The promise we made

18

Chapter 18: Absence

Zeke P.O.V

Days after that incident in the classroom, I haven't seen Rihanna. I wouldn't blame her. What else would you do if you get humiliated in front of many people and your friend didn't stand up for you? The guilt is eating me alive. I want to see her but I don't want Nicole to get jealous. What the hell is wrong with you, Zeke? Your friend is drowning in humiliation and you care more about stupid jealousy. I couldn't show my face to Rihanna. I just can't. And this isn't the kind the can be fixed with a teddy bear and gummy bears.

"Ooof." I grunted because I've been backed to the wall. "What did you do to Rihanna?" Noel snarled at me. "She's been skipping school for days now! Do you have something to do with it?!" he continued to painfully interrogate me. "I said something that hurt her." I confessed then push Noel away from me. He walked towards me, breathing heavily, he gripped my shirt. "You always hurt her and she keeps running back to you. You don't deserve her." He gnarled. "So you think you deserve her?" I pushed his hands away. I glared at him and laughed mockingly. "Why would Rihanna date a perverted war freak?" And for that I received a punch in the gut.

"Guys, that's enough!" Nicole's bestfriend, Robert pulled us apart. Noel glared at Robert but Robert just made a face that says don't you dare mess with me, I know something. Noel eyes widen and backed away. "What was that about?" I asked him. "What was what?" he asked. "The look that you made." I pointed out. "Oh! Do you like it? I've been working on a face that can intimidate people to stay away from me." he said nonchalantly. "Oookay?" I said still doubting him. I turned to look at him again to see that he's looking at me blankly. "Zeke?" he called out to me. "Yeah?" I listened to him. "Promise me you'll do what's right." He said seriously. "I don't even know what's right from wrong anymore." I sighed and went to class.

I couldn't pay attention. The only thing on my mind right now is what is happening in my life. I know the right thing to do now is make things right with Rihanna and I will do that but with everything else, I have no clue. I know some people have been hiding stuff from me. I may be an idiot but I'm not stupid. Robert, Noel, Nicole... who else would hide stuff from me? How can I figure out what they're hiding? Let's see, hmm. Robert has something against Noel which caused Noel to back away and Noel knew that Robert knows stuff. With Nicole, she hasn't been herself lately. She's being more paranoid, clingy and jealous and she's also quite overt with our relationship in school, and as far as I can remember, she wanted to keep us a secret but her reason is understandable, that she feels threatened with Rihanna. Rihanna's smoking hot but I love Nicole she has nothing to worry about. Now that leaves me with two suspects. Noel and Robert.

Class is over and I need help to make things right with Rihanna. And the person I could go to is Jane. "What do you mean you can't help me?" I practically whined when she said no. "Zeke..." she won't stop fidgeting. "What?" I asked her studying her face. She looked everywhere but me seemingly thinking about what she should say. She took a deep breath and said "I think it's best that you just stay away from Riri." She said. "Why should I? Other than I've hurt her so many times. Why should I stay away from her?" I questioned her. "I--uh. Like I said earlier, I just think it's best for the both of you." She said then left me. Let's add Jane to the list, shall we? What the hell is going on?

I can't believe I'm saying this but there's only one person left I can count on. Can you guess who it is? mhmm. Marge Phillips, and yep my ex. I can't see her anywhere in the school campus so she's probably home. I got to my car and drove to her house.

I rang the doorbell and greeted with a bored look by Marge. "I need your help." I told her. "Why am I not surprised?" She opened the door widely so I could go in. I can see her roll her eyes when closing the door. "What to do you want?" she asked impatiently. "I need your help with Rihanna." I told her. "You can't take back what you said." she said blandly. "How did you?" I asked her confusedly. "Have you ever heard of gossip?" she crossed her arms. "Why are you acting like this? You're always eager to talk to me." I said to her. "It's just I don't like getting involved with your problems." she once again said blandly. I couldn't say anything else. I have no words. "Robert, Noel and Jane have been hiding stuff from me, do you know anything about it?" I brought up. That caught her attention because hers eyes widen and her mouth fell open but she noticed me looking and start to look blankly again. Her doing that made me realized that he nonchalant face have been an act all this time. "I guess you're hiding something from me too?" I asked her and she didn't answer my question. Instead, she said "Just apologize to Riri, she's madly in love with you so she'll forgive you easily." she said while walking to the door. "You didn't answer my-" I started but cut off by her. "Just go please." she opened the door for me to leave. Damn it! What are they hiding from me? It's driving me insane. Oh screw it Rihanna's my priority right now.

I was heading to my car when I received a phone call from Nicole. "Can you come over?" she asked me. "I can't." I told her. "Why not?" she asked sadly. "I have to do something okay, next time baby." I said gently. "But-" "I got to go." I cut her off. Rihanna, here I come.