I know I haven't uploaded for long so here's the next chapter! I'll try to upload chapter 8 soon too. (: hope you guys will enjoy this chapter! To my dearest reviewers and all those who have favorited/followed this story, thank you soooo much for your support! I really appreciate it! ^^
On a side note, I'll be removing any story published before Unforgivable in a few days' time. In the meantime, enjoy! ^^
I slowly pulled open the door to the classroom, tightening my grip on my bag. I returned to school again, but I still wasn't sure if I was making the right choice. After a long day of thinking yesterday, I felt that ignoring Dan was the best way after all.
I took a deep breath, opening one eye as I hoped not to see Dan lying on the table. But boy, was I unfortunate. Instead of seeing the brunette fast asleep, he had his head rested on his arms which were folded, and he was staring in my direction. I immediately gulped when I saw him straightened himself as soon as he saw me.
Before the brunette could make another move, I quickly hustled over to my seat and dumped my bag on the table, trying to hide my blush.
Wait. Why was I even blushing?
I could feel Dan's gaze on me but I refused to turn to him. He was probably thinking about the letter, and any time soon, he would be asking me about it...
"Runo-"
"My, isn't the weather lovely?" I smiled brightly, maybe a little too brightly. I didn't care if I looked retarded, but I did care if Dan brought the topic on the love letter up.
Before Dan could say yet another word, I turned away, resting my head on my table and letting out a deep breath.
I made my choice to ignore him, and that was just what I was going to do.
The past few lessons of trying to avoid Dan had been very tiring. Sure we didn't normally talk too, but then again, I never had to feel the pressure from his gaze on me.
As soon as the bell for lunch rang, I quickly got up. It was a day without Julie, and I realised that my whole day had been spent avoiding people. I didn't know how to face Julie, and I didn't want to tell her about the love letter either. Julie was a great friend, but I was afraid that she would only make the situation worse.
I made my way towards the cafeteria, pausing as I saw Julie and the girls. I bit my lip. These girls were together initially before I even joined Bayview High, so who was I to be thick-skinned and joined them again, as though they would openly accept me again? I could only lower my head in shame and walk away.
"Runo, where do you think you're going?"
I turned around to see Fabia with her arms on her hips as she grinned at me. My eyes widened as I saw the dark blunette.
"Well..." I averted my gaze to the rest of the girls at the table. Julie's head was lowered and she didn't look the least bit happy. Alice and Mira were waving at me eagerly and gesticulating me to join them.
"You're one of us, remember?" Fabia smiled genuinely, pulling me by the wrist over to the table.
I could only let the blunette pull me. She had a tremendous and strong grip on me after all. I stopped in front of the table, refusing to sit down as I too, lowered my head. I couldn't face Julie, not when I knew how mad she was at me. It wasn't entirely her fault either. She had every right and reason to be angry. She treated me wholeheartedly as what she called a "BFF", yet I didn't respect her feelings.
"I think I'll leave now..." I whispered, turning around.
"Runo!" I stopped in my tracks.
I heard the sound of Julie's heels which clicked as they collided with the ground. The silver haired girl walked towards me, pausing in front of me and holding me by my wrists.
"Runo, don't go. I'm sorry."
"Eh?!" I gasped.
"I was being stupid, letting our friendship getting ruined over such a trivial matter. I understand that you don't want to confide in me, and I was being demanding and unreasonable in expecting you to tell me everything. I'm sorry," Julie's lower lip was trembling furiously as she said these words. I could only sweatdrop as I felt the Australian being about to cry.
"It's alright, I'm sorry too. Let's all be friends again," I smiled, holding out my hand as I waited for a handshake.
Julie's blue eyes turned all watery and instantly, tears flowed down her tan cheeks like a running tap. Instead of returning the handshake, the silver haired girl practically jumped onto me, giving me a huge bear hug. I heard the laughs of the other girls too as they got up and joined in the hug.
It felt good to have such wonderful friends. It really did.
"Trust those girls to make friends with her. It's their misfortune."
All five of us turned around only to see a girl throwing us a weird look as she whispered loudly to her friend, who nodded her head in agreement.
"Hey! What's your problem?" Julie yelled angrily, pulling away from the hug.
The girl appeared startled, but quickly regained her composure. She pointed a pudgy finger at me and narrowed her eyes. "This girl is only going to bring you tons of bad luck. Look what she did to Jenny! And she even refuses to leave Dan. She's only going to keep on garnering the hatred of every other girl in school and drag all of you down! You girls should leave her side while you still have the chance!"
My emerald eyes widened in horror when I heard the girl's words, which shot through my heart like a thousand arrows. I brought misfortune upon others? All I ever wanted was to fit into this school, what's wrong with that?
