Broken Promises

Chapter 10

“Ask me again tomorrow”, the moment I said that, followed by the smile that grew on his face, I couldn’t help but turn around and bolt out of the classroom. Where the hell did that come from? Damnit Catherine…

He wouldn’t see that as flirting? Would he?

I’m happy we had that conversation because I didn’t want to have that tension every time I see him but giving him ideas was the least of my intentions. I really don’t want him to think he’s got a chance to start anything with me, I’m really not ready for that. Wait, hold up. Who am I even kidding?

I walked into the cafeteria and shook the thought out of my head. I’m being silly, he isn’t interested in who I really am anyway. I’m not stupid, I know that type of guys and I also know what their intentions are. I know he’ll back of the moment he realises I’m just a troubled sad little girl.

My eyes darted to the table where Luke and I had said to meet but the moment I saw the empty table, I felt my heart sink. He isn’t here yet...

The tension in the room suddenly seemed to tighten around me, my brain screaming at me to get out of there. I felt the heaviness of eyes on me and I tightly pressed my fingernails in the palms of my hand. I’m really losing it here, I jus-

“Hey Catherine” I turned around and my tensed shoulders fell as I saw Avery walking into the cafeteria. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as she walked up to me.

“Where’s Luke?” I asked and she pursed her lips before she waved it off “He’ll be a bit later”

Okay then.

“Do you mind sitting with two friends off mine”, she proposed, quickly continuing as she noticed my reaction “If it’s too much, we can just sit somewhere else”

I can’t ask that off her. Come on Catherine

It’s just two of them, I can handle two.

“I’ll be okay”, I told her, not sure if I was going to be but I felt like I needed to at least try.

“Are you sure?” I nodded at her and her lips stretched out into a bright smile.

“Come on then”, she grabbed my hand and reluctantly, I followed behind her. She dragged me through the busy crowd, my grip on her hand tightening as she stopped at a table “Guys, this is Catherine”, she introduced me and I harshly bit my bottom lip when two pairs of eyes stared up at me as we sat down.

“This is Valerie”, Avery pointed to the girl on the left. She had brown hair just like Avery, only Avery’s was a lot lighter and a lot longer too. The girl gave me a laidback smile and winked one of her grey eyes at me “Nice to meet you Catherine”

I returned her smile, some of the nerves leaving my body. She seemed nice.

My gaze changed to the girl next to her and I gulped as she gave me the exact opposite vibe. Her eyes were narrowed as she uninterestingly stared at me but the moment Avery talked, a smile quickly plastered on her face “And this is Charlotte”

“Nice to meet you”, Charlotte continued to smile but it didn’t reach her bright green eyes as they still intimidated the life out of me. I let my eyes shortly wave away from her eyes and noticed the way her raven black hair transitioned to a darkish red by the ends.

“She a little shy?” Charlotte turned to Avery, a smile still on her face but it didn’t take away the judging tone that went with her comment.

Yeah, I didn’t like her…

“She’s not, you just don’t know her yet”, Avery answered her friend calmly and I felt myself release a breath I didn’t know I had held in the moment I saw Luke approach our table.

“I’m sorry Catherine, coach wanted to talk to me about something”, he explained and I shook my head as he went to sit next to Avery “It’s okay, I’m happy you’re here now”

Avery however didn’t seem that happy as she turned away when he tried to kiss her “Come on babe, I said I was sorry”

Sorry? What did he do?

“Trouble in paradise?” Valerie asked with a chuckle and I confusedly watched as Avery rolled her eyes before turning to her friend “This dipshit started a fight in the middle of the hallway”

A fight? Never would have thought Luke would start a fight…

“Really? With who?” Charlotte asked and I turned to him, curious about it as well.

“Doesn’t matter, let’s just drop it okay?” Luke answered but had his eyes went to Avery who let out a heavy sigh “Fine, whatever”

The rest of the day flew by in an instant and I couldn’t wait to go home. Students stormed out of the room and I shook my head, calmly collecting my stuff.

“Hey, Catherine?”, I looked up as the teacher called for me. I quickly zipped my bag closed and slung it over my shoulder as I walked to his desk.

“I just noticed you didn’t have a partner yet for the project”, he started and I nodded my head “Yes but I think I’ll work better alone anyway”

I tightly clutched the straps of my bag, my eyes begging him to just let me do this alone. I really don’t want a partner.

“I have no doubt you would do great but it is a group project”, he spoke, a sympathetic smile tucking at his lips. Well, there goes that wish…

“Don’t worry, I will find you a partner”, he told me and I bitterly nodded my head “Okay, thank you sir”

Damnit…

I walked out of the class and into the hallway, careful not to bump into someone as I pushed myself through the crowd. Right now I cursed these people for hanging around and filling up the hallways but that kind of makes me a hypocrite, doesn’t it? Seeing as I once was one of those people as well.

I made my way out and smiled as I noticed uncle Benjamin’s bright red truck parked at the side of the street. Quickly running over, I threw open the passenger door and hopped in.

“Hey kiddo, how was school?” he took the bag from me and threw it on the backseat as I closed the door. I gave him a blank look and a laugh escaped his lips as he started the engine “Yeah, I hated that place too”

The car moved onto the road and I pulled out my buzzing phone from my pocket.

Facebook: one new message

I pushed the blue square on the screen, my eyes widened open as I read the message.

-I just heard we got paired up for a project :) – Jake

How is that even possible? He wasn’t even in that class… And why would he sent me a f*******: mess-

Ow yeah, I blocked him.

-What? How even?–

-The teacher just mailed me asking if I wanted to partner up with you since you didn’t have one and neither did I since I wasn’t there – Jake

Just my luck…

-Ow… –

I messaged back, my brows scrunching together as I read his reply.

-Don’t worry, I would have chosen you anyway ;)– Jake

He’s so full of himself…

- Why weren’t you in class anyway? –

-Why? You miss me already? – Jake

Why did I even ask? I shook my head, ignoring his remark.

-Nevermind, how are we going to do the project? –

-You can come over to my place tomorrow, I’ll even fix snacks – Jake

Hell no, definitely not a good idea.

-Can’t we do it at the library or something? –

I typed, my feet tapping the floor of the car as I waited for his reply. Please say yes, please just say yes.

-Normally I would say yes to that but I’m kind off under house arrest… – Jake

Damnit… Now I don’t really have a choice do I?

-Fine, when? –

-I won’t be in school tomorrow so why don’t you just come after? – Jake

I sighed as I read it. Why couldn’t he just let me do the project alone…

-Okay… –

I replied and looked back to the road. When I said I wanted things to be okay between Jake and I, this definitely wasn’t what I asked for. Far from it even.

My phone buzzed again and I gazed back down at the screen.

-Perfect, see u tomorrow babe ;) Btw, please unblock me – Jake