Finding You (UNDER THE PROCESS OF EDITING)

Chapter 3 - Before

Another pretty cover made by NoNameIsWorkin.

It is as if Death itself has messed with my face.

My face hurts, and I feel, well, pretty much awful.

My eyes look baggy and the rings underneath them are pronounced, a dark shade of purple. It's a great face to show at school today, isn't it?

Although my mind is screaming at me to go back under the covers, I go to the gym to practise for two hours.

I don't think I'll be able to concentrate on any classes at school today, either.

~*~

I begin my stretching and warm-up exercises which Coach Harisson had taught me during our evening classes. I start with a full split and touch my head to my knees on either side of me. Then I practise basics such as cartwheels and somersaults.

Since I hadn't started at a very young age, he had to design special exercises for me to advance quicker. They helped me a lot, and I was getting better at it about a year after I started. Of course, the results weren't immediate, but my patience and dedication paid off.

After I'm done, I keep practising the Tsukahara and the Yurchenko, which are quite challenging moves in gymnastics. I wish to master them soon.

I have a sprained ankle after my routine because I wasn't concentrating, which I hope will disappear soon.

I end the practice feeling sweaty and gross, but satisfied nonetheless, and I go to take a shower.

After getting ready for school, I cover the bags under my eyes with some concealer, hoping that no one will see how tired I am.

~*~

I look around for Camila in the halls at school and quickly spot her. She takes one look at my face, and I can tell that she is able to see right through the concealer that I applied.

"Is there something you're not telling me, Chloë? Because I can see that you haven't slept last night, " she says.

I sighed. Camila knew me all too well.

"Do you remember that yesterday I was partnered up with this guy named Ash in the Health Classroom?" I ask her while taking my things out of my locker.

"Well... No, I'm sorry, I don't."

"Yeah, I get it. You were too busy ogling Will Macintosh, weren't you?"

She blushed and punched my arm but didn't deny it. We headed to the Maths class, where the teacher gave us a surprise test.

I was able to answer all the questions, despite having a super-distracted mind.

Hooray for me, haha.

~*~

I explain everything that happened last night to her at breakfast. By the time I finish, she looks mad.

"I'll kick him in the balls if he does anything to my best friend," she growls. I just pick at my salad with my fork, unable to eat anything. Instead, I feel like throwing up.

Just then, our friend Serene comes up to us. "Blakey Boy is throwing a party the next Saturday at his house because we won the inter-school football match. Are you guys coming?"

'Blakey Boy'? Seriously? I fought back a snicker.

Senior Blake Conner is Ruby's boyfriend, which makes him treat me like a little sister - it's really sweet. They met in sophomore year, when they were partnered together for an art project, and took a liking to each other later on. Ruby didn't break up with him when he became famous, when the girls just began to surround him, or even when he occasionally flirted with them. Because he always made it clear to everyone, that he loved Ruby and her alone. She always told me that that was what she loved him for - his dedication and caring nature towards her. She knew him well enough to know that he'd never cheat on her. Two years later, they're still going strong.