Visions of Fate

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - JEALOUSY'S STING

Mom didn't talk to me the next morning. When I got down I noticed she wasn't home, meaning she'd gotten up early for work. She hadn't left breakfast either, so I had cereals and walked to school since I'd already learned my address.

Ravenswood High was rowdy when I arrived, and it felt quite weird being in the school after the incident with Benjamin. I searched around outside, but when didn't find Abi, I walked into the building, feeling a little out of place within the student-clones.

"Ms Walker," I spun around to meet Mrs Fletcher walking towards me. She had on a dark pantsuit and as usual, her vixen hair housed an elegant bun that stood on her head. I caught her glasses reflect the light in the hallway as she smiled at me. "Just the person I was looking for."

I returned her smile with an uncertain one. "Good day, Mrs Fletcher."

Her cheeks rose much like Abi's as she gave me a welcoming grin. "You came right on time, Ms Walker. Your uniform just came in, so I need you to come with me to test it out." I nodded and followed Mrs Fletcher down the hallway and into her office. I noticed a young woman seated at the opposite end of her table and I briefly wondered if she was the seamstress.

"Here you go, Ms Walker," Mrs Fletcher offered me a transparent bag stuffed with the Ravenswood Academy uniform. "There will be a toilet in the next hallway opposite this one. I need you to try your uniform and come back in case of any adjustments." I nodded in reply and took my uniform from her grasp and walked to the toilet she directed me to.

I was glad when I found the toilet door, more so when I discovered no one in there. The toilet was almost bigger than my bedroom, lined with toilet stalls and decorated with a large mirror that was pinned by a wide countertop with sinks and faucets.

I walked into one of the empty stalls and changed into my uniform, heart drumming so fast all the while. Maybe it was because of the fact that I was soon going to be classified as a full Ravenswood Academy student, or maybe it was because I wasn't ready to become one yet.

I felt lucky when I saw a pair of ironed socks in the bag, and slipped into it effortlessly. The pair of knee length socks didn't go well with my leather boots I had paired with my sundress, but it was enough to carry me through the day.

I carried my sundress from the closed toilet lid and placed it into the empty bag, stepping out of the stall. I immediately noticed a full-length mirror at the other end of the room, so I stepped in front of it. The image of myself from my vision blinded my sight, nearly making me release a wince.

The deep red blazer cloaked the white t-shirt, clinging to my waist before falling freely over the short plaited skirt.  My socks then came into view, stopping the entire outfit from being indecent. Though my leather boots gave the outfit an odd taste, I appreciated my looks, nonetheless.

I smiled gratefully at my reflection and stepped closer to the mirror. My pale skin still refused to get enough tan, I noticed upon further inspection. My snow-white hair flowed down my pale face, becoming a stark contrast to the blazer I had on. I offered a small smile at the person that smiled back at me. At least I didn't have chapped lips anymore.

I stepped out of the toilet and felt slightly weirded out by how finely I blended in with the other student-clones. Taking a deep breath, I steadied my breathing and growing nerves, before walking to Mrs Fletcher's office.

I rounded the corner to the hall with her office when I heard a low whistle from behind me. I spun in my heels to catch Benjamin openly eyeing me. He had some textbooks in his arms, but no sign of Abi or Zara anywhere near him.

"Who is this fine cupcake and what have you done with our precious Emily?" Benjamin teased, extracting a laugh out of me.

"It's just me, Benjamin," I rolled my eyes playfully.

"Call me Ben," he said. "With this look right here," he clucked his tongue. "You've earned it."

I smiled at him in reply. "Where are the others?"

Ben shrugged. "Haven't seen them this morning, though I'm pretty sure Abi's practicing cheerleading again."

"Abi's a cheerleader?" I deadpanned.

Ben quirked an eyebrow, "Are you really that surprised?" No, no I was not.

I excused myself and went back to Mrs Fletcher's office, where she approved my outfit and gave me my locker combination.

Feeling a wave of relief, I quickly took my bag and went to hunt for my new locker. I traced the tiny number above each locker until I eventually came across locker 018.

"Bingo," I muttered, clicking the code for the locker. Much like the gate from last night, the grey locker door opened with ease and I quickly started unloading heavy textbooks, all the while trying to ignore the heavy smell of dust and age in my locker.

"Emily," I heard my name from over the tiny door of my locker and my eyes exploded. Ethan and I hadn't spoken since he had stormed out on me last night and as much as I wanted to speak with him, the school hallway wasn't idly the best place for it.

Taking a deep breath, I steadied my racing heart and shut my locker door. My heart immediately sunk when I saw what was waiting behind the door.

Ethan was in his uniform and blazer, but had his hair a disheveled mess on top his head. But it was who was beside him that had my heart sinking. I formed a grin so fake, I felt every bone in my body clench, making eye contact with grey ones that belonged to the devil. And that devil had her hand linked around my boyfriend's arm. Okay, now it was my teeth that clenched in anger, though I still maintained my smile.

"Ethan," I cleared my throat when my voice came out too tight. "Hi."

I saw the look in his eyes shift into a surprised one. "Your uniform suits you well."

"Oh," my voice heightened in pitch when Ava snaked her hand higher on Ethan's arm. I was pretty sure she could feel his thick muscles under that blazer. I clenched the hand of my bag pack to release some frustration, trying not to slap that evil smirk off Ava's face. "This?" I tried to release a laugh to lower the pitch of my tone, but straightened when Ethan gave me weird look. "It's–It's nothing."

Did this feel weird to anyone else? Having my childhood boyfriend and his childhood "best friend" make me whimper under their intense and equally judgemental gazes? Didn't he feel even an ounce of tension burning between Ava and I? Either he was completely naïve or entirely oblivious. Either way, it created a nerve that sparked inside me.

"Okay…" Ethan looked awkward, and I had to resist the urge to slap my forehead. "Anyways Ava and I have big news." It quite shocked me that he wasn't offering any smile through all this. "The Patels and the Halls, that's both our families, are having a social gathering this Saturday. Since you're my girlfriend and you've finally been let out of your home, it's only normal that I invite you. I'll pick you up by eight. Make sure to be ready before then."

Wow okay, slow your roll smarty-pants, and just give me some time to process everything, would you? "Of course, I'd love to be there." Did they see the slight twitch I felt on my smile?

"It's so nice to have you be a part of our family tradition, Ems," Ava beamed and I tried to stop my skull from erupting an angry volcano. "I can't wait for you to be there." She had the nerve to slip out of Ethan's arm and bundle me up in a hug that felt tighter than it appeared. I tried not to sneeze as her thick rosy perfume invaded my nostrils. "Be there and you get killed," she whispered into my ear.

"I'll be ready for you," I whispered back and forcefully yanked myself off of her embrace.

She gave me an artificial grin before slipping right back to her previous position. "Come on Ethan," she said leaning especially close this time. "Let's get ready for class." Without another word, Ethan blindly followed her, being compelled to his best friend, rather than his future wife, for some reason.

I stared at their figure as they rounded a corner, before opening my locker and dumping in the rest of my textbooks.

This game she wanted to play was so on. I slammed locker shut and walked back to class.