Rancorous

Chapter 26

PRESENT

Herlina

As I walk into school on a Wednesday morning, it feels like a Monday at the amount of quietness in the halls. Before, people would give me mean stares, but today people tend to ignore me. I guess news about yesterday's events made people realize that I'm a human being and they finally decided to leave me alone.

People talk. Rumors spread easily in a small town where everyone knows everyone. A reminder of what my mother told me yesterday.

I know she cares about me.  But it feels like she carried it out in the wrong way.

Or, did I overreact?

Either way, I's still hurting from her comments.

After third period is over, I spot Reth by his locker showing some boys from the chess club yo-yo tricks. I stare, surprised by his hand movements and the way the yo-yo spins in the air in a non-traditional way.

"Reth!" I call him.

All the boys turn toward me. Reth mutters a couple words to the five boys and they all nod, a little disappointed, before leaving. When he turns to me, he grins goofily with a mischievous look in his eyes.

"Hey Herlina, think fast!" He reaches in his back pocket and before I know it, he tosses something at me. My feeble attempt at catching whatever object is flying in midair is pitiful. The tips of my fingers don't even touch it and before I know it, it smacks loud and hard on the ground. My eyes widen at the apple logo on the back of the rectangular, silver object on the floor.

I gasp and pick it up hoping that it's safe and sound. Squinting my eyes as I flip it over, my heart sinks at the completely shattered screen. Who on earth carries their phone without a phone case or screen protector? And who goes around throwing their phone like a lunatic?

"I'm so sorry Reth." I begin, feeling disappointed in myself but also annoyed at him for doing such a foolish thing.

He frowns as he grabs his phone from my hands. Examining it, his blue eyes show no concern or shock but rather confusion.

"I'm terrible at hand-eye coordination. I'm so sorry, but why did you even throw it to me in the first place?"

He reaches in his back pocket and pulls out a shiny phone, larger than the one he threw to me.

My mouth falls open.

He grins again. "Good thing I always carry back-ups am I right? I always end up breaking one and I don't even know why." He shrugs his broad shoulders and pockets the shattered phone. "Matter of fact," he holds the shiny phone out to me, "You want this one? I have like twenty more in a drawer back home."

Blinking a couple times, I shake my head. I close my mouth realizing it's still agape. "I uhm, no thanks I'm okay."

He nods, his blonde curly hair flopping all over the place and pulls out a pack of gum.

I almost forgot why I came looking for him. "Reth, I just wanted to ask you how is Brevin? Why isn't he here today?"

Popping a gum in his mouth, he offers me one and I accepted. "He got suspended because he went all hulk smash on Nolan's face."

"Suspended?" Guilt stresses my nerves and I rub at my cheeks. "I feel awful."

"Don't." Reth says firmly. "He doesn't regret what he did."

I sigh. "How is he?"

Reth scratches the top of his head before rubbing the back of his neck. "He's alright." Something is off about him and I watch him skeptically. Then, he plants his hands on his waist. "How are you by the way? I heard what happened." His eyes show concern and I'm taken aback by his mature demeanor.