A Rift Between Us

Chapter 58 - Envelope Of Destiny

Mr Dodge's body ploughed through the students, catching Alfie off guard. His eyes locked onto a small group of troublesome boys, Nathan among them.

"Get back in line! Stop mucking about. You've got your final results to pick up."

Nathan pinched his shirt, pulling it back and forth with a playful grin.

"What're you gonna do, sir? It's the last day of school!"

Mr Dodge broke into a sprint. The boys scurried off like startled crabs, giggling and laughing as if nothing mattered. His feet slid to a halt, ending the pursuit. His eyes now focused on Alfie in the distance. He cupped his hand around his mouth and let out a hoarse, gravelly yell, as if thousands of shards of glass were rattling in his throat.

"Alfie, come over here!" He thumped his chest several times as he cleared his throat. "Stop wasting time!"

Streaks of dew and mud replaced the tiny gravel bits under Alfie's shoes. They squelched under his feet, as if it had rained overnight. Mr Dodge turned, his body battered by fatigue as he stumbled towards the gazebo. His belt had a deep gash, nearly severed. Just a little more damage and his trousers would drop. Alfie followed closely behind him, head tilted to the right in an attempt to see. A lone envelope sat on the side, excluded from the pile the invigilators pulled from.

Is that mine? Why is it there? Is that bad? Why am I not expected to line up like everyone else?

Mr Dodge yanked it, his arm then shooting out at Alfie. His torso hunched as his shoulders slackened. His hair was still a mess, flapping randomly in the gentle breeze. His eyes were painted with an air of disappointment, or perhaps bafflement—it was hard to tell. Alfie hesitantly grabbed it.

"But sir, why was mine on the si-"

His body jerked back as Mr Dodge cupped his hands around his mouth, bellowing towards the same boys from before.

"How many times do I have to talk to you boys? Go back in line!"

His shirt had partially slipped from under his belt, waving about in the air. Alfie observed his peers reviewing their results. One student tossed their sheet and threw a tantrum. Many looked disappointed, while others dumped theirs in the school bins. Clearly, a number of people had failed.

Oh my god...this is bad. Mine can't be any different than theirs.

Loud shrieks and noisy discussions heightened Alfie's unease. He jogged to a distant corner near the school gates, his house keys jingling in his hand. With a swift motion, he slid them under the lip of the envelope. It tore through, leaving jagged edges that barely fazed him. That paper. That paper determined everything. He'd either enter college, or he wouldn't. He'd study cyber security, or he wouldn't. It was as simple as that. Drops of sweat fell onto his hand. He tilted his head to the sky, the wind whistling past his face.

"Please, please, please..." he mumbled. His hand slipped the sheet out with misgiving. "Please be good grades..."

Alara stood some distance away, arms folded. Her envelope and results nestled separately between her fingers. She focused on him, watching him slowly look down at his paper. His eyes flicked rapidly as he read down the list of lessons and their respective grades, one after another. He shook his head, hands trembling as he placed the paper away from his face.

Straight A's.

Every. Single. Lesson.

The results paper flung into the air, whizzing back down erratically. The contents of his backpack shook violently as his body bounced around like a pogo stick.

"Yes, yeesss, YEEEEEESSSSS!!!!!"

Several snaps shot behind him as twigs broke under her feet. Alfie turned his head, seeing Alara ambling towards him. Heat immediately arose from his face, painting it cherry red.

Oh damn...she saw all that, didn't she?

"I must express my sincere congratulations on your apparent success on the exams. However, there is a vital matter I must convey to you."

Alfie scanned her, though struggling to gaze for long. The heat emanating from his face grew in intensity, his hands fumbling in her presence.

"Er, okay...sure."

She wants to share a vital matter? I hope everything is okay...