WHAT DOES THIS MEAN??

Twenty Two

BECKY CORNER'S POV

I ducked under my seat during lunch on Tuesday, when I spotted Chase walk in with two of his friends, Blaise and Reed, laughing at some comment by Reed.  Chase thudded his arm on Reed's back in appreciation.  His eyes wandered around the canteen endeavouring to locate someone.  It wasn't Silvia, since she stepped right in front of him then, and he instinctively ignored her.  A faint smile somehow made it's way onto my lips as a small part of my brain equated that he was looking for me.  Those sea blue eyes of his, dawdled over the seats for one more minute, before he sighed and suddenly decided to sprint out of the canteen.  By now he must have figured out that I'm a witch.  I don't have an idea about what he thinks about me now, but I hope he's not annoyed.

Kimberly glared at me when I straightened up and tugged a fleck of my steak black hair behind my ear.  She knew I was hiding something from her, now that she definitely knows that I'd been struggling to stay out of Chase's vision since morning.  

"What the hell, Becky?"  she hollered.  

"Kim!  I-"  What should I tell her?  I won't tell her anything about Chase's or my powers.  I just can't.  I debated with myself before sighing and said ",I'm sorry, Kimmy.  I can't tell you about anything."  I shook my head left and right, then sighed again sadly.  Meanwhile, she narrowed her eyes and sent daggers at me, her hot breath blowing on my neck.  After around ten seconds, she stood up and stalked off the canteen too, her chicken burger uneaten.  

Uh-oh!  How am I going to fix things?  

From the morning, I'd been ducking under benches, and hiding the face behind the locker, or slipping behind a classroom door, whenever Chase Jones passed by with his friends.  Chase seems to have checked even in the Chemistry lab for me, according to Will.  I don't know why I don't want to face him, but I guess I'm just too nervous about it. 

But one good news!  The rumour is that Sean Martin hasn't let Silvia go anywhere out of his sight, and is always at her heels. True or not, I'm happy about it, because now that it is a rumour and everyone is talking about it, Silvia is feeling worse than before.  

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When I fished into my pocket to pull out the keys as I reached home after school, the landline phone was already ringing inside.  I restlessly left searching for the keys and waved my index finger at the keyhole and the doorknob turned anticlockwise automatically.  I rushed in to pick the receiver.  It was Kimberly.  She didn't even say a hello before she hushed the words into the phone.  

"Look,"  Her voice boomed in.  "Chase is always asking about you, and doesn't say a word why.  He says he'd like you to come over to our house today, but it's your choice.  Whatever you two are doing, don't get me into trouble." 

Before I could say a word, the line went dead after a clicking noise.  Kimberly's voice was harsh and she still seems to be very angry with me.  I didn't get a chance to talk to her after lunch, and I really don't know how I'm going to explain her all these complicated things.  Would she even believe us if Chase and I told her that we possessed magic?  

And should I go to meet Chase?  No, I can't.  I won't.  I slowly walked up the stairs to my room, and threw my bag on the bed.  My water bottle was empty, so I flicked my finger at it, till it produced some clean fresh water for me.  I took a long swig from the bottle when phone buzzed, and it flew to me after a second flick.  

There was a message from Chase.

HuntXXX:  Hey...Rebecca

I quickly replied with a Hi.

HuntXXX:  You alright?

Becky Lala Corner:  Yeah, why?

HuntXXX:  I didn't see you at school today.

Once again, an irresistible smile trickled its way onto my mouth, as I leaned forward to type a new message.

Becky Lala Corner:  Oh really?  I didn't know that you were looking out for me.  

Becky Lala Corner:  Now go, or else your gf is going to get mad if she knows you're talking to another girl.

HuntXXX:  That's right...but I don't feel like talking to her.  

Becky Lala Corner:  None of my business to know, Hunt.  

HuntXXX:  You can know about it.  She's always complaining about everything.  

Something sad tugged at my heartstrings as I helplessly badgered my brain for a reply.  

Becky Lala Corner:  Mm-mm?  If you really feel uncomfortable with whatever she does, why are you ignoring your sister for her?

I waited for several minutes before a new message popped on my lit screen.