Issues ▷ Reggie Mantle

THREE

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THREE; STICKY MAPLES

     "CHERYL BLOSSOM KILLED her brother?"

     Kalani scoffed at Lucas' question. "Cheryl loved Jason more than anyone else in this sorry town. She'd never lay a finger on him."

     The cousins watched as Cheryl exited Weatherbee's office, both of her parents hauling her forward. They exited the school, whispering lowly in their daughter's ear. Kalani observed Archie as he watched them flee the building. She strode over to him, and Archie sighed, already expecting what she was going to say.

     "I'll go to Weatherbee tomorrow, Kal. I promise."

     "And Grundy?"

     Archie scanned the hallways, checking to see if anyone was listening. "I told you to trust me, Kalani. I can handle it."

     "Beautiful rose!" Reggie hummed, approaching the pair. He didn't like the close proximity between Kalani and Archie, and intended to stop it at all costs. "Tutoring session again today?"

     Archie exchanged another glance at Kalani before taking off. She exhaled, spinning around to speak to Reggie. "I think you know the answer to that question, Reggie. I told you no flirting while I was tutoring you."

     She tried her best to disappear among the crowd of students, but Reggie always found her. He was frowning, tainting his happy persona. "It won't happen again, beautiful rose. I just saw the chance, and I took it."

     She shook her head and jabbed her palm into his chest, pushing him backwards. "Reggie, I'm not some pawn in this game you're playing. I told you the rules, and you failed to follow them. I'm requesting for you to find a new tutor."

     Panic spread throughout Reggie's body. Kalani was walking at a faster pace now, and Reggie found it harder to shove people out of the way to speak to her. Through a mumble of sorry's and curses, he finally made it out of the gigantic crowd. However, his elation subsided when he realized his beautiful rose was already entering the classroom of her next period, wanting nothing to do with him.

     Regret seeped through his bones.

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     "Hey, what did you do to Reggie? He was practically furious at anyone who mentioned your name at practice yesterday," Archie questioned, falling in step besides his former girlfriend. Kalani rolled her eyes, gripping her textbooks tighter to her chest.

     "Broke off tutoring sessions with him. He was invading boundaries I set up for a particular reason," she waved off. "What about you? Are you going to Weatherbee today?"

     "On my way right now."

     Kalani gripped his arm in a comforting manner, and Archie smiled at her before he took off. She spotted Betty's figure at her locker and joined her side. "How are you? Since your mom released Jason's autopsy report, I mean."

     All Betty did was sigh. "I wish she didn't. I'm not the number one fan of the Blossom family either, but they're still grieving over their son."