Chapter Fourty-six:
"Everyone pick a partner for a presentation." AJ's History teacher announce. Being still new at school, AJ sees everyone be already paired up.
"Madame." AJ raises her hand.
"Oh April, I have a partner for you already. I anticipated this result. He is absent today so you will meet him tomorrow." She answers her question.
"Certainly Madame." AJ understands.
"Now, the presentation is to reenact a famous moment in history, whether it is by accidents or not. You will explain your act first before reenacting it along with an essay on why you chose this famous moment. This will be completed in a week's time. Furthermore, your decision will be written to me by class tomorrow." Her teacher sets the timeline. "Now, World War 2." The teacher starts today's lesson plan.
AJ walks out of class with a sore head. All these deadlines are making her head spin in circles. Everything is almost due each day.
"Someone is stressed out." A person observes.
"A little." AJ admits to a complete stranger.
"This school can be stressful, but you just have to have a working schedule." He directs.
"I do." She responds.
"Let's see." He hands out his right hand.
"I am good thank you." She rejects not knowing the guy.
"Suit yourself." He walks away.
AJ looks back confuse on why he talked to her.
"AJ." Sarah's guy friend, Matthew, calls out with Nila with him.
"Hey." She greets.
"What is going on, you look quite puzzled." He observes her state.
"A guy just converse with me and I don't know why." She states. "He mention to me to have a better working schedule."
Matthew looks towards Nila, Stacey's girl friend, in worry knowing exactly who that guy is. "AJ, you have to be careful here." Matthew warns.
"Why, guys can't give advice here." She jokes.
"The person you talked to used to be Sarah's ex-boyfriend." They seriously say.
"Excuse me." AJ is in shock by this statement.
"He and Sarah dated her first year here. Unlike you, where you have us, Sarah didn't. He took advantage of her being all innocent and lost."
"Let's just say it didn't end well for him." Nila concludes.
"What happened?"
"Sarah told John who was adamant to attend here because of that. He had the grades, but didn't want to attend with Sarah; his dream is being a Running Back." Matthew starts up again.
"Wait, John had an opportunity to attend here." They nod. "He turned it down leaving Sarah to attend here by herself." She can't believe he would do that.
"Sarah convince him to attend public school. She knows John's dreams better than him. She believes if he went here he won't achieve that. She sacrifices her comfort for his dreams." Matthew express a little backstory of John and Sarah.
"So when he heard about-"
"He regretted heavily not attending with her. He blames himself for not being there for her. If he attended, she could have avoided that situation.
"What did Sarah tell him?"
"I shun him out." Sarah answers behind them. "I was upset at myself for convincing him to not attend with me. I blame myself for being so naïve." She still kicks herself for following for him.
"Oh Sarah." AJ hugs her. She knows how she feels being a situation like this with Randy before.
"Do you know why I can't tell him I like him?" They all give their attention to her for the answer.
"I can't easily because I don't deserve him. All the shut out of making him feel it is his fault only, burns all hole in my heart, well metaphorically. For hitting him constantly when he came to visit, he still stayed true to me. No matter how much it hurts to not be with him, I just want him to be happy." She expresses as she wipes her tears. "Come one we are going to be late for class." She changes the subject.
"But-"
"AJ, you can't afford to be late." Sarah interrupts not wanting to discuss this anymore.
"Hey John." AJ greets him via phone.
"Hey AJ, how is it going there? Are you a robot there yet?" He chuckles.
"No." She speaks not her happy self.
"What's wrong?" He notices her voice to have a problem.
"Something has come to my attention." She ponders a bit if this is the right thing to ask.
"Okay, what is it?" He asks cautiously.
"Why didn't you inform us about your application here?" She scolds a bit having him keeping this secret from them.
John is astonished that this the purpose of the call. "Did Sarah tell you about this?" He can't think of anyone else who would tell her, not even his parents know it is that school.
"Yes and before you lie you never told me about her shutting you out for convincing you to follow your dreams." She makes sure to have him tell her the truth.
John sighs. "AJ, yes I applied but I didn't get in."
"What?"
