A Rift Between Us

Chapter 52 - The Final Stretch

Alfie let out a deep sigh, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. He clutched the bedsheets, the sun's warmth on his skin offering no solace. The worry of being sent home early gnawed at him. Ms Camdyn and Mr Dodge's conversation kept replaying in his head. He sat up and glanced over at his desk.

I didn't even have time to finish that final bit of revision...

"Today's the big day," he whispered, chest heaving. "This is it..."

He grabbed his phone from the bedside table. The screen lit up, casting a glow on his face. His cheeks hollowed out as he tensed his jaw. New messages had surfaced. He didn't want to see them. She didn't stop. She wouldn't stop. He scrolled down, ignoring the texts. The countless messages they exchanged littered his device with obscene and disrespectful tones. He zipped to the bottom, reading the latest ones. With each message, his grip tightened until he could no longer contain his rage. He drove his fist into the wall, then hurled his phone aside.

The screen locked upon landing, lighting back up to reveal the time. 08:57 AM

"Wait, what??"

His mattress creaked, sinking into itself as he rolled out of bed. Grabbing his uniform, he rushed into the bathroom. After a hurried breakfast, he was out the door, racing against time.

His lungs were thick with exhaust fumes, the heavy thuds of his footsteps echoed in his ears, and his thighs trembled with each stride. His bag thumped against his back with the force of a boxer's blows. The morning air was smoggy, but he barely noticed, darting past the school guard, who scanned for stragglers. At the corridor's end, he saw Mr Dodge, yelling and gesturing wildly as Alfie sprinted his way.

"Sir...I'm so sorry...I'm late...I..."

His torso arched forward, hands on his knees, gasping for breath, unable to speak.

"Alfie, out of all days, you're late today??" His hand sat firmly on Alfie's shoulder. "Get yourself in line for the exams. Everyone is out there."

Alfie's back straightened, the exertion sparking a dull pain in his lower back. He nodded before adjusting his backpack.

"Okay sir."

The doors burst open in his face as a horde of students brushed past him.

Come on, move out of my way.

Several lines of year elevens could be seen in the distance. No going back. No more revision. It was today. A group of staff members stood guiding everyone in, collecting bags and phones for safekeeping. The air inside was filled with the murmur of anxious voices, coupled with the faint odour of cleaning chemicals. Alfie stood last in line, his pupils dilated. A cold sweat sapped the heat from his skin as the distant hum of chatter and the shuffle of feet dominated the hallway.

You can do this...you can do this.

His thoughts scattered as his right shoulder collided with the wall, filling the air with a resounding boom.

"You got a problem with me, nerd? Ignoring my texts. What's wrong? You can't speak now?" she barked, her face swaying left and right. "Answer, then!"

"Go away! We have our final exams," he shifted his face away from hers repeatedly. "Step in line like everyone else."

"Shut up. Don't tell me what to do, yeah? I told you to revise with me didn't I?"

A large vein protruded from Alfie's neck, as if it were trying to escape his body. The staff looked up towards the end of the queue, followed by others who did the same. An ear-splitting crack echoed through the air as Keiko pinned her forearm under Alfie's neck. The display board behind him webbed with cracks as the end of the line lost its formation, with everyone turning to spectate. The sharp scent of Keiko's perfume filled Alfie's nostrils, mingling with his pain and confusion.

"When I say something, you do it!"

Keiko's shoes squeaked as she slipped across the floor, her body stumbling backwards. Her light complexion turned ghostly pale, her face a mask of shock. Alfie's body trembled with fury, his eyes blazing as he watched her struggle to regain her balance.

"Get off me! Just leave me alone! Ever since you've joined this school, all you've done is stress me out and piss me off. Not anymore. I've had enough of your bullshit!"

He stormed into the exam hall, throwing his bag and phone at the staff. The rest of the students gazed at Keiko with indiscernible expressions. Her hand rested on her abdomen, the ache from his knuckles still burning.

I knew it. I guess they're all the same. He's just like that girl from my old school. Whatever. I guess I don't need friends anyway...