Rancorous

Chapter 26

PRESENT

Herlina

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

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

I knew she cared about me. But it felt like she carried it out in the wrong way.

Or, did I overreact?

Either way, I was still hurting from her comments.

After third period was over, I spotted Reth by his locker showing some boys from the chess club yo-yo tricks. I stared, surprised by his hand movements and the way the yo-yo spun in the air in a non-traditional way.

"Reth!" I said as I neared him.

All the boys turned toward me. Reth muttered a couple words to the five boys and they all nodded, a little disappointed, before leaving. When he turned to me, he grinned goofily with a mischievous look in his eyes.

"Hey Herlina, think fast!" He reached in his back pocket and before I knew it, he tossed something at me. My feeble attempt at catching whatever object was in midair was pitiful. The tips of my fingers didn't even touch it and before I knew it, it smacked loud and hard on the ground. My eyes widened at the apple logo on the back of the rectangular, silver object on the floor.

I gasped and picked it up hoping that it was safe and sound. Squinting my eyes as I flipped it over, my heart sank at the completely shattered screen. Who on earth carried their phone without a phone case or screen protector? And who went around throwing their phone like a lunatic?

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

He frowned as he grabbed his phone from my hands. Examining it, his blue eyes showed 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 reached in his back pocket and pulled out a shiny phone, larger than the one he threw to me.

My mouth fell open.

He grinned 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 shrugged his broad shoulders and pocketed the shattered phone. "Matter of fact," he held 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 shook my head. I closed my mouth realizing it was still agape. "I uhm, no thanks I'm okay."

He nodded, his blonde curly hair flopping all over the place and pulled 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 offered me one and I accepted. "He got suspended because he went all hulk smash on Nolan's face."

"Suspended?" Guilt stressed my nerves and I rubbed at my cheeks. "I feel awful."

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

I sighed. "How is he?"

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