Chapter 6
The following morning, I boarded the bus, which I had almost missed. To my relief, I spotted both of my friends already seated inside. I made my way to the back, alternating my gaze between them, both of us smiling in recognition.
“Do you mind if I sit with Marco?” I asked Emily, hoping for her support.
“Not at all! I need to finish my homework anyway. I was so tired yesterday that I fell asleep right after dinner,” she replied, rummaging through her backpack. I glanced at Marco, who slid into the window seat to make room for me.
“Hey,” I greeted him, settling in beside him.
“Hey there. Did you sleep well?” he asked softly.
“Yeah, I did—still in your clothes, though,” I admitted, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.
It was strange; he was just my friend now, as I had wanted, but the unexpected physical attraction overwhelmed me.
Was it because he was off-limits? I was more confused than I realized.
Before I could think it through, I found my hand resting on his.
He glanced at me for a split second before turning his gaze back to the window. Maybe he didn't want me anymore.
For the rest of the ride, I leaned my head against his shoulder, and we fell into a comfortable silence, as if everything that needed saying had already been spoken.
Our first class of the day was gym, and I absolutely hated the idea of running in the morning.
“Are you two back together?” Emily asked as we made our way to the gym.
“No, we're just friends,” I replied.
“Doesn't seem like it,” she teased with a knowing smile.
“What can I say?” I shrugged, trying to play it cool.
“Make a decision: do you want him or not? If you do, then just go for it. If not, let him find happiness with someone else.” Her tone was almost frustrated.
Someone else? The thought had never crossed my mind. I had always been so sure he was mine that the idea of him being with someone else left me feeling confused.
After a grueling gym session, I was nearly worn out for the day. Once I changed, we stepped outside, but the next class was already lined up to come in. My stomach dropped when I saw the Vipers; their cheerful faces made me feel sick.
“Let the game begin,” Clous said as I walked past him. I ignored him and quickened my pace. I turned around to check if Emily was with me, but she was nowhere in sight.
“Emily!” I called out, but the gym door swung shut.
I rushed back; she couldn't have gone ahead and leave me behind.
I pulled the door open, and I was startled to see Emily burst out, tears streaming down her face.
“Em, what's wrong?” I asked, desperate for an explanation, but she didn't respond or even look at me.
“What did I do? Please, just talk to me!” I shouted, completely bewildered by the situation.
“Leave me alone! I never want to talk to you again!” she yelled, her voice a mix of anger and sorrow.
Those words didn't sound like her. I could feel it.
I chased after her, hoping I could speak to her in class.
But when we got there, she sat between two other students, making it impossible for me to reach her. She didn't even glance my way once.
“Did you hear? The Siamese twins have finally been separated.” A whisper floated through the air, but I caught it.
Curious glances darted between my classmates, Em, and me.
My focus in class wavered; it felt like I was watching someone else's life unfold.
These past two weeks had felt surreal, almost like a cruel joke.
Perhaps this was just a nightmare, and I would wake up any moment.
I attempted to text her but got no answer. The bell rang, and as we were moving to the next class, I hurried to chase her. I called her name, desperate for a response, but she ignored me as if I were invisible. I noticed the pain flickering in her eyes, carefully masked but unmistakable.
Lunchtime found me seething with anger, and I stormed over to Clous.
My gaze darted around until I spotted all four of them lounging against the wall in the common area.
I charged toward Clous like a whirlwind, pushing against his chest with all my might, causing him to stagger slightly.
Jake grabbed my arm, trying to pull me back, while V laughed at our confrontation, and Zane stood silently, observing.
The surrounding crowd froze, captivated by the unfolding drama. I didn't care.
“What did you do to her?” I shouted, my voice echoing in the tense air.
“Tell me what you said to her!” I strained against Jake’s grip, desperate to confront Clous.
His eyes burned with fury as he stepped closer, teeth gritted in anger.
I could sense that, without an audience, things might have turned physical.
“Didn't I warn you that the game had begun?” he spat through clenched teeth. V’s gaze remained fixed on Jake, a silent signal passing between them.
“She won't talk to you anymore. If she does, her secret is out,” Jake retorted, a fierce look in his eyes.
“You're all twisted monsters. Is this just for your own amusement?” I glared at them, disgusted.
