as she stared at the student body bustling around. Trays filled with rich food , sharing with each other .

Her eyes would follow each tray , the slice of pizza , the mashed potatoes , fruits and—

A guy laughed at his friend and goofed up by trying to take some food from his tray and his elbow crashed with an apple—it shot down to the ground.

No one noticed as the red apple rolled around on the dirty floor , collecting dust around it.

But she saw it.

Saw it laying innocently on the floor.

Stella glanced at her half eaten sandwich and clenched her fists , anger and hunger pumped in her veins every second.

She didn't deserve it!

Slowly, she looked around at the apple , hoping someone would have taken it away but no. .

It was still there.

Taunting her empty stomach.

Biting her lower lip, she got up from the chair and tucked her hair behind her ear trying to be inconspicuous.

No one looked her way.

Her eyes burned brighter , knowing well it was her chance to seize it and eat it away somewhere in peace. Feeling triumphant, she walked towards it , bent down and snatched it!

She held it so tight ,  her nails bit into the delicate skin of it.

Keeping a stoic face , she kept going towards the door and pushed it open. As the doors shut behind her, she didn't look back.

She sprinted.

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Like a cave man, her teeth sunked into the fruit.

She made sure not to be hasty, oh no.

Her mouth worked in a slow blissful way , savouring each bite and taste. It had been so long since she tasted a good apple.

Two years , all it took were two years to flip her world upside down and give her a reality check. Sometimes, she wished she could spill to Hailey but . .

It was her battle.

She didn't want anyone to mess with her strategies. No one could help her out but her. It was a lonely journey but she didn't owe anyone shit.

Sitting on the toilet , she mused on her life and . .unforgiven food.

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Stella didn't dare step in.

The corridor was filled with jocks and him. Maybe it weren't the jocks but him taking over the huge space. Her back sticking to the wall like a glue, she couldn't help but smile , feel life , feel an uncertain something.

Leaning against the wall, he was there. .

Listening to the crowd with a bob of his head but only she could tell he had zoned out. She recalled their late night conversation a few days back.

What's your superpower?

Mine? I zone out whenever I want ; )

And she had gone further and asked him the reason.

His answer sure did confuse her.

When I don't feel like I belong to the convo or ppl, I cut off. If I don't feel the sense of belonging , I don't talk.

Just like now, he wasn't talking.

Stella had been eyeing him from quite sometimes from the shadows when he suddenly frowned and looked her way!

With the speed of light, she snapped back against the wall , her heart into her throat . . breathless with exhilaration. That had been close! Too close!

Did he catch her?

Oh God no!

She didn't have to wait much because she could hear the thundering of feet about to round the corner and see her against the wall. The commotion was so sudden , she didn't get the chance to run or hide or breath.

A group of boys rounded the corner and instantly she ripped her cellphone from her sling bag and acted like she had been here—minding her business.

Just texting and calling.

With her eyes down , she could see the sneakers clad feet going on their merry way , laughing and talking boisterously loud.

Stella didn't dare look up.

She had a feeling she was being stared at.

The hot gaze carried weight with itself and she tried not to squirm under it and have a sue me attitude.

Right that second the screen of her cell popped with a text.

Shit! Her face was on fire!

She tapped the message open.

Look up.

Stella bit her lower lip hard to kill the smile.

And texted back.

No.

Another text.

He was fast, she had to accept.

Look up or I'm coming :)

The threatening smile at the end of his text eliminated every ounce of confidence she had summoned a few moments back.

Coming? In her face? He was going to talk to her ? Look into her eyes?!

Her fingers shook as she typed the message.

Try it and you won't see me ever again.

Stella kept waiting for his reply but it never came , the group of boys had gone off and it was a pin drop silence again.

Seemed like her threat worked.

Sighing in relief , she leaned against the wall , shutting her eyes and thanking the Lord above for her threatening skills.

And her cell beeped.

As she read the message, Stella couldn't help but feel gratitude and smile. .she could cry right now.

I'll see you till there's nothing left to see . Till you can't help yourself but be mine.

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