Is it possible?

Chapter 4

The vibration of my phone beside my pillow stirred me from my slumber, prompting me to gradually open my eyes. As I shifted to the left and my cheek grazed the pillow, an abrupt pang radiated through nearly half of my face. Reaching out, I instinctively touched my cheek, only to encounter a sharp ache once more. The memories of yesterday rushed back to me, and I found myself gazing out of the window.

The sound of raindrops tapping against my bedroom window provided a pleasing melody to my ears. Rain had always held a soothing quality for me. A sudden flash illuminated the sky, swiftly trailed by the rumble of thunder.

My attention then wandered to my bed, revealing my physics notes scattered all around.

Getting up, I started my usual morning routine before school. Upon entering my en-suite bathroom, I flicked on the light and directed my gaze at the mirror, revealing a substantial bruise on the side of my face, enveloping nearly half of my cheek.

I hurriedly concealed the bruise with some concealer, mentally noting that I would need to buy more soon before I ran out. After preparing for school, the absence of my father's snores downstairs indicated that he wasn't home. 

Following a quick breakfast of cereal, I swiftly left the house and began my journey to school. The rain grew heavier, causing me to jog for half of the way and leaving me thoroughly soaked as I reached the school grounds.

When I approached Rory at her locker, she looked me up and down with an apologetic look, then she began, "You know, you could have asked me to give you a ride. I assumed your dad would drive you. I'm sorry."

I responded with a grateful smile, "No, no, don't worry about it."

Her gaze then fixated on my cheek, her eyebrows furrowed together, and curiosity tinging her voice, she asked, "What happened?"

Caught off guard, my eyes widened to the size of golf balls, a sudden realization dawning upon me – the rain must have washed away the concealer, leaving the bruise exposed. "Oh, um," I stumbled over my words, desperately thinking on my feet, "I actually fell off my bed last night."

Her response was a measured nod, accompanied by a thoughtful expression that hinted at a trace of skepticism. Despite her unspoken doubt, she chose not to delve further into the matter, letting it drop.

In a hurried attempt to change the subject, I quickly mentioned my need to visit the restroom and reapply some concealer. She offered to come with me.

__________

As lunchtime finally arrived, I found myself completely dry, the concealer having successfully masked the bruise on my cheek, and all my arranged physics notes lay sprawled out in front of me. I meticulously read and reread them, occasionally prompting Lorelei to quiz me on certain points.

Despite my intense focus, I couldn't shake off the feeling of someone's eyes on me. However, engrossed in my notes, I refrained from scanning the cafeteria to identify the source. Deep down, I had an idea of who it might've been.

With about five minutes left before the end of the lunch break, I began tidying up my notes, leaning my head against the table in exhaustion.

Lorelei's voice broke through my thoughts, "Oh, come on, Alicia. You've put in so much effort, I'm sure you'll do great."

Her words of encouragement brought a modicum of comfort. I lifted my head, propping it up with my hand, and managed a faint smile. "Thank you," I replied.

Her warm smile radiated toward me, but when her gaze swept the surroundings, her cheeks flushed crimson, immediately giving away the reason. Daniel. I shifted my attention to their table, confirming that indeed, Daniel and Rory were exchanging intense glances, as if they were trapped in a mutual gaze they couldn't break.