Summer Before Her (Completed)

7- It has finally caught up!

Novak's POV

"Kirsten, Novak"

Oh no no no, this isn't how it was supposed to go down, why can't it be literally anyone else?

I am about to object when Mr. Cyr announces "Last but not the least, I will refuse to hear anything regarding incompatible partners, or who was your ex and who your boyfriend cheated with, this is your workplace, maintain professionalism. "

His declaration was enough to let the objection die in my throat.

I turn around to find my new project partner staring right at me, she wasn't gawking and it definitely wasn't a look of admiration, it was a dead glare. I met it with a similar stare, except I channelled my frustration of being paired with her of all the people into that intense stare.

I spent the remainder of the class missing the view I got from my usual seat and having a mental conversation with myself about professionalism and why I shouldn't just do the project myself.

"Alright class, you have one week to turn in your projects, Best of luck everyone! " announced Mr Cyr, signalling the end of the class.

I walked to my next class with Stacy invading my personal space, walking a bit too close to me for my comfort, and constantly insisting that I try out for the track team, I didn't want to put in the effort of explaining to her that I run for my mental stability, as a way to expend emotional energy, it cant be competitive. It has always be- "Novak, I am serious, you haveeee to come to try out, you will put our school on the map" she insisted again.

Before I could deny her request she continued "I mean your girlfriend has quit doesn't mean you have to be so whipped" This caught my interest.

"Oh, yea? What girlfriend are you talking about?" I inquired.

"The one who you went out 'studying' with, yesterday while her parents literally called the entire school trying to locate her" she stated.

What? Who? Where? This place has a new rumour about me every day.

"What?" she asked, eyeing the look on my face, she continued "Did you not go out with Kirsten? She has been raving about this to her friends"

Oh my lord, this woman was truly crazy. What is wrong with her? She first lies about why she stopped running, then she sleeps in the parking lot and now she lies about where she was. What am I dealing with? A ball of lies with a million red flags poking out of it? I wondered with raging silence.

"Oh yea about Kirsten, that happened" I responded nonchalantly. I don't know why I did what I just did.

With that information, Stacy disappeared into the bustling crowd of teenagers.

**

I leaned against the counter wiping my tears, Ah, such is the glory of cooking.

Why couldn't we have Mediterranean food without onions? Whyyyyy? I cursed their existence as I got back to 'thinly' slicing them, my knife skills were sub-par but I knew enough cooking to prepare three meals a day and then some.

I have been cooking and cleaning for as long as I can remember, by the day I am a student, at night, its a combination of Dad's server, drinking buddy or bitter son.
Depends on the day, I suppose.

Hot oil splashes on my fingers, a tear-streaked face, and I was done, my cheese soup with prawns was ready to eat.

Having fixed something to eat, I decided to study while I waited for my absent father. How much ever tumultuous our relationship was, we always had dinner together, it was non-negotiable, it was one of the promises we made after mom was gone.

When I finished pouring over my books, it was 10:25 pm, he was late again.

I couldn't wait any longer so I served myself a bowl and sat down to dine on the kitchen counter. The house was deadly silent, all that could be heard was the tick of the clocks, my spoon occasionally clanging against the bowl, it was depressing how empty my life was here, I was just going through the motions, trying my best to check those productivity boxes every day while my mental health was being pile-driven on.
What else did I expect from myself? Addiction was encoded in my genes and so was quitting, maybe I was pushing too hard, going against nature, I should have quit already, quit trying to have a better life-my train of thought was interrupted by a series of loud impatient knocking.

I answered the door to find my dad and a couple of his friends, all of them completely wasted. I took this as my cue to leave.

I set out to do the exact same thing that I hated my father for doing; drinking.
It was better than watching those wasted men deteriorate in your living room, having lost all inhibition, their suppressed and carnal desires would be discussed, sometimes acted upon.

I lifted my pint and exclaimed "Here's to hoping they don't trash the house this time around" With an imaginary clink I set it down, I was clearly drunk.

"Hey Bud, your keys and wallet?" Seth asked, He was the bartender, we had oddly gotten along the first time I came here.

"Oooh, are you trying to rob me, Sethy?" I slurred out.

"Hey, how about keys and wallet in exchange for this shot?" he bargained.

"Fair," I said, handing him my keys and wallet.

As the night went on I wandered through the seemingly small town and ended up losing my way.

**

I woke up to the sunlight glaring on my face which was covered in mist.
As I propelled myself in a sitting position, I realized I was on the track course. I guess it was time for a morning run, a run with a hangover, ah, just my favourite.

I was heaving, sweating and my throat was parched dry, I decided to cut my run short on the track and instead run back to home, stopping over at the bar and be back here in time for class.

**

On my way to Biology, Stacy once again started pestering me to try out for the track team, when I only responded with muttered groans for the length of the conversation, she stopped me and gave me a once over and exclaimed "You look like death" she paused. When I quirked a brow in response she continued,  "I mean like a well-groomed death, whatever happened to you? Did you fight with Kirsten? I mean it's pretty normal to fight after the honeymoon phase is over" she continued rambling.

"No Stacy, Kirsten and I are not a couple, we did not have a fight,
And no, I won't try out for the track team, Please stop bothering me. You are quite frankly very annoying" I stated, clearly frustrated with her inability to pick up on social cues.

She once again disappeared as she had appeared into the horde of teenagers rambling on about their angst.

From that crowd appeared another guy, who walked towards me with intention "hey man, Novak isn't it?" he greeted, his arm now casually slung on my shoulder and before I could ask who he was, he continued "Here's a little advice, buddy, Stay the hell away from Kirsten, she has gone through a lot and she doesn't have the energy or capacity to deal with your sob story, so steer clear"

What? When did this happen? And then it clicked, I was now getting threats for a 'date' that I didn't go on.
We were all caught up in Kirsten's lies, and I presumed that he was her secret admirer.

Before I could throw Kirsten under the bus, he turned around and said "The name is Fred, remember me" then he walked off.

This place was bizarre.

**
I was back in my place staring at the football field as Mr. Cyr droned on and on, some semblance of normalcy had returned to my day.

"Hey Novak, when are you free to work on that project ? "

Ah, I had spoken too soon.

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End of Chapter 7.

This was a pain to write, I just felt very awkward revealing his personal life.

Thank you for reading!
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Special thanks to StrawberryPencil and Steffycoke for continually reading and providing feedback. ❤️