Two - Public Embarrassment

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I sat on the edge of my seat throughout the first three lessons of that day. It was mine and Nick's one year anniversary, and I couldn't wait to tell him how I really felt about him, how I was sure I had felt for a while. I loved him, and today was the best time to tell him.

I watched with anticipation as the clock on the wall of my English room slowly ticked down to 12:10. Lunch time.

When the bell finally rang, I quite literally lept from my seat, accidentally causing my books to fall from where they had been precariously perched on my desk.

"Caroline, you need to be more careful" spoke my teacher as he helped me pick up my scattered stationary from the floor. I smiled sweetly at him before running out of the classroom, barely managing not to trip over my own feet on the way out of the door.

Making it to the cafeteria in record time, I tried to calm my breathing before making my way over to my usual table. When I was merely over halfway there, however, Nick stood on the table and called silence among the student body. Obviously, they obeyed, and Nick began to speak.

"Fellow students, as you know, today is my one year anniversary with the one and only, Caroline September Wilson"
He made a hand gesture as if ushering me on top of the table with him, and I obliged, grabbing his hands on my way up.

"And, as most of you also know, that means I have successfully completed my dare"
My face dropped in confusion, and I raised an eyebrow at him as he continued.

"One year ago today, my man Elliot here dared me to ask out Caroline here on a date, and that if she accepted, I had to date her for an entire year, before exposing her in front of the school, just like this. I've waited for this day for so long! You cannot imagine, ladies and gents, how difficult it's been to keep this under wraps! I'm glad that those of you who knew about all this kept your mouths shut! So, Caroline, know you know the truth. I fucking hate you, you're a joke. Your music taste is shit, and jesus, who taught you how to kiss, a fish?"

The entire school was laughing, and I felt like I was about to throw up. I would do anything to reverse the last five minutes. This had to be skme sick joke, right? Or maybe a nightmare? I wasn't sure, but this wasn't funny.

"Okay, you can stop now Nick" I laughed, trying to regain my grip on the situation. "It's not a funny joke, now call it off"

"Joke?!" He yelled, now laughing himself. "This isn't a joke Caroline, and everyone knows that! Do you really think that in a million years I would genuinely want to date you? You're an utter joke yourself, just look at you."

The words stung more than the tears pricking my eyes.
I got down from the table and ran. Ran until my stomach hurt, until my legs began to scream for relief and my lungs themselves gasped for air. Ran far away from the school, away from the embarrassment, away from the laughter, all the way home, all the way hoping the pain would wake me up from this twisted dream.

I slammed the door to my bedroom, regretting it moments later when my mom hobbled up the stairs.

"Caroline, hunny, why are you home so early?" she asked, opening the door slowly. "What's wrong sweetheart?"

I relayed the story to her, and she hugged me, not speaking a single word until my sobs had been silenced by her shoulder.

"I'll make some hot chocolate" she whispered, getting up and leaving my room slowly.

It was at this point that I grabbed my laptop and opened up Facebook, cringing at all of the notifications. I nearly started to cry again when I saw the videos.

There wasnt just one, there were tens, some even starting well before I had entered the cafeteria. By my guess, the entire school had been in on Nick's plan. They'd all been laughing at me the entire time.
I disabled my account, wiping the half dried tears from my face.

"Mom" I yelled down the stairs, hugging the nearest pillow I could find. "We need to move".

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okay so it turns out that short chapters are very easy to write quickly. im genuinely excited for this story, you dont understand. beckett

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