S.M.S(Save My Soul)

Chapter 7: Emotional Turmoil

"Do you like reading?" Eve asked me after a few seconds of a shouting match between Mason and Michael being twins and all they argued on everything even the tiniest of things, this time it was about which sport was better rugby or football.

"Ya I do," I answered Eve feeling a little bit better to think about something else that I would be doing whenever I could if I had all the time in the world.

"Same, wanna join me in the library? Beats hanging around these delinquents," she asked me

"Ya sure let's go," I smiled lightly glad to have a good excuse to leave the noisy crowded group. Eve and I stood up taking our bags attracting the groups' attention.

"Where are you two love birds going?" Anji asked with a raised brow

"Library," Eve answered flatly before taking off, I followed next to her wondering how she was so strong-willed and didn't care about what anyone thought about her.

"You have a favourite author?" She asked me once we found an empty desk in the library. Hands down the library was my favourite place in the entire school, rows and endless rows of books of all kinds for your enjoyment.

"I got two Stephen King and Stephenie Meyer, what about you?" I asked her feeling a little less tense around her as my muscles loosened.

"Val Tyler," she said with a warm smile making eye contact with me

"Oh I've read one of her book series, I quite enjoyed it her writing style is refreshing," I said with a light smile opening up a bit.

"Let me guess, The Time Wreccas," she smiled knowingly

"Ha, ya exactly that," I chuckled lightly

"I figured they are good," she chuckled," Not to be nosy or anything but where were you these past couple of days?" She asked the first person who ever did ask me about my whereabouts and genuinely seemed to care.

"I've been camping," I said

"Camping?" She asked not sure if she heard that correctly

"Yes camping with my dad," I said more slowly maintaining eye contact with her my head slightly down

"During school?" She asked with a raised brow

"Yup," I awkwardly said

"Alright then, did you have fun then?" She asked

"Surprisingly so," I answered with a slight smile

"That's good, so you like the outdoors?" She asked

"I suppose you could say that, what about you?" I asked her

"From time to time, I'm more of a city girl," she said," You got any other hobbies?" She asked me.

"Besides reading a bit of Netflix and netball," I proudly said

"Ya I've seen you play a couple of times, you're pretty good," she praised making the heat rush to my face as my heart skipped a beat.

"Thanks," I shyly said

"Anytime, I on the other hand like more subtle games like chess," she said

"Wow, I used to play when I was a kid so I know what you mean," I said

"Ya we should play sometimes I got aboard at home," she offered, did she just invite me over to her place?

"Thanks that would be fun," I smiled staring at my hands on the table

"You're pretty shy arent you?" She asked

"Only around people that make me nervous," I blurted out without thinking,

"Why do I make you nervous?" She asked straight forward

"Because you're perfect," I said without thinking

"Darling I am the furthest thing from perfect," she sadly sighed looking down at her phone. The way she called me darling had my heart flying out the window, so natural yet elegant, her British accent not helping my racing heart in the slightest.

"I didn't mean it like that," I corrected myself

"No I get what you mean," she said with a tight smile staring at her phone that she held in an iron grip.

"Sorry," I apologized

"You have nothing to be sorry for, you're just another person I fooled into thinking I'm perfect," she sadly said, it hurt to hear that and so as much as I would like to help her in any way I could, I couldn't because she was fighting her own battle she had to fight alone and if she needed help she could easily ask her friends whoever that may be because Angelica's group was sure as hell weren't her friends.

"Can I say something crazy?" I asked her getting some courage out of nowhere

"Please do," she practically begged wanting a distraction from her mind

"Are you free after school?" I asked her maintaining eye contact with her

"Ya, what do you have in mind?" She asked

"Wanna come over to my place to take your mind off a few things, I sure as hell need company besides from my dad," I offered with a slight smile.

"That sounds amazing, I'd love to come over. Mind if I ask what's bothering you?" She asked with concern

"Nothing you need to worry your pretty mind about," I said with a fake smile

"Alright keep your skeletons in the closet but I feel like taking up that offer right now," she sighed

"You mean skip the rest of our classes?" I asked in shock, being the goodie to shoes that I was this was like asking me to torch a house or something

"Ya, it's just one day come on what do you say?" She asked with a wide grin plastered on her pretty face. I only had two classes left for the day which was maths and Afrikaans and I couldn't miss them for the life of me

"After my classes," I meekly said

"Chin up girl I was just pulling your leg we can go after school, I just wanted to see your reaction," she chuckled her face lighting up, she looked breathtaking at that moment and I had to say she looked even more radiant than Angelica in that very moment with just how carefree she looked.

"Right," I chuckled lightly feeling the tension leave my body

"Mind if I get your number?" She asked with a hopeful expression, someone might as well have shot me with a bow and arrow with the way my heart stopped for a second,

"Uh ya no problem," I said taking her phone from her outstretched hand before typing in my number.

"Thanks, I'll text you when my classes are done," she beamed showing one dimple on her left cheek

"Ok," I awkwardly said staring at the table

"Cool," she said with a cute smile that had my heart in my throat. Comfortable silence surrounded us as we did our homework and read before break was over.

"See you later," Eve said once break was over and we stood in the hallway heading our separate ways

"See you later Eve," I quietly said waving back at her, I watched her leave in slow motion turning her back to me and striding to her class feeling like she was taking my heart with her, god I fell too easily, it was not even funny. I probably looked like a creep staring at her mouth wide and eyes bulging, did I just possibly make a potential friend?

"You two look cosy," Anji said next to me giving me a fright of my life and knocking me down from cloud nine and back to planet earth.

"So what, you jealous?" I teased rolling my eyes at her

"Oh please who would ever be jealous of being your weak ass friend, I'd rather drink a s**t smoothie for the rest of my life than being your friend," she gagged as if the thought of being my friend was the worst thing in humans history, there goes my peppy mood and in came my anger issues.

