Bad Intentions

CHAPTER FIVE

D A H L I A

I watch Carla still murdering the food on her plate and at the same time watch Kiara and Richard eating and laughing together on a table. This is weird. Why on earth would she be talking to the guy who tore her heart into pieces? Well, maybe she's up to something.

I finish my meal and ignore Carla, by taking my bag and my tray and keeping it on top of the counter where food is served. "Thanks Mrs Black." I say to the dark skinned South African lunch lady and she smiles, pushing the mole under her nose a little to the side of her face.

"Sure, Dada." She tells me and I wince, she knows I don't like that name but she still calls me that anyway. She laughs at my reaction and I chuckle, then walk away. She's a nice woman, most people don't know that, because they disrespect her and she doesn't tolerate it. For Christ's sakes, her first child is married! And she has four kids. So definitely, we need to respect her.

I push the door open and walk to the library, thinking about Nathan. I never thought having this misunderstanding with him would make me this uncomfortable, I mean I only just started talking to the guy.

Who am I kidding?

He's nice, goofy, caring, and friendly. You won't see that from a lot of guys these days. Guys like Richard just care about how many girls they can play around with and how handsome they are.

Entering the library, I feel a splash of cold air hit my skin. The library is always very cold, because Mrs Tiffany likes it that way. She wears thick cotton sweaters and large glasses, that are way too big for her. She's not your average old, wrinkled face librarians; she just finished her college education. I like her, she can relate well with students outside the library. However, when in the library, nobody likes her because she's in work mode.

I greet her and she smiles at me, while I sit down the red chair that's specially reserved for me. Well not specially, I've been sitting there for four years, it's now mine.

I open my bag and take out Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I like old books, they are quite different from the modern ones. The languages and choice of words, though confusing, are very unique and it's a new way to learn new things.

Through that book, I can transport myself into another world, be free from all the drama and just be me.

• • • • • • • •

After my free period ends, I step out of the library and head to my next class: gym.

I hate anything that has to do with sports. It's very annoying that everyone has to participate in it.

I open my gym locker and take out my gym bag, while Kiara enters the room, wearing her gym clothes. When she sees me, she exclaims, "There you are! I've been looking all over for you since you left the cafeteria. Where were you?"

"Where else? The library?" Sarcasm filled my voice.

"Look, if it's about Richard, I'm just going to tell you that I have a plan, that's why I told him I wanted him back." She says.

"A plan that you didn't tell me about?" I can't believe she's just telling me this now.

"Look, I'm sorry. I just wanted to do this by myself. It's going really well, the thing is, I'm trying to find out something that he's really ashamed of. A secret of some sort, then I'll humiliate him. It's that simple." She tells me and I see her eyes darkening. Revenge really makes people crazy.

"You can do what you want. What about Carla? She knows you're both together and she's mad."

Kiara scoffs, "Look she's just a toy that he wants to play with, he doesn't really like her."

She looks into her watch and gasps. "Whoa. come on, change or we'll be late for class."

After gym class, Kiara and I change back into our normal clothes.

"I feel so disgusting. I feel so sweaty. I feel.."

I cut her off, "Can you try not to feel for a second?" I ask and we both chuckle. I spot Richard by his car and the moment I see him, he sees me too.

We share eye contact for two seconds, before he waves at Kiara. She turns to me, "Hey, I'm sorry. I have to make sacrifices for this plan to work. He's going to be dropping me at home from now on. I'm sorry. We can go home together again once all this is over." She hugs me, then heads over to Richard's car. He kisses her cheek and I scoff.

I don't think I need to vomit so I turn my back to the sight and head over to my car. Walking there, I see Nathan sitting on a bench under a tree, reading a book. I'd feel angry at myself later if I didn't use the opportunity I had now to talk to him.

I just hope he talks to me.

After sitting down beside him, I notice he doesn't look up to see who's sitting beside him. Maybe he knows it's me.

"Hey, Nate." I simply say, there'd be no way else to start a conversation.

"Hi." His greeting is sharp and firm and he doesn't even stop reading his book.

"Look, Nathan I need to talk to you. This is getting out of hand. Throughout today, all I could think about was how I was a bad friend to you. I couldn't concentrate in any of my classes at all. I'm very sorry. You were right. This whole revenge thing, well, I'm starting to rethink it. Kiara's gone on evil mode and I have a feeling it's not going to end well. But that's besides the point. The point is that I'm sorry and I miss you and I hope you can forgive me, even if you won't talk to me anymore." After speaking, I take a deep breath. I never expected it to turn into a speech.

He finally stops looking at his book and faces me, and behind his glasses, I can see his eyes. They soften by each second, and now I can see the old Nathan coming back.

"It's okay, Lia. I'm glad you realized your mistake. I kind of overreacted and I'm sorry about that." He says, then holds my hands.

"No it's fine." I give him a smile and squeeze his hands hard. He yelps and removes it from mine quickly. "I can see you still haven't changed, have you?" He tries to act mad, but I can hear the smile I'm his voice.

"Nope, never going to happen." I reply and we both chuckle.

It gets kind of awkward so I stand up and tell him I have to go home. He rises too, and pulls me in for a hug. I open my eyes in surprise but I hug him back, smiling.

Minutes pass, and we still don't let go.

• • • • • • • •

ooh, I can smell some romance brewing. Who likes the idea of Nathan and Lia dating?

anyway, how was this?

just bc I'm feeling inspired, I may give you another chapter soon. xx