I'm toxically in love with you

Ch. 8 Prom night

Xavier's P.O.V

As the news of the senior prom swept through the school halls, excitement bubbled up around me like a fizzy soda. Everyone was buzzing with anticipation, talking about dresses, dates, and dance moves. But for me, Xavier, the announcement brought a mix of emotions that left me feeling uneasy. See, things had been complicated lately. Callix had been distant ever since a rift had formed between us. His once warm demeanor had turned cold, leaving me feeling adrift and alone. 

So, when the principal announced the prom, instead of feeling excited like everyone else, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling in my stomach. The thought of Callix going to prom with Olivia, his ex who had suddenly reappeared, filled me with a mix of jealousy and sadness. It wasn't that I wanted to be with Callix romantically; it was just hard seeing him move on so easily.

"Hey, Xavier! Who are you going to prom with?" she asked loudly, her tone laced with an unmistakable hint of mockery.

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach at her words. Olivia's sudden focus on me felt like a spotlight shining on my insecurities, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable.

"I... uh... I haven't thought about it yet," I stammered, trying to brush off her question with a casual shrug.

But Olivia wasn't about to let me off the hook that easily. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she leaned in closer, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, come on, Xavier! I'm sure someone as popular as you has plenty of options."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, fueling the fire of self-doubt that already smoldered within me. I tried to muster a confident response, but my voice faltered under the weight of her scrutiny.

"Yeah, well... I'm still figuring things out," I replied lamely, inwardly cursing myself for not having a better comeback.

"I'm going with Callix," She said while leaning on Callix's shoulder.

Olivia's words hit me like a punch to the gut, the casualness of her announcement cutting through me like a knife. I forced a tight smile, trying to mask the turmoil raging inside me, but the pain lingered just beneath the surface.

"Good for you," I replied, my voice strained as I struggled to maintain my composure.

But inside, my heart ached with a rawness that I couldn't ignore. The sight of Callix standing beside Olivia, his silence deafening in the face of her teasing, cut me deeper than I cared to admit. It was as if a rift had formed between us, widening with each passing moment, until the gulf between us seemed insurmountable. Olivia's teasing subsided, replaced by a sly smile as she turned her attention elsewhere. But the memory of her words lingered, a reminder of the insecurities that still lurked beneath the surface. I couldn't help but feel a pang of betrayal at Callix's lack of response, a silent plea for support falling on deaf ears. It was a harsh reminder of the distance that had grown between us, a stark contrast to the closeness we once shared.

Because of anger, I walked out to them. The tears I had been holding back threatened to spill over, and I couldn't bear the thought of anyone seeing me like this. I needed to find a quiet place to gather my thoughts, to let the emotions wash over me without anyone else witnessing my vulnerability. The restroom seemed like the perfect sanctuary, a temporary refuge from the chaos of the world outside. I stumbled inside, my vision blurred by the tears that streamed down my cheeks. I sat on the restroom seat where students usually waited for their friends to finish.

"Are you okay?"

The voice cut through the silence like a lifeline, pulling me back from the depths of my despair. I looked up, blinking away the tears to see Gavin standing before me, concern etched into his features.