Within The Pages

Chapter 3 : BAD SITCOM

As I prepared to retire for the night and checked my phone one last time, a new message illuminated the screen. "Evelyn, right?" it read.
"Stephen this side. So, rumor has it you're considering joining my fan club. Just kidding! But seriously, can we talk? I promise not to bite... unless you want me to."
Ugh. What does he want now.
"Alright. See you there."

The next day at school, as I entered the bustling cafeteria, my eyes immediately sought out Stephen's familiar figure amidst the sea of students. There he was, lounging casually at a table with his friends, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of his lips. Despite the cheerful atmosphere around me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion and doubt about his intentions.
"Evy, over here!" Stephen called out, his voice cutting through the noise of the cafeteria. I hesitated for a moment before reluctantly making my way towards him. As I approached, he rose from his seat with a fluid grace.Without a word, he closed the distance between us, his hand firmly encircling my waist as he pulled me closer. I felt a rush of uncertainty as his gaze met mine, his intentions unclear. With a faint smile, he leaned in, his lips hovering close to mine. My heart raced with conflicting emotions as I struggled to make sense of his intentions. But before I could gather my thoughts, the moment was shattered as Stephen abruptly pushed me away."Your mouth stinks," he remarked with a smirk, his friends snickering behind him. What the fuck?
Though his words had wounded me, I pretended like it didn't affect me at all. . "Really, Stephen? Resorting to insults to entertain your friends? How original," I scoffed. "Maybe get some manners before trying to play the cool guy".
I shot him a pointed look before turning on my heel, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. As I walked away, my cheeks burning with humiliation , I could hear the snickers of Stephen's friends echoing behind me.
Ignoring the whispers and stares that followed me, I made my way out of the cafeteria, my mind swirling with a mix of frustration and indignation. Just as I stepped into the corridor, I reached for my phone and with a quick tap, dialed Mr. Davis - my dad. I am forever a daddy's girl . He had always been my rock , the one who could effortlessly turn my frowns into laughter with his quirky jokes and unwavering support.

"Hi there, kiddo. What's up?" Dad's voice crackled with amusement through the phone.
I sighed, "It's like a bad sitcom, Dad. You wouldn't believe the ridiculousness."
"Drama, drama, drama! So spill the beans, what's the latest episode?"
"I got hit with a "your mouth stinks" line by Stephen, the popular guy I told you about. It was fucking embarrassing,dad," I sighed.
"Okay, imagine this," Dad's voice crackled with excitement. "What if Stephen's secretly cooking up his own breath freshener empire? Picture it: 'Stephen's Scent-Sational Solutions – Making Bad Breath Disappear Faster Than Houdini!'"
I couldn't help but burst into laughter at the ridiculousness of the idea.
"And for those really tough cases, he'll unleash his ultimate weapon: 'Stephen's Supernova Mint Blast – Guaranteed to Blow Your Socks Off!'" he chuckled.
We both erupted into laughter, imagining Stephen as the CEO of a breath freshener empire. "Thanks, Dad," I said, still giggling.
"Anytime, kiddo," Dad replied with a chuckle. "Just remember, when life gives you bad breath, sell mouthwash!"
"Haha, I love you dad. Bye." As I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but feel a little lighter, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Dad's ridiculous jokes always had a way of lifting my spirits.
Once my classes concluded for the day, I made my way to the library, compelled by the hope of discovering a response from N within the pages of The Notebook. It was just something I did every day now. As I flipped through the pages of the book, my heart skipped a beat when I spotted a new addition—another small note tucked between the worn pages.
"Hey E,
Your note got me thinking... about you, actually. Like, who knew high school could be this intriguing? I have to say, searching for your response has become my favourite part of the day. And diving into a friendship as cool as solving the mystery of disappearing socks? Yeah, I'm in. Let's crack some cases together, Sherlock!     -N"
As I was engrossed in N's reply, I absentmindedly checked the time and had a classic "oh crap" moment. Julia was MIA today so I had to get home by the school bus, which would leave in just a few minutes. Hastily folding the note, I stuffed it into my bag. As I dashed towards the school's bus stand, I could already hear the faint sound of the bus pulling away. I missed it.
"Well, there goes my ride, off into the sunset without me. Looks like I'm starring in my very own episode of "Evy and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."" I murmured to myself.
So there I was, strutting down the sidewalk like I owned the place, pretending I missed the bus on purpose just to get in some bonus cardio, all while secretly hoping I'd miraculously make it home in an hour... or maybe ten.