Double Tap: Decode [BXB]

CHAPTER 16

Teagan

Sullie gently suggested, "You could excuse yourself, you know. Your foot hasn't fully healed yet." I winced as I slid my injured foot into my shoe, feeling the familiar sting of pain. After finally managing to slip it on, I let out a sigh of relief and grabbed my bag and phone from behind me, shooting Sullie a forced reassuring smile.

"It's fine," I replied briefly, steadying myself on one foot.

As we approached the school gate, a sense of worry and fear gnawed at me. So far, no one had laid eyes on me, which seemed like a small victory. Sullie and I deliberately took paths with fewer students, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention. The whole school probably knew about the post by now, so I was determined to keep a low profile and steer clear of any potential drama.

Navigating through the corridors, we managed to avoid most of the student body until we reached our classroom. However, as we stepped inside, I was met with a wall of stares from my classmates, each one feeling like a dagger aimed directly at me. I tried to ignore their judgmental gazes, feeling a wave of nausea wash over me.

Sullie led me to my seat, and I bowed my head, avoiding eye contact with anyone. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, making it hard to breathe. The weight of their scrutiny felt suffocating, constricting my chest and making it difficult to think clearly.

"I never knew you were so flirty, Teagan," one of my classmates remarked snidely.

"Shut up, Kaila! Those are just rumors, none of it is true," Sullie shot back defensively, but Kaila remained unfazed.

"Rumors? The photo speaks for itself, Sullie. The proof is right there," Kaila insisted, her words dripping with malice.

Before Sullie could respond, I intervened, silently urging her to let it go. I could feel the weight of their judgment bearing down on me, but I refused to let it consume me. Despite the overwhelming sense of shame, I held my head high, determined not to let them see how much their words hurt.

"If I had known you were going to make the first move..."

"Just stop, Kaila. Teagan never wanted any of this. And you're his classmates, you should be supporting him," Roger interjected, surprising me with his defense.

Kaila fell silent, her expression hardening as she turned her attention elsewhere. I glanced at Roger, offering him a grateful smile as he nodded in acknowledgment.

The tension in the room eased slightly as the bell rang, signaling the end of class. I tried to ignore the gnawing hunger in my stomach, knowing that facing the crowded cafeteria would only invite more unwanted attention.

"I'm going to stay here. You go ahead and get lunch," I told Sullie, forcing a smile to mask my apprehension.

Sullie hesitated, concern evident in her eyes, but I reassured her that I wasn't hungry, despite the growling of my stomach. As she left to join our friends, I felt a pang of loneliness wash over me, but I pushed it aside, determined to focus on something else.

Leaning back in my chair, I closed my eyes and tried to lose myself in the rhythmic sound of my own breathing. But before I could drift off, I felt a tap on my shoulder and opened my eyes to find Roger standing beside me, holding out a sandwich and a can of soda.

"You can't go to your next class on an empty stomach," he said, offering me a warm smile.I started to decline, but before I could speak, Roger placed the food in my hand, his touch gentle yet reassuring. I looked at him in surprise, unsure of what to say.

"Don't worry, it's not from me. It's from someone else," he explained, gesturing discreetly toward Zion, who was lost in thought by the window.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I realized that Zion had sent me the food, unable to deliver it himself. Despite my initial reluctance, I accepted the offering, grateful for the unexpected gesture of kindness.