CAMPBELLS VS. THORNTONS

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The sound of Mr. Hall's voice droned on, muffled in the background of my mind as I stared blankly at my notebook. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't pull myself back into the present. The events of the previous night refused to leave me alone, circling my thoughts like a storm I couldn't escape.

The party, the tension, the Thorntons. And worst of all... Trent.

My grip tightened on my pen, the ink pressing deeper into the page until it nearly tore. The way Trent had looked at me last night, the unspoken words between us, all of it felt too close. Too much like the past. Two years had passed since everything between us ended, yet sometimes it felt like no time had passed at all.

We had been young, reckless, meeting in secret when no one else could see. From ages fourteen to sixteen, I'd lived in this bizarre, hidden world where Trent and I existed apart from the reality of our families' hatred. He'd sneak me into his room, keeping me away from the rest of the house. We'd laugh, argue, and for a short time, I had fooled myself into thinking that maybe—just maybe—we could work. But it had always been a fantasy. The world outside his room was a harsh reminder of who we were: Campbell and Thornton, enemies for generations.

I bit the inside of my cheek, willing the memories away, but they came flooding back, relentless. The stolen glances, the quiet moments of laughter we'd shared... How naive I had been to think it could last.

Why can't I just move on?

"You're doing my head in," Caleb's voice suddenly pierced my thoughts, telepathically, of course. He sat next to me, staring straight ahead at the front of the classroom, but his focus was clearly on me. "Seriously, Cristine, how loud are your thoughts going to be today?"

I glanced over at him, startled. "Sorry... I didn't realize."

I have no idea how no Campbell has heard about my thoughts of Trent for the past two years, but it truly was a blessing. I'd never be allowed out again.

"You're thinking about last night, aren't you?" Caleb's telepathic voice was softer now, tinged with concern. "Is everything okay?"

Before I could respond, Mr. Hall's voice cut through the room, sharp and unforgiving. "Miss Campbell, care to share with the class why you're speaking during my lesson?"

My heart jumped. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Caleb's thoughts were back.

I can make him stop, you know. Just a little compulsion...

I shook my head subtly, quickly sending back, No. Never mind. Let it go.

Caleb frowned but didn't argue. I could feel his confusion, but he stayed silent, opting to stay out of it this time.

"Stay after class, Miss Campbell," Mr. Hall continued, his voice full of condescension. "We'll have a discussion about respecting authority."

I sank back in my chair, my face heating with embarrassment. Caleb shot me a sympathetic glance, but his telepathic voice had gone quiet. He could tell I didn't want any more attention drawn to me.

The rest of the class dragged on painfully slow. My thoughts remained tangled, my mind flashing between the confrontation with the Thorntons last night, the tension between Trent and me, and the weight of our history. I could feel the past creeping up on me, making it impossible to focus.

Finally, the bell rang, releasing the class. Students shuffled out, leaving me alone with Mr. Hall. I stayed seated, staring down at my notebook, pretending to work on the extra assignments he'd given me. But I was only half paying attention to anything on the page.