The other girls only stared at the two instead in disbelief, before the silence was broken by loud laughter.
It was Fabia.
"Runo? Bring us misfortune? The only people who's bringing us misfortune are you! You just want to get on the good side of Jenny and Jewels, oh wait, and Dan. You're just jealous that Runo is the only girl in the entire school that Dan Kuso ever talks to, and you're taking all of your anger out on Runo, how lowly!" Fabia shot back with a wide grin on her face.
"That's right! If you want to have Dan for yourself, why don't you just approach and see whether he even wants you?" Mira added, taking a step forward.
"And goodness, spare a thought for Runo! She has to tolerate all of your nonsense although she's still a new girl. She just wants to fit in," Alice too joined in.
"And lastly, pick on someone your own size, seniors! You bring shame to the school, do you know? It shames me to have seniors like you!" Julie mocked, sticking out her tongue and wrapping her arms around mine tightly.
The two seniors gasped in horror. I guessed they probably didn't know that their cover would be blown. But then again, Julie did know every other teenager in Bayview, so it wasn't the least bit surprising. They then stormed off angrily.
I felt tears pricking my eyes as I watched the girls turn to me with satisfied grins. I smiled back, teary-eyed as I tried to wipe my tears away.
"Runo, oh my gosh, are you crying?" Julie exclaimed, jumping up and putting her hands on my shoulders.
"For God's sake, Julie, don't announce it to the whole world!" Fabia scolded, backhanding the Australian.
"Ow, Fab, that hurts!" Julie winced in pain.
I laughed, causing the girls to all turn towards me, blinking. I rushed towards them, hugging them all together.
"Thanks, girls. I love you all," I whispered happily.
"And we love you too!" Julie giggled as all the girls hugged me too.
I sighed as I walked towards my seat. The bell signalling the end of lunch had just rang and afternoon lessons were about to begin. It was going to be another dreadfully long period.
I blinked as I stopped in my tracks. Dan was clearing a few pieces of paper from my table and crushing them all. I narrowed my eyes at the brunette and walked towards him.
"What are you doing?"
I could've sworn I saw Dan jump up. He tried to sweep the papers away but I grabbed his hand, stopping him.
"Runo, it's nothing."
I frowned. For the first time, he wasn't calling me "Kid". Something had to be wrong.
I snatched one of the pieces of paper while Dan wasn't watching. The brunette tried to stop me but I spun around, rapidly opening the paper.
"You're such a whore. Stay away from our Dan!"
I stared at the paper for a while, before snapping out of my trance when Dan snatched the paper away from me. Unhappy, I snatched yet another piece of paper from Dan.
"Slut. You'll never find happiness if you keep on staying with Dan!"
I was devastated. I felt my eyes being pricked by tears threatening to escape, and my grip on the paper tightened to the extent of being crushed.
"Please stay away from me."
Before I could even get a reply for Dan, I dashed out of the classroom.
I didn't know how long I stayed in the toilet cubicle, but what I did know that it was the first time I'd ever cried so hard. What was wrong with wanting to fit in? I didn't mean to attract Dan's attention! Not at all. I just wished I had never known Dan at all.
"Runo?"
There was a knock on my cubicle door.
"Go away, Julie. No one can change a thing, not even you."
I heard the silver-haired sigh.
"Sure I can't. But... Are you sure you did the right thing?"
There was a long pause. I guessed Julie overheard what I told Dan. Bending down with my face buried in my palms, I let my tears roll down my cheeks freely.
"Julie, it hurts. My heart aches."
The Australian remained silent upon hearing my helpless whispers. I heard a soft "thud" and presumed that Julie had placed her hand on the door.
"Let me in, Runo."
I shook my head. "No."
"It's been too long a day for you, Runo. Go back home. I'll tell the teachers that you're taking sick leave."
I took a deep breath, lifting my head and holding my hands together tightly.
"Fine, but only after you leave."
I was certain that Julie was hesitating, for only after minutes did I hear the door of the toilet shut. I got up, and prepared to leave the school.
No matter what happens, I wasn't going to let Dan ruin my school life. I will stay away from him, ignore him, and deny his existence.
Oh no, things aren't going well between Dan and Runo at all! At least Runo has a group of loyal friends who are always ever-supportive of her! ^^ I can't wait to finish this story myself too, only a few more chapters to go (hopefully it'll end at around 15-17) before I can start penning down new thoughts for another story again. :D I hope you guys are just as excited for the new story as I am! After I've finished this story (currently at chapter 12), I'll give you a sneak peek/ a summary of it heheh. For faster updates, do review/ favourite/ follow if you haven't done so. Thanks for reading! ^^