The Way It Happened

The Way She Met School Rumors

You can't just forget the person who makes your every day worth remembering.

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"Hey Anna! Wait!"

As soon as Anna recognised the voice, she increased her pace. It was Olivia trying to talk to her again and it was getting too creepy for Anna. She had no idea why she had suddenly become an interesting specimen to Leah and Olivia. Actually, too many people had approached her since that morning. Add the fact that somehow their conversation always seemed to lead to one name. 

She collided with someone and with the post-annoyance she was feeling, she snapped, "Watch where you're going."

Caleb just widened his eyes with surprise and when Anna's eyes snapped up to his, her moment of fearlessness was gone and she was back to being timid.

"I'm sorry", she said and proceeded to move on without giving him a second glance. Partly, he was the reason she had been angry all morning. Not to forget how he reacted to Elliott on Friday and made her feel unwanted. And he had the nerve to put the money that she gave to the register girl back in her new bag. 

He paid with his money. Anna never liked debts.

Caleb didn't reply with anything as he stared behind at her but he couldn't keep the image of her being angry off his mind. She looked like a little kitty trying to appear fierce. He pressed his lips to stop the smile from spreading but must've looked more weird because people were giving him funny looks. He cleared his throat and glared back at the spectators before moving forward.

"Caleb, finally! This is a lot more than fashionably late!", a sweet voice chimed. 

There sat Nicole with that golden aura. His eyes swept over her quickly as he admired her features. She was too perfect. Beautiful, with a personality that awes everyone. It was true that she was single now. He had the perfect chance. They belonged to the same clique and everything would be alright. She had a bad taste in boyfriends before but now, she can have a perfect one if he asked her out.

Suddenly he felt his bag being fumbled with and when he turned his head, he found Anna trying to open his bag. Out of curiosity and surprise, he just watched her, wondering what she was doing, just like the rest of the class. He could see the pink blush on her cheeks as she kept something inside his bag, closed it and went out the room like nothing happened.

The silence of the class burst into not-so-quiet whispers and gossips while some guys hooted, assuming he had some sort of fling with Anna. After glaring at the loud boys, he sat next to Nicole  and rested his bag against another chair.

"Who was that?", Nicole asked, her almond eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Caleb wasn't sure what to say. Some cute girl he met two days before? What would he answer when she asked what she kept in his bag and why didn't he stop her from intruding? Would 'I didn't stop her because I suddenly feel strangely mesmerized by her' suffice? 

So, he just gave her his typical smirk half-heartedly. "Why? Jealous?"

 Nicole rolled her eyes. " Your ego is too big."

"But you like it as it is", he said before glancing at his bag. What did she keep there?

***

"Is it true?", Emily asked as soon as Anna arrived with her tray.

"Is what true?", she asked back, instantly taking a bite from her sandwich before her butt touched her chair.