Rebecca's POV:
Rebecca walked briskly down the school hallway, clutching her books to her chest. She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with everyone, especially Mr. Montgomery. She could feel his eyes on her, but she couldn't bear to look at him. Not after everything that had happened.
"Rebecca, wait!" Lane called out, his voice echoing through the corridor.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. She hurried to her locker, ignoring the tightening in her chest and the butterflies in her stomach.
Charlotte was waiting for her, already bubbling with excitement. "Hey, guess what? I made us appointments to get our nails done after school! You need a break, girl."
Rebecca forced a smile. "That sounds great, Charlotte. I definitely need a distraction."
As they walked to their next class, Charlotte chattered on about how amazing things were going with Oliver. "He's just the sweetest! I mean, he even helped me study for that awful math test. Can you believe it?"
Rebecca tried to focus on her friend's words, but her mind kept drifting back to Lane. She was so mad at him, but every time he spoke to her or even looked at her, she felt like a mess inside. Why did he have to have such an effect on her?
Later that day, they arrived at the nail salon. Charlotte picked out a bright pink polish while Rebecca opted for a soft pastel blue. They settled into the plush chairs, and Charlotte continued her enthusiastic commentary.
"You wouldn't believe what Oliver said last night. He thinks we should start a book club. Can you imagine?" Charlotte laughed, shaking her head.
Rebecca smiled weakly, her mind clearly elsewhere. Charlotte noticed and turned to face her, her eyes filled with concern. "Alright, spill. What's wrong?"
Rebecca sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's just so complicated, Char. I'm so mad at him."
"Mr. Montgomery?" Charlotte guessed, her eyes widening. "What happened?"
"It's what he did with Karen," Rebecca muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "You know how I saw them in his car and she kissed his cheek? I know it's stupid, but it hurt."
Charlotte's eyes widened even more. "Oh yeah, Karen. That witch? Ugh, no wonder you're upset. But why didn't you tell him you saw?"
Rebecca shrugged, fiddling with her nails. "I don't know. When I see him, I get all flustered and... I get these stupid butterflies in my stomach. And he tries to act like nothing's wrong."
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Men. They're clueless. But seriously, you need to talk to him. Clear the air. Maybe it was a misunderstanding."
Rebecca sighed. "Misunderstanding? No, Char. I saw it. And now, every time I see him, I just feel..."
"Like you want to punch him and kiss him at the same time?" Charlotte suggested, grinning.
Rebecca laughed despite herself. "Yeah, something like that."
"Well, you can't keep bottling this up. It's going to drive you crazy. And let's be honest, it's already kind of entertaining watching you squirm every time his name comes up," Charlotte teased.
Rebecca groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I know. It's just... I don't even know what to say to him."
"Start with the truth," Charlotte said, patting Rebecca's arm. "Tell him what you saw and how it made you feel. If he's worth your time, he'll understand."
Rebecca nodded slowly, feeling a bit better. "You're right. I just need to muster up the courage."
"That's the spirit!" Charlotte cheered. "And if he doesn't get it, then you can always fall back on Plan B."
YOU ARE READING
Between The Lines
RomanceI took my usual seat in the back corner, far away from the line of fire that always seemed to follow Mr. Montgomery's gaze. I tried to disappear into the safety of my textbook, but his piercing blue eyes seemed to find me anyway, as if daring me to...
