Forbidden Passion

Chapter 12

The maths challenge is today and I am really nervous because I just want to make my Jake proud. He is the only person in my life right now that actually cares about me. Stella hasn't spoken to me since our argument last week and neither has Trey. It is basically my fault with Trey because he asked me to meet up with him after university the day I fought with Stella but I completely forgot and went to Mr. Foss' house instead. Miss. Brittany's threat always plays in my head so Mr. Foss and I keep our relationship strictly outside University.

"Hey babe, I hope you are not too nervous about today?" Mr. Foss says as he picks me up from home. Jake picks me up and drops me home from University now. Stella used to be my ride but now she hangs out with Trey and other people, sometimes even Alicia but I am getting used to it.

"I am prepared, I literally did not sleep last night so I hope my efforts pay off." I say as I kiss him.

"They definitely will baby. I just hope Brittany doesn't try to threaten you because I can guarantee you, this time I will react." he says as he caresses my hair.

We get to the competition place and it is very packed with students from different countries all over the world and I feel really sick. Mr. Foss managed to convince Stella to join so this will be super awkward, but I am glad neither Trey or any of her friends will be here. Only five of us were chosen, out of thirteen, which is strange that Stella and I got chosen because we joined later than everyone else. Today its only Stella, Bob, Matthew, Camren and I, three guys and two girls.

"Team talk!" I hear Miss. Brittany yell.

We all gather around before she says "It is not always about wining, it is about the competition and experience. I really believe in you five and I know that we can all bring our brains together and ace this. If we lose, we lose as a team and that doesn't make us any less better than how we walked in okay."

We start the competition and no lie it is so much easier than I expected. We are all given a sheet of paper per team and we fill in the answers. The top 5 groups make it to the final and compete in the harder verbal challenge. We come in third, which makes me feel a bit sad but I am glad that we made it to the finals.

" I wonder where we went wrong." I say to Stella, hoping that she will finally speak to me.

"It was Matthew, he totally screwed up the question he volunteered to answer. I told you Catherine, if you took the harder one we wouldn't have got so bad and it was ten marks down." she says.

"We still came third, it isn't that bad. Next time you will be team captain and make the strategy." I say as we walk to a bench.

"I hope." she says then sits down.

" I miss you so much Stella, you can't believe. I literally have no friends and I feel like you fit in way better than I do."

"Can we focus on what we came for please?"

"Really? Is that what we are going to come to. We have been through so much babe." I say but she just stares at the floor as I sit next to her.

"Probably." She says without even turning to face me.

"I am sorry if I ever did or said anything to offend you." I say.

"I miss you too and I mean if being with Mr. Foss is what makes you happy I will fully support it. Plus, who is going to wipe your tears and feel your pain when he breaks your heart?"she says before I give her a tight hug. I would usually get angry with that but I feel like I just got my best friend back and that's all that matters.

"How is Trey though?" I finally ask.

"He is good, shocked but still good. When we met up yesterday he said if you ever needed someone he would fully be there for you."

I give her another tight hug because this is the happiest I have been after I started dating Mr. Foss.

"Wait so is he like your boyfriend?" she asks

"Yeah we have been dating for a week and a half but we try to keep our relationship outside University."

"I hope you are not sleeping with him."

"No ways, Stella goodness, I am not that shallow okay. I just wanted to say I am really sorry for all those times I was so rude towards you. I never realized how obnoxious I was until I lost you, well until you told me off in the bathroom."

"I am sorry I came out at you like that, you are not the most shallow person I have ever met, you were shallow sometimes." she says as we get up and head back inside.

It is the final round of the competition and we are doing such a good job. We are in the lead thanks to Stella and I working together. The final part is a one on one and Stella tells me to go for it. It is based on the topic I love the most so I know the competition is ours.

"The right answer is Catherine from St. Stevenson's University and they are the winners of the Global Maths Challenge, congratulations!" I hear the spectator say.

We are all so astonished and filled with joy that we hug each other and jump around like crazy people. Mr. Foss rushes towards me and picks me up then spins me around before pecking me on the lips. I want to push him away but I am filled with too much joy to even care.

"You are the best thing that has happened to me this year, I mean you are just physically and mentally gorgeous Catherine, I love you so much." he says then places me on the floor.

Mr. Foss just said he loves me, I can't believe this. I turn around to find Stella but Miss. Brittany is standing right there looking at us. She has the same expression she had when it was just me and her in Mr. Foss' classroom last week.

"Thanks, I am happy to make you proud any day." I say then run to Stella and give her a hug. We take our pictures and head out. I decide to go with Stella, who is also dropping off Miss. Brittany home, while Mr. Foss leaves with the rest of the guys.

"Wasn't that just the greatest victory ever?" Stella says as she drives.

"It was the greatest celebration for Catherine I must say." Miss. Brittany says.

"I am just glad we made a difference at Uni Stella. We shall forever be remembered as the mathematicians you know." I say.

The rest of the ride is awkward until Stella drops Miss Brittany home.

"Thank you so much Stella, have a good weekend and I hope to see you on Monday." Miss. Brittany says as she exits the car.

"Did you see what happened with Mr. Foss and I during the celebration?" I ask

"No, I don't think anyone was paying attention, we were all too busy being overwhelmed." Stella says.

"Mr. Foss told me he loves me Stella and I think Miss Brittany heard. I don't even know what is going through her mind right now."

"I think you are exaggerating just-"

"She threatened me and now I really feel like he screwed this up for me."

"Don't be frightened by some jealous blonde. She will probably just try to seduce her way back into his life." Stella says.

I feel so much better now that I have talked to Stella about it and I know that nothing major will happen to me. I hope my reputation doesn't go from being the AB to being the nerd or the geek, but I am just glad that Stella is going down with me.