Nothing We Could Do

Chapter 4

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———— I V A N N A ————

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On my way to my last lecture, that's when I noticed the stares.

I thought nothing of it at first, maybe a few people recognized me from somewhere but then the whispering and pointing started like I was a freak on display or something.

Shit, I thought, what the fuck is going on?

I recognized a girl from one of my classes who I was friendly with. I practically sprinted over to her, "Hey," I whispered, "Do I have something stuck in my teeth? Why is everyone-"

She just gave me a disgusted look and walked off. I stood there, not knowing what to do as the whispering increased. My anxiety was sky high at the sea of eyes all trained on me.

My heart was beating out of my chest as I forced one leg in front of the other. What the hell was going on?
It felt like the whole entire school was in on some joke about me. I was used to never standing out -good or bad- and now I seemed to be the centre of attention.

A few girls walked past me, one of them purposely knocking into my shoulder as they all glared at me.
"What the hell does he see in her?" I heard one of them hiss.

What did that even mean? I kept my eyes on the ground as I walked and tried my best to zone everyone out. No such luck.

I looked up as someone blocked my path. A friend of Chloe's who I spoke to sometimes.

I sighed, grateful to see a familiar face, "Mason thank god you-" I paused at the look of disgust on his face. Disgust at me. I swallowed, "Mason?"

"Woah Ivanna, I never pegged you as that kind of person, going behind Chloe's back like that?"

I was stunned silent. What the fuck? Chloe was my best and only friend, what the hell did Mason think I had done? What was going on?

I stepped closer to him, lowering my voice, "If this is about what I said to her yesterday, then just-"

He held his hands up, "She hasn't told me anything about whatever your talking about."

"Mason look," I began, conscious of the many people who were listening in, "Me and Chloe are friends, you know that. Whatever it is she thinks I did, I can explain."

He laughed scornfully, "When are you going to tell her you kissed the guy she's liked since freshman year?"

Oh fuck no.

I fisted my hands to stop them from trembling as I realized he knew. How did he find out? Nobody was meant to find out.

"Mason I-"

"Not only that," His face hardened and I knew what was coming, "Your dating him too."

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My fists ached as I pounded on the door. I stood back, hands trembling as I waited for it to open. Sure enough, it did, but a guy I recognized as one of his friends answered the door instead.

His eyebrows shot up when he saw me, "You're the one he's dating?"

I ignored him and instead peered over his shoulder and into the house, "Is Kioshi here?"

Thankfully, he didn't ask any more questions, "Up the stairs, first room to the left."

I mumbled a quick thank you before ducking under his arm and past him.