A/N Thanks for all the review, you guys are great! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 12: Dreadful Epiphany
Monday rolled around in no time at all. One word. School. And it wasn't only Louise I had to be concerned about now, oh no. Rachel. Yes, Rachel went to school, unlike Eyeball. Marvellous.
It was during lunchtime, when I noticed her. I had been sitting with Clara, minding my own business, when I caught sight of her with, whom else? The cheerleaders. Typical.
Her clothes were different, but her hair and face remained the same. Still the long fiery hair, still the same pinched expression. It's almost like I expected her to look different, simply because I was seeing her in different scenery. But she didn't, in fact she was practically unchanged from the last time I had seen her.
Clara caught me staring, "spare the flies, Alice." Referring to the fact my mouth was hanging open. I shut it with a snap, without altering my gaze.
Clara sat up straighter, "who're you looking at anyway?" I shook my head, not wanting to get into this. I hadn't mentioned the little insignificant detail about how I'd met Ace and seen Rachel on Saturday. I don't really know why, I don't have a plausible reason. But I just didn't feel right about telling her.
I dropped back down onto my haunches, taking cover in the masses in the dining hall. I didn't think Rachel had seen me the other day, but I couldn't be certain. I tried to switch the topic of conversation,
"So...how was your English class?"
Clara gave me a strange, confused look, "same as always, boring. What's up with you?"
"Nothing."
I shrugged, stuffing a chip into my mouth, giving myself an excuse to not talk.
She watched me dispassionately, "you're lying to me. Your nostrils' flare when you lie."
You can bet I just about choked on my chip.
"Sorry? I don't know what you mean." Clara grabbed her bag, and rummaged around in it. I waited, wondering what she was about to produce. A mirror.
She put it under my nose, "see!"
"So, let's try again, why are you acting so odd?"
"No, I'm not-" Argh! She was right! Sure enough, my nostrils flared like crazy! Why had no one ever thought to tell me? No wonder everyone loved to watch me lie, it certainly explained why I never got away with it. Why had no one ever thought to tell me?
Clara, watched, amused by shock, yet irritated by my secrecy, "why were you looking at Rachel?"
I stared at her, "you failed to mention that she went out with Ace."
Clara flinched, looking uncomfortable, "well, she's just a stuck up bitch..."
Rachel had done something which had hurt Clara; that much was evident. I lowered my voice, "what did she do to you?"
She squirmed, breaking her graze from mine, "she said Eyeball had gotten her pregnant."
I didn't want to ask, but..."and had he?"
Clara looked annoyed, "no! Well, at least, I don't think he did."
I exhaled slowly, "so, she's a number one bitch, who happens to be going out with Ace?"
"I'm not interrupting, am I?"
I spun round, finding myself nose-to-nose with Rachel. Well, nose-to-chin, I am kind of short.
Hell. Had she heard us?
She stuck her nose in the air, "gossiping are we? I'm saddened that I wasn't invited."
Clara looked up, glaring at her, "well, you are just a gossiping bitch."
Rachel coolly examined her nails in a bored fashion, "that the best you got?"
Clara half-rose from her chair, opening her mouth to say something. I grabbed her arm, hissing at her to sit down again. We were causing a scene.
I looked around. Everyone was gawking; you don't cross Rachel.
She turned on me, "So, I hear you've been fooling around with my boyfriend?"
Wait. What?
"I don't know what you are talking about."
I looked her straight in the eyes and braced myself for her backlash, I wasn't lying, but no doubt she wouldn't believe me.
"Pull the other one, do I look like an idiot?"
I bit back the retort with sprang to my tongue – Clara was right; she was a complete and utter bitch.
I kept my mouth shut, and looked away; I didn't know how to deal with girls like her.
Sadly, Rachel did not take the hint, and continued to stand there, her hands on her hips.
"Hello? Anyone there?" She waved her hands rudely, in front of my face.
Clara had been constantly glaring, throughout the entire episode, "piss off, Rachel." Her voice was calm and steady, only betraying a hint of irritation.
Rachel shook her head, a smile playing at her lips.
"Just a warning, back off, freak. You're being pathetic, throwing yourself at him." She was looking at Clara, but clearly this was intended for my ears.
I couldn't stop myself, I flushed red, but stood my ground, "I don't know who you are calling a freak, but I have no interest, what so ever, in your boyfriend."
I don't think I was lying.
Rachel looked disbelieving, "do you know who I am talking about? Everyone has an interest in Ace."
Clara once again began to open her mouth, but stopped when Rachel held one hand up, "yes, I know you don't. But that doesn't count – you date his best friend, close enough."
I stood up, "yeah, well, I don't either." I motioned to Clara, and she too stood up.
We began to walk away, but Rachel wasn't quite finished, "watch your back, shorty."
I paused, but Clara put a hand out to restrain me, "she isn't worth it."
I thought hard, and then sighed, "You're right." I wasn't experienced with situations like this, but Rachel was just so...so...ugh. I really didn't like her.
We continued on our way. How had Rachel known? Had she seen me? I was so sure she hadn't but...there really wasn't any other explanation.
I turned my head, looking out of the window; I hadn't seen Ace in school yet. Heck, I didn't even know if he attended school.
He did.
I saw Rachel out there, on the playing fields, running towards a blonde figure. Ace.
He caught her in an embrace, and kissed her full on the lips. I felt a strange twinge of...what? Jealousy? Resentment? Surely not.
Rachel caught me watching, and stuck a finger up, unknown to Ace, whom had his back to me.
I turned away, staring at the floor. Clara continued to natter on, hardly pausing for breath.
Eventually, she caught onto my silence, "now what's wrong?" She sighed heavily.
I shrugged, turning my head away from her, just in case my nostrils gave me away. It's no joke, having to worry about this now.
"Nothing, just thinking..."
"About?" Clara was looking at me with an oddly understanding, however curious expression.
In retrospect, I think she knew. Just to what extent - that I did not know.
"Nothing in particular."
"I see." Her voice sounded unconvinced, but she chose to let it go.
The final bell for lunch rang.
Clara began walking again, "come on; let's go. Otherwise, we'll be late."
I nodded slowly, tearing my gaze from the window. It was surprisingly difficult.
"Yeah..."
And so, we made our way to class; away from the entwined figures of Rachel and Ace.
And that feeling that I still couldn't describe; continued to eat away at me, deft in the pit of my stomach.
A/N
Whose relationship do you like best?
Who is your favourite character?
And who would you like to see more of?
Thanks for reading! (:
