teenage nightmare ² ━━ amour

49.

49.
chapter forty-nine:
watching my crush
kiss someone else?
just another day
in heartbreak high.

I let out a sharp breath when Gary conveyed that my note had been delivered to the right hands.

After returning from registering my name for the soccer team, I found Serena contemplating not going to the end-of-year prom. It came as surprising news, even if it gave me a guilty pleasure like never before.

As Butterhead had admitted once in her letters, anything involving just Serena's name had me lose my chivalry and eavesdrop as if my life depended on it. I couldn't simply get her out of my brain, and any news revolving around the girl was all I could get about how she was faring. At times, Butterhead would become more relatable than anybody else, and I found myself attracted to that trait of my "secret admirer."

My mind reeled back to probable reasons why Serena wasn't interested in the ball. As far as I could dig up gossip from May, there was a Grade Leader meeting to be held in five days.

Ever since Serena won the elections by a landslide, she had been busy. Her handling of daily timetables had become the only face-to-face encounter I’d had; even then, I would simply be looking elsewhere out of guilt.

Misty, on the other hand, felt so horrible for letting me down and being unable to prevent Serena from getting close to Calem that she stopped talking to the girl entirely.

I was sure Serena was quite puzzled at the bizarre behavior from a girl who had been quite alright a few days ago. Judging from how uncomfortable she got around us while distributing our assignments, even if Gary was the one doing all the talking, I assumed, one, she simply couldn't stand me, or, two, she felt awkward around Misty and me.

"No, you would look better in a purple suit!"

"Misty, Misty, Misty! You've got it all wrong. I know what color I'd look good in."

I looked up from my bench at the arguing couple. After their apparently successful date that I had struggled to set up, they were finally together. The only hitch was, they still didn't consider themselves a couple. "What's this nonsense?" I asked, a good five minutes later.

Misty turned to face me with a face contorted with barely held anger. "This—boy!" she managed between huffs. "Thinks he should show up to the ball wearing a black suit! Tell me, Ash!" The way she dragged my name had me grimacing. This was serious. "Wouldn't purple suit him better?"

"Er," I stuttered, not knowing whose side to take. "Maybe?"

"Ha!" Gary laughed. "You're asking him! He's got no clue about color schemes!"

"No, you shut up!"

"Why should I?!"

I held my head as the telltale signs of a headache settled. They didn't seem to be stopping anytime soon, and I found myself doubting if they were attending the ball together. I studied them for a minute. Their argument showed no signs of abating, so I packed my stuff and prepared to leave for my soccer practice.

"See you guys at the hostel. I'm leaving for practice," I said to the air around, then left the cursed classroom.

On my way, I decided to let loose more of my chivalry and take a stop to see how the grade leader meeting was going on. By the time I got there, the entire classroom was deserted except for two people: Serena and Calem.

They seemed to be in the middle of a serious conversation and didn't notice me by the entrance. "—Want you to take vigilance duty. I'll be on the first floor if you do need me," I heard Serena say.

Initially, I intended to give them privacy, but when I spotted the girl leaning closer to Calem, something in me went out. I stooped down, along with my heart, acting like I was tying my shoes the moment I saw them kiss.

I was right then, I thought with habromania filling my chest. Serena did have a thing for Calem, and I had been just a friend all along.