Pieces Of Grace

Chapter 20

The day began like any other, but as soon as I stepped onto campus, I could feel the tension crackling in the air. Whispers echoed in the hallways, and I spotted Kyle and Tom surrounded by their usual entourage, laughter mingling with the chatter. I couldn't shake the anxiety bubbling in my stomach; the aftermath of our last conversation loomed over me.

As I walked past, I caught Lily's eye. She was leaning against a locker, arms crossed, a smirk plastered on her face. She was Tom's sister but had made it her mission to bully me ever since we were kids. With her usual swagger, she approached, flanked by her friends.

"Hey, Alice," she called out, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Still trying to decide which of the popular boys you want to mess with? Kyle or Tom?"

I forced myself to keep walking, but her laughter followed me like a shadow. The last thing I needed was Lily stirring up trouble.

During lunch, I sat with Alya at our usual table, trying to tune out the noise around us. She sensed my distraction and leaned in closer.

"You okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

I sighed, glancing at the popular crowd across the cafeteria. "It's just... everything with Kyle and Tom. And then there's Lily."

Alya nodded knowingly. "You know she thrives on making you feel small. Don't let her get to you."

Just then, I noticed Kyle making his way over, his expression serious. My heart raced. Had he come to talk about what happened last week?

"Hey, Alice," he said softly, stopping in front of our table. "Can we talk?"

I exchanged glances with Alya, who gave me an encouraging nod. "Sure," I replied, standing up and following him to a quieter corner of the cafeteria.

As we talked, I felt the weight of his gaze on me. "I wanted to apologize again for everything. I know it's been chaotic," Kyle said, his voice low. "I just can't help how I feel."

Before I could respond, Tom approached, his expression tense. "Kyle, we need to talk."

I could sense the brewing conflict, the tension palpable. Kyle shot Tom a frustrated look. "Not now, Tom."

But Tom wasn't backing down. "You can't just expect everything to go back to normal, Kyle. You need to think about how Alice feels."

Lily had been watching from a distance, her eyes lighting up at the confrontation. She stepped forward, her smug grin widening. "Aw, the love triangle drama unfolds. How quaint."

"Shut up, Lily," Tom snapped, his patience wearing thin.

"You're one to talk," she shot back. "You're just mad because Kyle has a shot with Alice while you're stuck in the friend zone."

I felt my face flush, the heat of embarrassment mingling with anger. "Lily, just leave us alone."

Alya stood up beside me, her protective instincts flaring. "Seriously, Lily, find something better to do."

But she laughed, her tone mocking. "Oh please, what are you gonna do? Cry about it?"

In that moment, the frustration boiled over. "You know what? I'm done with this," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside. "If you want to keep bullying me, go ahead. It just shows how pathetic you are."

The cafeteria fell silent, all eyes on us. Lily's smirk faltered, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of victory.

As Lily backed off, Kyle turned to me, his expression softening. "Alice, I'm really sorry about all of this. I want to be with you, but I don't want to complicate things further."

Tom sighed, stepping in. "I just want you to be happy, Alice. Whatever you decide, I'll respect it."

I looked between the two of them, heart racing. The truth was, I was still sorting through my feelings, and this wasn't making it any easier.

"I need some time," I said finally, feeling the weight of my words. "I need to figure out what I want."

As I walked back to Alya, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated. With Kyle and Tom on either side, and Lily stirring the pot, the road ahead was bound to be rocky.