Forgotten

Chapter 9 ~ Inevitable

Things were different on Monday. I attended school just for a distraction from my depressing thoughts of Logan and the unfairness of the entire situation. I felt completely out of place. Significant events had just happened in my life, but everyone around me continued with their blasé routines - arrive at school, get your books, go to class. I struggled with even the basics of that.

I had Maths first period, and it was a good distraction. Circular functions had a strange way of making me think in ways I didn't really understand. But when I looked at the workings on my page, I knew I'd correctly gotten to the answer, I just didn't know why. My teacher's explanations weren't that successful in helping me understand. "Sinθ/Cosθ=Tanθ" was particularly difficult for me to wrap my head around. But I persevered, and my grades reflected an average comprehension.

At recess, I stayed in class to finish off some work. I was already behind, and I didn't want to face the sorry looks from Ri and the others. It was a double win for me. I then had Psychology and English, but again at lunch afterwards, I was faced with the same predicament. Except this time I was even too tired to stay indoors and do extra work.

I dawdled to my locker, and took extra time and care to put my books away and organise them for my next class. Then I checked my phone just for the sake of it. And then I finally admitted to myself that I could not stand at my locker for all of lunch. I grabbed my sandwich, closed my locker, and turned toward the table that Ri and the others were seated at, preparing myself to join them.

"Want to have lunch with me?"

I turned around to see Harry to my right, a paper bag full of fried canteen food in his hand.

"I didn't think you were coming to school anymore," I said as I joined him. We began walking to the side of the Year 12 building, where nobody sat. Where we would be undisturbed.

Harry shrugged. "I had reason to come back." He then took my hand and squeezed it.

"You're the one who ignored me," I muttered sourly, though I didn't want to bring it up. It just slipped out, and Harry's face saddened.

"I know, and I'm sorry."

I attempted to direct the conversation elsewhere, so I quietly asked, "How are your bruises?"

But Harry pretended he hadn't heard me, and ignored my question altogether.

We reached the back of the building and sat down on the ground. Late spring rain had dampened the grass, but it was nothing too deterring. I began eating my sandwich quietly, as Harry started devouring his dim sims at high speed.

"Have you spoken to Leyla?" I asked.

Harry finished his third dim sim before answering. "No, not yet. She says she's going to tell everyone herself."

"When?"

Harry shrugged.

"Harry, you can't let her string this along. It's not fair to anyone, you especially."

"I know..."

"Do you still love her?" I don't know where my question came from, and I was surprised by my asking it.

"What? No!" Harry put his food down and took my hands. "I have no feelings for her. You're the one I care about. Not Leyla."

"Then why are you letting her do this to you?"

Again, Harry shrugged. "I know her mum - she just needs time, I guess."

"She's had time. She lied about you being the father. She had all the time in the world to make that lie. She could have just told the truth from the start."