“It's merely a game, and every game needs intriguing players,” Zane’s deep voice cut through the tension. I tightened my jaw, fighting back my frustration.
“Your little friend has more secrets than you can imagine. We're eager to see the chaos they'll bring,” Clous whispered directly into my ear. I recoiled and turned to walk away, my heart pounding with anger and confusion.
After school, I made my way to the bus stop, feeling a bit lonely. Marco was already there, his gaze fixed on me as I approached.
“Hey,” he greeted, searching for Em with his eyes.
“Hey,” I replied, fatigue evident in my voice.
“Where's Em?”
“I have no idea,” I admitted, struggling to find the right words.
“What do you mean you don't know? You two are always together,” he said, looking perplexed.
“It's a complicated situation.”
“Try me.”
Just then, the bus pulled up, cutting our conversation short. We settled into our seats, and he looked at me expectantly, waiting for an explanation.
“Can we talk about it later? I'm not really in the mood right now. How about we just listen to some music?” I suggested, hoping he'd understand. He nodded, though disappointment flickered across his face.
I handed him one of my earbuds and rested my head on his shoulder. The music enveloped us, calming the tension. He glanced at me, and for a brief moment, it felt like it used to—just the two of us.
I wanted to reclaim that normalcy, so I shifted closer, my lips nearly brushing against his. And then, he pressed his lips to mine. It felt so familiar, something I had been missing. But soon, he pulled back. “Are you sure?” he asked, concern etched on his face.
“Yes, I want to try again,” I whispered. We kissed again, lost in the moment like any other teenager; our lips danced together to the rhythm of our hearts until we reached our stop.
The house was empty. I climbed the stairs, intending to drop off my backpack in my room. Instead of heading back down, I found myself drawn to my parents’ bedroom. I gently pushed open the white door and stepped inside.
The space was cozy, perhaps even a bit smaller than my own, with beige walls and a crisp white ceiling. In the center stood a white wooden bed by a wall, topped with a beige and light gray striped comforter. To the right was my mom’s vanity, complete with a mirror encircled by bright lights.
I approached the vanity, inhaling the familiar scent of my mom’s perfume. I couldn't resist spritzing a bit on my wrist, wanting to carry a piece of her with me. Her makeup was perfectly arranged.
A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I recalled sneaking into her room when I was about six years old, trying on her clothes and heels, and attempting to replicate her lipstick and mascara.
I always got caught, no matter how careful I was; my tender age made it impossible to hide my little escapades.
A smile spread across my face as I remembered those moments.
She never scolded me, though. Instead, she would take my hand, guiding me to sit in front of her.
I could still hear her voice: “I'm going to ask you something, and you have to be honest. If you lie, I'll always know. Liars have smoke in their eyes.”
I could never bring myself to lie to her; the fear of her discovering a lie terrified me. But now, I was not that little girl anymore.
The sudden vibration of my phone startled me. It was my dad calling.
“Hey there!”
“Hi, sweetheart. I feel awful. I'm really sorry.”
“What's wrong?”
“I forgot to leave you anything for lunch. I know your mom always made sure there was something in the fridge for you. I ordered a pizza; it should arrive soon. Just use the money from the jar to pay the delivery guy.”
“Oh, that's fine. I'm not a kid anymore; I could have whipped up some pasta.”
“I'm really sorry.”
“Dad, please, it's all right.”
“I'll pick up some groceries and think of something for dinner.”
“Sounds good, Dad. Love you, see you later.”
“Love you too, sweetheart. See you soon.”
His voice trembled, and I could sense the weight he was carrying; it was tough to listen to. I made my way to the kitchen. While still holding my phone, I dialed Mom’s number and waited for it to ring.
“Hello, Luna. Is everything okay?”
“Hey. Yes. When will you be home?”
“Oh, I'm stuck at work late tonight and will have to stay over, but I might make it back tomorrow.”
“Alright, Mom.”
“Listen, I know that this is all new for us, but I promise it will get easier.”
“Okay, I understand. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye for now.”
I ended the call and placed the phone on the counter. I opened the fridge to find it empty. However, I discovered some lasagna in the freezer. I decided to let it thaw by the sink for dinner. I cleaned up a bit, and after enjoying my pizza, I vacuumed the entire house.