Beyond the Bet

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞-𝕱𝖔𝖚𝖗: 𝐀 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭

Olivia

I let out a breath as soon as Joel gets out of the classroom.

I shut my eyes and rest my head against the wall. My heart pounds intensely in my chest as I attempt to breathe slowly, in and out through my nose.

He was here. I had him so close to me after two whole months. 

He was so close to me that I could feel his warmth and his scent, it felt as if I was in a dream. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and lean my head against his chest. I wanted to hug him tightly and tell him how much I've missed him. But I couldn't. I was frozen in place, couldn't even breathe properly with him that close to me. 

He has changed. A lot. He wasn't the Joel I used to know. I couldn't recognize the boy standing in front of me.

He had a strange aura going around him and I couldn't recognize his eyes. His voice was strange as he whispered to me, ''Come to the rooftop.''

My eyes snap open and I shift at my feet as I remember what he whispered to me. My heart begins to pound harder than before. 

He's asking me to go to the rooftop with him? But why? Why does he want me up there with him? 

I debate with myself whether to go or not and in the end, I decide to go. Luke's warning not to go near him today echoes in my ears, yet I choose to ignore it, I have nothing to lose anyway. Still, I can't shake off the doubt creeping within me.

''Liv.'' Andy calls me as I walk down the hallway, making my way toward the rooftop. I turn around and recognize Lucy coming toward me together with Andy, both of them look at me worried.

"Are you okay?" she asks, grasping my left wrist to check my pulse. Andy approaches and looks me up and down with worry in his gaze. 

"I'm fine," I say, pulling my wrist away from Lucy. A glimmer of hurt crosses her eyes, but she hides it quickly and asks, ''Where were you going?"

''You worried us chérie, why didn't you come down to the cafeteria?" Andy asks.

''I'm going to... the rooftop.'' I say swallowing. 

Their faces fall upon hearing my sentence and they share a look with each other before shifting their eyes at me in concern. 

''We can come with you.'' Lucy quickly says grabbing my arm.
''No, I want to go alone.'' I speak, trying to grasp my arm away from her hold.

''No Liv let us come with you, it will be nice.'' Andy says, his eyes reflecting worry and hope.

They think I will do something again. My heart sinks at that thought and the pain I've caused them.

''I... Joel is there.'' I say and their eyes widen. ''He... asked me to meet him there.''

We stay in silence for a minute, looking at each other. I clench my fists tightly waiting for something to come out of their mouths. 

''You're not going.'' Andy shatters the silence. I frown at him and so does Lucy. 

''Yes, I am.'' I argue.
''No, Olivia you're not.'' he raises his voice, and I scoff.

"Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?" I exclaim. Lucy gasps, and Andy looks at me with a pained expression.

The color drains from my face when I realize what I said. 

I hurt him. I hurt another important person in my life. 

''Andy...I-'' I start but he shakes his head, stopping me.