Love hurts

Chapter eight (8) Make her jealous

What happened the next day at school came as a shock for Kaithlyn, for the first time since school resumed, Richard was in school before her. She was pleased at first, hoping to apologise since many students were yet to arrive. 'This is good,' she thought. 

But then she noticed he wasn't on his usual seat, that is beside her, but he was seating besides Lilian. Lilian was a pretty girl, her parents are also high class but unlike Nicole, she wasn't proud, but gentle and friendly, which made many like her. 

'It seems he was serious about what he had said yesterday, but i was going to apologise, ' she thought. 'I wouldn't do that now, it would look like I am stalking him, '.

So she just walked queitly to her seat, not looking towards Richard, she felt hurt but wasn't showing it. She settled down and started to unpack her bag. Richard had seen her walk in, he loved the surprise on her face at first but became worried when she went to her seat not looking sad or hurt. 

'What if she doesn't get jealous, all my plans would be a waste,' he thought. 'Maybe, she is still acting tough, I'll show her!'

Normal classes soon commenced, Lilian had thought Richard would return to his seat as usual, but was surprised when he didn't. 

'Uhmmn Richard!' she said. 

'Yes Lily,' he replied. 

'Lily!' she said surprised, no one had ever called her Lily.

'Yeah Lily, Lilian is a beautiful name but i think Lily suits you better, you know as beautiful as a flower,' Richard said smiling. Lilian cheeks turned pink, she was blushing. Kaithlyn could hear all what they were saying as her seat was close to Lilian's, Kate was getting tensed up. 

'What is wrong with me?' she asked herself as she tried writing a poem but a single sentence could not be formed. Richard saw Kate tensed face, he knew she was getting jealous, he smiled to himself. 

'What is wrong?' Richard asked Lilian. 

'I was just wondering why you aren't on your seat today,' she asked smiling. 

'My seat!  My name isn't on the seat firstly and secondly, I just felt like staying else where today,' he explained. 'So for disturbing you Lily, how about i buy you lunch today,' he said to Lilian who looked surprised. Kaithlyn smiled scornfully, 'buying lunch for what disturbance, compared to the stress of walking him to the park, what did he get me then?' she thought. 

'My pleasure,' Lilian replied gracefully. 

Kaithlyn looked at her from the corner of her eye, 'of course, she is far more pretty than i am, and what more she is of an high class,' she thought. So she placed her elbows on the desk, face in her palm. 

'What a perfect match!!!' she said unconsciously, feeling sorry for herself.

'A perfect match? ' said a male voice, that brought Kaithlyn back to reality, it was Alex. Alex Machow, he had also been Kaithlyns' friend, but Nicole wouldn't have that so she caused a lot of problems for him, although he keeps Kate at arms lenght, he was still nice to her. 

'Now tell me Kate, who is the perfect match you are talking about, ' he said smiling as he sat next to her, actually on Richards' seat. 

'Oh, it's nothing, just a thoight that came to mind,' She answered looking surprised to see Alex seating next to her. He noticed the surprise on her face. 

'You must be surprised right? ' he asked moving closer like he wanted to examine her face. Richard was watching the whole time, was beginning to feel irritated and angry. 

'Oh Alex can be troublesome at times, ' joked Lilian. 

'What do you mean?' Richard asked looking puzzled 

'You wouldn't know, Alex and Kaithlyn were very good friends, they were always together but you know Nicole wouldn't have that, so she caused a lot of trouble for Alex, although he stayed away from Kate, but he was still nice to her in troublesome way,' Lilian explained to Richard. 

'It would be a lie if i said no,' Kate said replying Alex's question.  'Well i thought, you looked some what down today, so i thought why not cheer you up since there is no one else who can do that, except of course me, ' Alex teased.  Kaithlyn could not help but smile at his joke, 'Thanks Alex' she said. 

'I do have a little problem with English assignment, knowing you are the boss do you mond helping me out? ' he pleaded. 

'Of course, my pleasure, ' said Kaithlyn, thinking it woukd take her mind off Richard for a while. Alex was soon back with the books and Kaithlyn had began to explain tp him, sometimes laughing at his jokes. 