"And I'd rather f**k a cactus than spend another second with you," I fired back holding the straps of my bag tightly with my head down before I began dodging people like I was in the 'Walking Dead' as I headed to my class. I wasn't the first person to the class which was a surprise but the back seats were mostly empty so I found a seat by the window. No one sat next to me luckily so I broodingly stared out the window as my maths teacher droned on and on about some parabola cartesian plane but my mind was elsewhere to pay attention to anything he was saying.

My mind was pondering over a lot of things, from school work to Devontae and even my psychologist James, my mind was a whirlpool of dark thoughts and if I wasn't careful it could drown me.

"Belle care to give us the answer to the question I just asked?" The maths teacher brought me out of my daydream, all eyes turned to me which made my heart spike and my skin crawl. I wasn't sure what he asked but looking like a fish out of the water wasn't helping either.

"I'm not quite sure sir," I quietly said trying not to shake in my seat by the hot stare he was giving me. But for once luck was on my side as the speaker in the top corner of our classroom crackled before the voice of our principal rung out, gaining the attention of everyone.

"Dear students and faculty due to the ongoing investigation of the murder of sixteen-year-old David Grestor the mayor issued a press release this afternoon. As of today there will be a curfew in the western Cape effective immediately meaning schools will be closed by five pm at the latest meaning no extramural activities and all staff to leave the premises by six latest. This sudden decision was made due to another body found mutilated by the harbour and another by Camps Bay due to these random attacks the police believe it's by the same attacker depicted by the style of how the bodies are found and the cause of death, still these victims have nothing in common. A killer is roaming the streets daily and we need to stay alert at all times, your parents have been told the proper procedure during this time and will be advised on what to do to keep your family and friends safe. We pray that the killer will soon be caught until then follow the protocol adhered by the mayor and stay safe." before the principal ended her speech every student already had their phones out texting their families and friends about the dreadful news that had my spine tingling and not in a fun way.

"You heard her phones away your parents have already been informed on what to do," The maths teacher said, he gave me one last stink eye before the bell rang. He didn't like me in the least considering I didn't do anything to him maybe it was just because I wasn't paying attention in class for the first time in forever. Everyone began packing their stuff to head to their next class, I did the same dreading my next class. Afrikaans and I were like water and oil we didn't mix ever and no matter how hard I tried to study it the language never stuck ever which explained my strong dislike for the class. The damn class shouldn't have the business to be so difficult for no reason.

"Belle a word please," my maths teacher pulled me aside before I could escape, I groaned inwardly and waited for everyone to leave at the front desk opposite Mr Hendricks desk.

"What is going on with you Belle, you've been slacking in your classes and barely concentrating?" Mr Hendricks said disappointingly which stung

"Just going through some things, I promise it won't affect my work anymore," I said through gritted teeth

"You know you can talk to me or any other teacher if anything is bothering you right?" He said sincerely with a concerned look

"Yes sir," I said maintaining eye contact for a few seconds before looking back down at my shoes in shame feeling that acidic taste in my mouth and the feeling of wanting to throw up. I could feel his hot stare all over my body eying me like a hot stake.

"Belle is there something bothering you?" He asked gently placing his hand on my shoulder squeezing reassuringly," Because if there is I'm sure I can help you in some way maybe offer some guidance," he lowly said getting a little too close for comfort and invading my privacy. My nerves were on edge, goosebumps littered my body as memories from that night flashed before my very eyes and I couldn't hold back the bile that spewed out of my mouth and onto my teacher's chest.

"Oh god I'm so sorry," I gagged before emptying the rest of my stomach on the floor,

"Jesus Christ," Mr Hendricks cringed sucking in a breath and looking up at the sky as if to say 'Why God' I couldn't blame him what I did was disgusting. Just thinking about it made me dry heave on the spot choking on my saliva as I lost my breath.

"Take it easy Belle take deep breaths with me in and out," Mr Hendricks gently said rubbing my back and helping me get my breathing in check.

"I'm so sorry sir," I cried involuntarily non stopping tears cascading down my cheeks like a waterfall with a stuffed nose and bloodshot eyes I probably looked high.

"No need to apologize for this can easily be cleaned up, why don't you head to the bathroom and we can talk about this when you feel more up to it hm," he offered with a kind smile that looked way too conniving for my liking.

"Ok," I weakly said before wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I took my bag and rushed to the bathroom where I washed my mouth.

"Oh god," I groaned leaning against the sink trying to stop the world from spinning.

"You ok?" A random girl who came out of the toilet to wash her hands asked me

"Just dandy," I said through gritted teeth looking so drained and ready to drop dead at that very second.

"Ok," she said unconvinced and left the room, I took a moment to breathe in and out recollecting my thoughts before they could wander any further into a dark path. It didn't take longer than five minutes before I felt relatively fine and headed to my next class feeling drained and not up for any school work but I had no other choice.

"You're late, see me after class," my Afrikaans teacher Miss Becket said the moment I interrupted her class, she didn't like me either nor anyone for that matter. She seemed to thrive in the misfortune of children she tortured, I sighed and nodded before taking a seat in the only empty chair. I tried to pay attention to what Miss Becket was saying but nothing stuck her voice went in through one ear and out through the other, my mind was far away.

"Belle wat het ek nou net gese?" She asked noticing me staring out the window

"Jy het gese Randy het geen rede gehad om Jason dood te maak nie," I answered having have heard what she said, since we were reading a book during her class I was paying some attention to what she was saying.

"Goed," she said before carrying on summarising the book for us, I hated being singled out in class yet teachers just loved singling me out I swear they had something against me.