The Twist In Life

Chapter 32_ I'm not in love!

I stretched my leg and my foot banged against something cool and solid. I twisted in my bed and saw that the luminous numbers on the clock were showing a quarter to five in the morning.

Something rattled in the box as I poked it with my foot again. Too curious to go back to sleep, I pulled it towards my hand, with my foot. I picked it up and realised that it was a money box. I squinted my eyes and saw that it was Caroline's Minnie Mouse money box.

I placed it on my bedside table and yawned. It had taken me a long time to fall asleep, and now that I was awake, I couldn't go back to sleep.

Aunt's sobs echoed in my head. Her words replayed in my mind, and I kept lying on my bed, thinking if I should take the box or not. What worried me was that if aunt didn't like what was in the box, she would never give it to me. And I couldn't let that happen. I had to get that box somehow, with out aunt looking inside. Thinking of various ways to find it, I drifted back to sleep.

After what felt like just a couple of minutes, my alarm blared. I slammed my fist on the clock to shut it up. Call me old fashioned, but I love using clocks instead of phones, just so I can slam my fist when dismissing the alarm.

I didn't see aunt anywhere before going to school. Margaret decided to stay home with her, and I felt a bit guilty about leaving without even sparing her a glance.

***

"Mary!" Harvey grabbed my arm from behind and whirled me around to face him.

"What?" I snapped.

"What what?" he countered.

"Why did you grab my arm?" I asked.

"Uh! To say hi?" he replied.

"I have ears, I can hear. You didn't have to grab me," I said.

"What has gotten into you?" he rolled his eyes.

"Oh, so now you think something has gotten into me. How sexist," I said, annoyed.

"How's that... You're talking nonsense. I'm done," he said, flapping his arms in exasperation.

I forced a grin. "Just messing, dude," I said, punching him on the arm.

He rolled his eyes and then looked at me suspiciously.

"What?" I asked.

"What are you trying to hide?" he asked. "What happened?"

I shook my head and ran towards the classroom without giving him a reply.

"Wait!" he called out behind me.

I sat on my chair and took out my history book, acting as if I was absorbed in it.

"What happened?" he asked again, looming over me.

I kept reading, but couldn't help my lips curl into a small smile on his antics.

"You can't pretend that you're reading that. I know you hate history," Harvey scowled.

I didn't respond.

Harvey banged on my desk.

I kept ignoring him.

"Fine, when you are ready to tell, I won't listen," he threatened.

I visibly stilled. What if I needed his help in finding the box?

My glance travelled from my book to my desk, where Harvey's hand rested calmly.

He was sure that I would pour out my story.

I smirked to myself and turned my attention back to my book. I knew that he would never be able to carry out his threat.