WHAT COMES AFTER THE END OF THIS

Chapter 70

Chapter 70

Yrene's PoV

"Hello Yrene."
"Cut the crap Rebecca, what do you want?" I slam shut my now empty locker before turning to look at her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why do you care?"
"I was trying to be nice."
"Cut the crap. Hurry up, sneer at me, taunt me, whatever it is you want to do, but quickly, okay? I need to get somewhere." I say through gritted teeth and a sickly sweet fake smile.
"I..."
"Tick tock, Becky. Hurry up." I don't just leave because I know that there's something she wants to say to me and so I wait for it, rather impatiently, might I add.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
My eyes widen, and shock is evident on my features. Did the Rebecca Weinstein, just apologise to me, Yrene Jones? Did I enter an alternate universe? Because this clearly ain't the one I was living in for the past so many years, in my universe, Rebecca Weinstein does not apologise to anyone.
"Pardon?"
"I said I'm sorry. Don't make me say it again." She says through gritted teeth and I can tell saying those words is like a physical effort for her.
"Why?"
"For tor,wanting you for so long, why else?"
"I meant, why are you apologising now."
"Because something, perhaps the finality of your walk, is telling me that I won't ever get the chance to say it again."
"You got that right."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm leaving, soon."
"Oh."
"Fine, because I'm starting a new chapter in my life, and I don't want anything related to my past to fun with my present and my future, I forgive you."
"Thanks, Yrene." She manages to smile at me but I can't bring myself to mirror her actions, I mean I have forgiven her but it will take time for me to get over all the hurt and trauma she inflicted onto me for so long. When she doesn't make a move to leave I give her a questioning look, raised eyebrows and all,
"What? You surely, do not expect me to hug you, do you? I mean I forgave you but I did it for me and I'm still not over the way you tortured me for so long, Rebecca. But hopefully sometime soon, I will get over it, and maybe we could pass as acquaintances but for now..." I let my sentence trial off and thankfully she understands what I mean and gives me a calculated nod before wishing me farewell.
"Goodbye Yrene, may you have an easy path ahead."
"Likewise,Rebecca."
I turn on my heel and leave in the opposite direction, leaving behind the torment of the halls, the amazing times Joss, Katie, Aelin and I had had in these very stoned halls, the new yet ancient lockers, the alcoves. I leave behind memories, good and bad, as I leave the place where it all began to go to the place where all of this might end.
~*~

"What?!"
I give Bear and my friends a sheepish smile as they all question me in unison, by their shocked expressions I can't really tell if they were happy for me or not. As of now, I had only told them about getting into Oxford and not the main, more important reason and thankfully I am saved by the trouble of having to delve into the conversation on my own, thanks to Bear.
"This isn't all, is it? There's more to this right? This isn't only about getting into Oxford and changing your major and everything.... I know this is bigger than that."
I gulp and nod, trying to put up a confident front.
"Yes," suddenly my voice is grainy and my throat as dry as sandpaper," there is."
"Go on."
All of their eager heads close in on me and I feel like I will suffocate and so I take in a deep breath,
"Umm... I kind of enrolled myself into this self help scheme, kind of like rehab to help with my mental state and disorders. This is also there in Oxford county so it's not a big problem, besides it's only a few sessions per week and the admissions team at Oxford doesn't mind."
"And this isn't only for you, it's for a greater purpose right?"
"Indeed. It's a last present, a last reminder of Jason and I's love to him. It's in his memory, in his honour, for him. Hence, the change in major too. I'm fulfilling the dreams he was on the path to achieve."
Brine, slick and silver is lining all the eyes in the room and I cannot tell if it's from the pride they feel in me or sorrow that we won't be able to spend more time together.

Hurriedly Bear wipes off his tears and walks to me, wrapping me in his broad arms, towering over me with his six foot something height and resting his slightly bearded chin atop my-messy bun adorned-head.
"I'll miss you so much when you won't be here, annoying my ass off, but more than that I'm proud of you for taking such a huge step and for once thinking about yourself before anyone else. I am extremely jubilant at the idea that you have started to value your own opinion of yourself more than an another's and I am on top of the world with the happiness that you have booked yourself a spot in one of the most prestigious universities in the world, your dream university, at such a young age. However, that does not change the fact that I will miss you more than anything and a small part of hates you for leaving me alone to deal with your retarded friends who cannot even do their homework without your help!" He playfully sends a glare Joss's way and he shrinks behind his girlfriend who is also slightly red in the face, partially from the tears and partially from the idea that Bear knows that they used to copy my homework.
"Not to boost your sky-high ego, but sister, you truly were. The best thing that happened to me in my teaching career. You really are the baby sister I always whisked and hoped I would have. Thank you for that." He swipes a tear from his face and I kiss his cheek,
"You too, are probably the best thing Stonecastle High School ever did to me, brother. I love you."
"I love you morer, midget!"
"That's not even a word Gulliver!"
"I'm the English teacher, so when I say it's a word, it's a word." He says matter of factly and I punch his shoulder.