"They needed only one person to attend every year. I had a meeting with them to pick Sarah. I knew the school will help her be a medical doctor. The school will be impressive on her transcript. When she wanted me to attend public school to pursue my football dream, it was confirmed that I did the right thing. My only regret is the guy she dated and then hurt her." He explains his side of the story.
"Wait, you mean hurt her." AJ confuse.
"No, he turned the whole school against her. You know how Kourtney is."
"Yes." AJ is still confused by all of this. This is different from what she heard.
"He is about twice more vicious. He owns the school for the most part."
"What happen?"
"He owns the school, but I own the staff, well the neighbor of my Uncle does. I told him and he got in trouble. Being the top student, they couldn't expel him." He is still furious about that result.
"Oh, I didn't know you had so much power." This is a part of John they never knew.
"I don't. Anyways, this is a depressing topic why would she tell you this." Joh asks curious.
"Well, I was walking out of class and he-"
"He converse with you, didn't he?" He shakes his head in annoyance.
"He did."
"He knows you are friends with Sarah."
"What about Matthew and Nila?"
"They are always together and he knows that. Maybe he needs another conversation." He mostly demands the last part.
"No, John you need to stay away." She utters in a conscious tone.
"Okay, I won't do anything." He speaks in a tone of a plan.
"That includes Jack and Randy." She includes knowing he will ask them for a loophole.
"You ruin everything." He huffs hating when she figures out everything.
"Remember what you all promise me." She hints to their agreement before she attend her new school.
"That is at school not at your school." He grins finding another loop hole.
"No, you promise me to not to get into any trouble no matter where." She doesn't let up her being right.
"Fine." He sighs again on why he even bothers. "We won't do anything. Just tell me how Sarah is faring." He cares about her well-being.
"She is quite upset about relieving everything."
"Let me talk to her." John request wanting to hear for himself.
"Certainly." She hands the phone to her.
"Hello." Sarah speaks cheerfully.
"Sarah." He speaks knowing she is pretending.
"John, I am fine." Sarah lies not to worry her best friend.
"I know you better than that. I am coming to visit this weekend." He demands hoping she doesn't disagree.
"You don't have to." She whines, although touched by the tactic.
"I want you to know how it feels that I can't do anything all the way here. How am I supposed to be your best friend, if I don't defend or comfort you?" John speaks sadly.
"You achieve all those aspects of being a best friend." She comforts him with her words. "You don't have to be here to be a best friend. A best friend to me is to always be there when I need in any shape or form." She expresses.
"But-"
"No buts, you are a great best friend and that is final." She speaks sternly.
"You can be quite stubborn." John huffs not liking that he can't win with both her and AJ.
"Thank you, I learn a lot from AJ." Sarah teases as AJ gives a thumbs up in approval.
"What?" AJ promise him to not corrupt her.
"Just kidding." She and the rest of them laugh. "No one is manipulating anyone don't worry."
"She better not because you are perfect the way you are." John compliments as Sarah blushes.
"Stop."
"You are, Sarah… I want-"
"Wait, I want to tell you something first." This is the moment she will express her feelings.
"What is it?"
"I-"
"John, dinner is ready." Mrs. Cena calls out.
"Be right there." He calls out back. "What is it, Sarah?"
"I just want to thank you for being my best friend." She chickens out.
"You're welcome. Thank you for being mine. I will talk to you later." John hangs up.
"Sarah, what happen, I thought you are going to convey your feelings?" AJ asks confuse.
"It is not the right time." She hands her back her phone before laying on her bed.
"It will come Sarah I know it will." Matthew hugs her.
Kourtney, the next day, enters school still pondering how her plan failed. She can't understand how it favours them most of the time. As she walks, she hears something coming from Ms. Silver's room. She leans her ear towards the door.
"We need to stop because we are going to get caught." Ms. Silver states with some moans.
This gives Kourtney a devilish smirk. She can blackmail a teacher to persuade the favours in her way. Just as she is about to open the door, to catch Ms. Silver in the act, the bell rings.
"Damn." She speaks disappointed. With her own on thin ice, she is not afforded to be late. "I will figure out what Ms. Silver's secret is and how it might involve AJ's group." She promises.