Rhythm of deception||Jude Bellingham

unrequited love

I trudged through the grand entrance of Summergate Academy, my heels clicking on the marble floor. Another day, another chance to see him. Blake Stone. My heart skipped a beat as I thought of his chiseled features and piercing brown eyes. But I quickly pushed the thought aside, knowing that he was off-limits. Adelle's boyfriend, and my best friend's happiness, depended on it.

As I walked, the soft rustle of my designer dress echoed through the hallway. I felt like a doll, dressed up and paraded around for everyone's amusement. My curly black hair was straightened to perfection, my dark brown eyes lined with precision, and my caramel complexion flawless. But beneath the polished exterior, I was a mess.

I spotted Adelle and Jade waiting by our lockers, their vibrant chatter a stark contrast to my melancholy mood. Adelle's forest green eyes sparkled as she waved me over. "Hey, girl! What's up?"

I forced a smile, not wanting to dampen their spirits. "Just the usual. Dreading another day of classes."

Jade, ever the optimist, chimed in, "Come on, Castle! It can't be that bad. We have each other, and who knows, maybe today will be the day something exciting happens."

I rolled my eyes, careful not to reveal my true feelings. "Yeah, right. Like that'll ever happen."

Adelle nudged me playfully. "Hey, don't be so negative. You never know what might happen."

But I did know. I knew that I had to keep my feelings hidden, locked away from prying eyes. I couldn't risk jeopardizing my friendship with Adelle, or worse, hurting her.

As we exchanged books and caught up on each other's lives, I couldn't help but steal glances at Blake's group across the hallway. Kennedy and Cody were laughing at something Blake said, their eyes fixed on him with admiration. My heart ached, feeling like an outsider looking in.

Why did I always fall for the one person I couldn't have?

Please let me know if this revised chapter meets your requirements. I'll proceed with the next chapter once you're ready.

As I watched Blake, I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Why did he get to be so carefree, so loved, while I was stuck in this rut of unrequited love? I pushed the thought aside, focusing on my friends instead.

Adelle was talking about her plans for the weekend, something about a party at her house. I nodded along, pretending to listen, but my mind kept wandering back to Blake.

Jade noticed my distraction and raised an eyebrow. "Castle, are you okay? You seem a little spaced out."

I forced a laugh. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

Adelle frowned. "You're not still worrying about your parents, are you? They're going to be fine, Castle. They always are."

I shook my head, grateful for her concern but unable to share my true worries. "No, it's not that. I just...I don't know, I feel like I'm stuck, I guess."

Jade nodded sympathetically. "I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like we're just going through the motions, you know? Like we're not really living."

Adelle rolled her eyes. "You two are so dramatic. We're in high school, for crying out loud! We're supposed to be having fun."

But I knew that Jade understood me. She knew what it was like to feel trapped, to feel like you were living a life that wasn't yours.

As we headed to our first class, I couldn't help but feel like I was living a lie. Like I was pretending to be someone I wasn't, all to keep up appearances.

And then I saw him, standing by his locker, smiling at me like he always did. Like I was his friend, his confidante, his Castle.

But I knew the truth. I was just a secret, a hidden truth that he'd never acknowledge.