My Heart's Choice (On Hold)

Chapter 36

I still can't believe that it is all over. And that I am free!

Free.

But why the heck am I feeling so much like I'm screwed?

Kenneth comes to a halt suddenly and I slam onto his back.

Heck!

"Oops, sorry," I say, covering the whole thing up with a nervous laugh.

And to top everything off, my stomach participates with its crazy stunts.

"That's okay," he smiles.

His Earth-like eyes travel the full length and breath of my face, before he clears his throat.

"Hey, I'm sorry about the girlfriend thing. Nora asked me to do it," he pats the back of his neck, nervously, "We can just pretend for a couple of days, and just, you know, drop it."

The uncertainty in his voice scares and excites me at the same time.

"So," he points at the door, which we are standing at and I realize that we are at my first class.

I thank him and step inside, just right at the moment the shrill ring of the bell goes off. I walk to my seat and sit at it. A few seconds later, Seth and Nora arrive, their hands entangled, earning shocked looks and whispers from the others inside the class.

Nora sits at the desk across from me, and winks at me.

Our plan worked.

I smile back at her.

Mr. Mills enters with a bunch if homework sheets, as usual, and the whole class falls into silence.

"Well," he gives me a tensed look, "there is an announcement to be-"

The door opens, cutting Mr. Mills off, and in steps Rhea, glued to Mason.

"You are late, Mr. Young and Miss Evans. Detention, both of you," Mr. Mills says, his hands folded infront of him and his eyes staring straight ahead of him, away from Mason and Rhea.

"Oh, it's Miss Evans, huh? Not Rhea anymore?" Rhea states, "So I guess this means that you have the results from yesterday's competition."

She gives me a sour look. I avert my eyes at the fury that burned in her blue eyes. She walks over to her seat and flops down casually, her whole 'star student' attitude gone forever.

"Go on Mr. M, give the class the good news," Rhea says, looking around with an intentionally bogus smile.

Mason walks over to his desk, and flops down onto his chair, right infront of Nora. His fingers entangle in his hair and he completely avoids me, his eyes fixed on his desk.

Mr. Mills clears his throat, looking disappointed. His fingers massage his temple, and he takes a deep breath before looking around at the class. He silences the soft whispers and pick up two sheets from his stack of papers.

"Yesterday," he says, his eyes glued to the papers in his hand, "upon the principal's orders, I gave Miss Evans and Miss Sanchez a test, following the accusations that was thrown at each other during the lesson in the morning."

His eyes raise to mine and then drift to Rhea, resting on her for a second too long. The look of betrayal and disappointment oozing out of his face, is infact sad to watch.

"As for the results...," Mr. Mills pauses, leaning heavily on the teacher's desk, "well, I have to agree that Mr Young might have been right."

Rhea scoffs, earning another sad look from Mr. Mills.

"You know, Miss Evans, you might consider yourself smart to have fooled me, a teacher. But once you loose a teacher's trust, it is very hard to gain."

Rhea smiles at herself, slightly shaking her head. It is quite evident that she does not give a darn about anything right now. Mr. Mills slaps her essay on her desk and I notice a huge C in red ink on top of her paper.

"Fake things don't last long, Miss Evans. At some point, you are going to have to face what is real," he says her.

He walks over to my desk, dropping my essay from yesterday afternoon, right onto the top of my desk. He places both his palms on either side of the desk, leaning down slightly to look at me.

I notice that the top of my essay has a red A. He taps the A with his fingers, silently demanding an explanation. I don't look up.at him, in fear that he will see through my eyes. After a few seconds, he lets out a shaky breath and walks back to the front of the class.

"I guess we have it settled, for now," he says, picking up the rest of his stack of papers and distributing our homework essays among us.

Nora gives me a happy smile which I return. Everything seems solved. Like magic. All my worries and problems are gone.

But why the heck does it not feel right, at all?

After class, Nora and I walk to the locker room side by side.

"See? I told you that my plan was gonna work!" Nora says, hugging her books.

I imitate her smile, "Master-plan," I remind her.

Both of us chuckle at the whole thing.

"That was the best piece of drama I've seen my whole life!" Penny catches up to us, and wedges herself between Nora and I.

"You bet!" Nora says.

Stepping into the locker room, someone brushes past me, almost sending me toppling onto the floor. Penny's arm shoots around my waist to stop me from hitting the hard floor below our feet.

"Whoa! Watch where you are going!" Penny yells at Rhea, who looks back at us innocently.

Her blonde hair bounces behind her as she comes to screeching halt at the sight of Nora with us.

"I knew it! You did this on purpose! You don't love Seth, you are just using him to get back at me," she holds a shaking finger infront of her, directing it in Nora's directon.

Nora opens her mouth with a comeback, but a voice cuts her off.

"Atleast she didn't have to beg at a dude's feet to get him."

Rhea spins around to find Natalie Carter, wearing a victorious smile on her lips.

"I'll take care of you later," Rhea growls in Natalie's ear, before walking away, her face as red as a tomato.

Natalie chuckles, turning to face us with a smirk.

"That was great, you guys. In the morning, I mean," Natalie smiles at us, "I've never seen Rhea looking so miserable before."

She extends an arm towards Nora and Penny, introducing herself. They shake hands and Natalie leaves, with a congratulatory smile directed towards us.

Students look at us like we are heroes. And it feels great to be in the spotlight, specially after flying under the radar for so long.

But I can't shake the feeling of guilt off me. It keeps on bothering me all the time.

Rhea deserved what she got, right?

But why do I feel like crap for putting her through all that.

Despite the fact that she stomped all over me all year, she is still a girl. Just like me.

Gosh! This is so messed up.