A Beautiful Affair 11

Mara could feel the stares of the students around her bore holes into her skull. She looked down, not wanting to meet anyone's gaze as she continued to walk through the halls of the school. She could hear their murmurs as she walked.

Slut.

She heard one of them call her, she could already feel the warm tears building up inside her but she pushed them away as she got to her destination.

"You wanted to see me, Mr. Sweet?" She said as she walked into the office of the headmaster of the school.

"Ah, yes. Come in, Ms. Jaffray" He beckoned for her to come closer.

She nodded slightly and closed the door behind her, taking a sit on the chair in front of her.

Mr. Sweet eyed her for a moment, a serious look on his features. She gulped as she began to become nervous.

"I think you're probably wondering why I called you in here." He said breaking the silence that could turn you deaf.

She nodded slightly. "Why have you called me, Sir?"

"It has come to my attention of a certain rumor spreading across campus" He stated "And that the little quarrel that happened in the hall, earlier is connected to it."

"Oh" She sighed

"Oh, indeed" He said "Mara, I'm a little concern about this"

"You are?" She asked.

"Yes, because of this rumor, not only is your reputation tarnished," he paused, looking at her with intense eyes. "As the school's, as well."

"I'm sorry," She really was, and she would do anything to take everything back "The news just spread like wild–"

"Like wildfire" he finished "I know, I've been teaching for some time now and I know how school gossip works. But this one, in particular," he paused, searching for the right word, something that wouldn't offend the student in front of him. "… is different"

"How come?" Tears were once again blurring her vision but she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to make them stop.

"It has reached a nearby school" He stated "And, I'm worried that some parents of the students in this school will find out. Ruining the reputation of our beloved institution"

"Are you going to call my parents?" She gulped, nervousness eating her insides. Mr. Sweet shook his head. "Are you going to expel me? Or give me detention?"

Mr. Sweet gave her a crooked smile, a smile that had no trace of joy or happiness what so ever.

"I'm not going to do anything, Mara" he said and a relief flooded through her. "But, I want you to do something"

"What?" She asked

"I want you to make this rumor stop" He said firmly

"But sir–"

"I know what's done is done" he cut her off "And I know rumors come and go but I want this one, gone by the end of the week" He looked at her with eyes that made her want to crawl into her bed and cry "Or, I may have to go call you parents and be the baron of bad news."

Her head was reeling, thoughts of what her parents might say to her washed through her mind.

She nodded.

Linebreak

Knocking on the familiar door, Mara waited for the person behind it to open it. She waited for a moment before deciding to give up as no answered was given to her.

Suddenly, when she was about to turn her back, Mick opened the door, still in his school uniform, faced bruised.

For a moment they just stared at each other, the way he looked at her, it could cut through metal. His eyes were dangerous, filled with anger.

"Can we talk" She asked

He was silent before answering; "Come in"

Mara entered the room, to find no one else was there.

"Where are Fabian and Eddie?"

"I don't know, Mars" he answered bitterly.

He sat on his bed, whilst she decided to sit in front of him on Eddie's bed.

"How did you find out?" She asked uneasily.

"Fabian told me" He replied, "He heard it from Amber as she told Nina. Amber found out from Alfie, apparently, he witnessed your little talk in the library"

"Mick–"

"How long?" He asked. Mara looked away from him, not responding. "How long, Mara?" He demanded.

"Two months ago" she answered quietly "After our big fight"

"Mara! I apologized for that!" He was beyond angry now "I thought we were okay."

"We were" She looked up at him

"Apparently we weren't" he said "How could you do this to me? I thought–"

Mara was sick and tired of hearing what he was saying; didn't he cheat on her with Joy, while they were together?

"Stop!" She yelled "Don't act like you're the victim here!"

"What are you talking about?" He asked

"Oh, please, you slept with Joy" She said "I wasn't the only one cheating!"

Mick was silent for a moment; both just stared at each other.

"Do you love me?" He asked suddenly

"I-I don't know" she stuttered.

Did she not love him anymore; was her love him already fading? She had spent years trying to get him to notice her; she was head over heel for him, but now. As both looked at each other, she could only shake her head in disapproval. Was she really ready to let him go? Ready to face the consequences of her actions?

Suddenly, he stood up from his position and placed his lips on hers, taking her back. Her eyes were wide open as she felt his chapped lips glide over her's. He bit her lower lip, and she almost allowed her entrance but she pulled back and stood away from him.

"I'm sorry, this doesn't feel right" She finally said

"Why?" he asked "I'm your boyfriend, or do you prefer Clarke over me?"

"I'm sorry, Mick. I don't know what happened" She said. She looked down at him as he avoided her gaze, looking down at his feet. "Do you love Joy?"

He was taken aback by her question and thought about it for a moment.

"I see the way she looks at you, Mick" She said, "and she admitted it herself. She loves you"

"But I want you, Mars" he looked up

She took a step closer to him, cupping his face in both of her small hands. She looked down at him with eyes glassy from the unshed tears.

"But I'm not the one you need" She whispered "You need Joy."

"I'm sorry, Mars"

She smiled sadly at him, "Don't be"

"I'm sorry for betraying you"

"I'm sorry about that too, but I can't be with someone who I don't love" She said, a single tear escaping her "I hope you understand"

"I do" He wiped the tear from her face. "So, this is it? It's over between us, I guess"

"Yeah, I guess it is" she answered pulling away from his hold.

"Clarke is lucky for someone like you to love him" He said

She smiled at him, she stood by the door, hand on the handle. This was it. Once she stepped out of the door, everything would be different now.

"Good luck, Mick" She said before exiting the room.

Her back was still against the door, her heart filled with all sorts of emotions, once she heard the one of the door click, indicating it was now close. She finally allowed her tears to stream down her eyes before hurrying up the stairs and into her room.

Hey guys,

I was wondering what you're reactions would be if I told you the next chapter is going to be the last?

I have exams on Monday, I should be studying

But I'm not

Aren't I just the greatest~?!

Oh well, R&R :))