Closer to perfection (academic rivals)

Chapter 5 ♡

! GO READ CHAPTER 4 BEFORE THIS ONE. !

H E A T H E R

I walked out of second period feeling 1. Disappointed that I didn't stop myself from sleeping so I now have extra work to catch up on, 2. Tired and 3. Embarrassed. I had caught a glimpse of Caelan's eye when I had "discreetly" looked at his page. I would have preferred him to seem taunting or even infuriated by the idea that I had looked off his page, but instead his look was..pitiful. It was as if he was scrutinising my actions, observing the tired look in my eyes or even the lack of work on my page. There's no doubt he saw me when I was sleeping, but the fact that he saw me looking at his page is, well, just shameful. The look in his eyes, his downturned eyebrows, the softness of his face- it was humiliating. He must've been looking down on me. I could feel it in his presence, the way his jaw loosened, I could feel it from when his mouth slightly turned upwards, almost resembling a smirk. I could feel it in his gaze.

At break, I left off to find Emma, who had art with me next. The corridors however, were against the idea of me finding her. I could feel shoulders brushing mine, shoes bumping against my heel and my hair getting caught on bags. The chattering amongst me turned into loud echoes that vibrated from my eardrums and channelled through my mind. The noise was irritating and it triggered a pang of pain in my mind. Would you call it a headache? Migraine? I'm not too sure. My eyelids grew heavy and my mind was spinning.

Click. Tap. Tap. The first thing I heard was someone aggressively typing on a computer.
"Oh you're awake!" Nurse Angelica jumped off her chair and released her keyboard. Dramatically dabbing my forehead, she inspected my face before sighing.
"Heather, this isn't the first time you've paid a visit here, you really-,"
"-A visit? I don't even remember coming here miss"
"You really should be mindful of your health. Too much stress will only worsen your state and your increasing anxiety levels don't make it any better," she quickly wrote a note and placed it in my hand. "Try to not stay up so late next time. I did email your teacher as well but I wrote a letter to inform her why you were absent for your previous period."
The door flung open.
"HEATHER!"
Hailey and Emma flooded into the room like a big wave in a tsunami, as if they were crashing over me (they were).
"We came as soon as we heard," Emma said, clasping onto my hand.
"I can't believe Caelan would do that though.. who knew he was so.." Hailey trailed off in thought.
"Kind?" Emma asked. Hailey shook her head.
"I think maybe thoughtful describes it better?"
Huh..what about Caelan? Have these girls been brainwashed or something? Have they banged their heads? Were they the ones who fainted instead of me? They've officially lost their brains.
"Guys what do you mean Caelan's kind or thoughtful.."
The two of them paused, before exchanging a look.
"Guys." I pleaded, staring at them dead in the eye.
"So.." Emma started. I huffed in impatience.
"So?"
"So, I'm sorry that we didn't tell you sooner cuz we thought you'd already knew because maybe you'd remember or maybe you heard from nurse Angelica, but basically Caelan took you to nurse's office when you were unconscious and I think only a few people- Hazel, Margaret and Pritti- saw but don't worry because Caelan already told them not to tell anyone, and he seemed genuinely worried about you oh and also he also asked us to give you this sheet." Hailey handed me a piece of paper with the notes I had missed out on from first period.
"WHAT."
HUH??