Unheard

Chapter 9

Elijah's POV

The sunshine crept to my bedroom. I struggled to open my eyes in the bright light. Thank God it was Friday. I went straight to brush my teeth and then into the shower.

After getting ready, which took me a solid hour, I went down to the kitchen, already smelling the toast and bacon.

"Hmmm, something smells delicious," I said to my super mom, the brown auburn hair beauty.

"Elijah Woods, you're late for breakfast." She held her hips by her hands and glared at me. I walked up to her and gave her a kiss on her forehead. Her glare changed into a softened expression as she smiled.

"Trying to be strict failed miserably," I smirked.

"Get your lazy head to school straight after breakfast - really quickly. Kay?" She said as she served me with my favorite bacon.

"Okay, ma'am!" I saluted.

She sighed as she took a seat in front of me.

"How's Tiahli? And when is she returning?"

"Tomorrow," I replied as I swallowed my food.

"How are you both going on?" She asked softly.

My mom didn't know the truth behind Tiahli and my relationship. To her, we were just young people in love. Nevertheless, she somehow knew that this relationship wouldn't be lasting forever. Her eyes exhibited the echo of the same sadness in Evangaline's eyes. I shuddered. Evangaline.

I needed to apologize. I smiled as a bizarre scenario played in my mind. My mother, looking at me curiously while eating her own breakfast.

Is it too late to say sorry, cause I am missing more than just your body.....

And she sings,

Don't tell me you're sorry cause you're not. Baby I know you're only sorry you got caught.

A laugh burst through my lips. Justin Bieber and Rihanna were damn good at what they did. And I needed to be damn good at what I was going to do, like Justin - apologize. And hopefully I was forgiven.

I drove to school, although not before giving my mom a warm kiss on her cheeks and assuring her to be safe throughout the day.

My mind was occupied with its lingering guilt. Guilt of hurting Eva and guilt of thinking of Eva while being with Tiahli. Though, we made it clear that we will part ways when any one of us starts liking and see potential in some one else, it would make her alone. Plus, we were the idol of couple of the college, no one else apart from Tiahli and I knew the truth behind it. Maybe Zoe did too. She was afterall Tiahli's best friend from high school.

A sigh escaped my lips. My hormones were playing up. Being in this teenage age had its pros and cons. Although the pros outweighed the cons, this dilemma couldn't be met with a proper and nice conclusion.

How should I tell Tiahli about Evangaline?

As I made my way to my first class, Economics, my eyes caught silhouette of three buses under the shadows of the trees hovering on the left side of the ground.

I continued walking until I was abruptly stopped - by two hands over my chest, pulling me closer into a hug.

"Aw! I missed you like crazy!" I turned around almost instantaneously the minute I heard the voice. How could I not recognise it. It was Tiahli.

"T - Tiahli,' I muttered, "I thought you weren't due till tomorrow." I smiled at her. I was glad she was here but that also meant that I needed to tell her about Evangaline as soon as possible.

"Yes, I know!" she squealed. "But our trip ended earlier than we thought so here I am," she jumped and clapped her hands together.

"I missed you, honestly," I mumbled.

"Of course you would. Am I not the best girlfriend ever?" She giggled as she held me closer in for an embrace, and I willingly settled myself into her comfortable and familiar hug. I rested my head in the fury of her hair and was enveloped by her familiar sweet scent instantly. I closed my eyes as I enjoyed the moment. Tiahli ran her fingers delicately along my hair as she sighed contently.

I opened my eyes as we pulled from our long, comforting embrace.

My heart skipped a beat and then increased a notch as I saw the audience of mine and Tiahli's reunion. Evangaline.

Her eyes were round and she looked away as soon as our gaze met. She walked away with her hair flowing at the back.

"What happened?" Tiahli asked at my discomfort.

"I - I need to tell you something. Important but we can do it later" I somehow managed to hold my voice strong.

Tiahli arched an eye brow. "What is it?"

"Err, nothing, let's go drop you off to your class."

We walked hand in hand to her class. I couldn't take Evangeline's picture out of my head. The look she gave me, I just couldn't.

But I needed to gauge my feelings. I did not.want to lose Tiahli to a stupid crush.

Was I crushing on Evangeline? No, I couldn't.  I just met her.

Then why did I feel like electrifying pull towards her? Why did my legs feel like jelly infront of her?

I shrugged off any ideas I had.

I couldn't do this to Tiahli.  At least not without knowing everything.

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Author's Note

Hey guys, hope you liked this chapter. I am so sorry for the late update but I will try to update this book more quickly.

Edit: I have edited this chapter because I thought the first storyline was a bit too unnaturally fast paced. From now onwards, the story will be a bit gradual.
~ Shreya