Richard who was watching thought to himself once again if he hadn't  make a mistake  by leaving Kaithlyn side.

                        ***************

'Good morning, is this the Peterollis residence? '

'Yes Ma'm, who would you like to speak with?' 

'Yes i would like to speak with Mrs Peterolli, '   'Hold on a second  madam, '

'Hello, it's Mrs Peterolli speaking, who is this? '

'Oh hi,  it is mrs Willson speaking, how gave you been? ' Mrs Wilson asked. 'Oh Mrs Wilson enough with the formalities, you can call me Nessa or Vanessa,' said Mrs Peterolli. 

'Oh yes alright then, you could also call me Linda, ' Mrs Wilson said. 

'Of course then, Linda, how have you been,' said Mrs Peterolli. 'Doing just fine, i wanted to know if you woul be free tomorrow, i mean you and your family, around 6pm, ' Mrs wilson asked. 

'Uhmmn, i think so hope no problem?'

'No, no problem, i only wanted to invite you ymto dinner at my house on behalf of my husband,'

'Oh that's wonderful, my pleasure,' exclamed Mrs Peterolli who was super excited. 

'Thanks for accepting the invitation, would be expecting you by tomorrow then,' Mrs Wilson said. 

'Yes, we would be there, thanks for the invitation,' Mrs Peterolli said. 

'My Pleasure,' said Mrs Wilson as she placed the Phone on the table and picked her cup of coffee. 'Got a lot of preparation to make then, 'she thought aloud and smiled to herself. 

                          ************

It was soon lunch time at West Ville high school and as the bells rangs students trooped out to cafeteria and some to the gymn for sports. Richard kept to his promise as offered to Lilian and took her to the cafeteria. 

Although Kaithlyn was hungry, she couldn't bring herself to go to the cafe. 'You're sure you dont feel hungry?' asked Alex the third time looking worried. 

'Yes i am sure,' Kaithlyn smiled assuring him 

'Alright then, see you later and thanks for the help with English,' He said and left. 

'You are welcome,' she said. 

The classroom was soon empty and Kaithlyn walked up to the window. The leaves are beginning to green, flowers had began to bloom, winter was drawing near and it would soon be christmas. 

And as she stared outside, breathing in the fresh air,  her handkerchief  fell off her shoulders, it was a special one she had received from Vincent. She wasn't ready to lose it so she ran downstairs and outside to pick it up. 

Richard was a little worried, thinking Alex was all alone wwith Kaithlyn, he felt at ease when he however saw Alex come in with his friends into the cafe. 

Kaithlyn had gotten downstairs and could see the handkerchief just a few steps away and as she walked towards it, she slipped and fell,  injuring herself. 

Richard had expected to meet Kaithlyn in the class but was surprised when he didn't  see her even after the lunch break was over. Then he began to get worried,  'is she alright?' he thought. 

He told himself, 'chill guy, she might be in the toilet or somewhere it's not as if she woukd hurt herself, ' Just then a sound from the door put and end to his thinking, a girl with her blazer in hand,a bandage on the wrist and knee came into the class it was Kaithlyn. 

She had afew cuts from the fall and had gone to the school clinic to get treated. Some girls in the front row exclaimed when they say her, a particular student Claudia questioned her. 

'Kate what happened?' she asked

'Oh,  it's alright, it's just a slight cut, ' Kaithlyn answered. 

'But how come, ypu were alright just before lunch break,' Claudua said sincerely concerned. 

'Yes, i was on my way to the cafe when i slipoed,' 

'You should be more careful, alright'Claudia said. 

'Thanks Claudia,' Kate replied as she limped to her seat, Alex rushed over to meet her, concern all over his face, Nicole watched but said nothing. 'Are you alright? ' He asked examning her hands.

'I'm fine Alex, thanks for your concern,' she said as she withdrew her hands from his. 'But you said you weren't  hungry, ' he said looking concerned.

'Well, I changed my mind,' she replied. 

Richard watched the whole facade and was feeling bad, he wanted to ask her how she got injured but Alex wouldn't bugde from the seat, so he only stared. 

Soon it was closing time and everyone prepared to go home,  Alex had offered to lead or rather help Kaithlyn to the bus but then he got acall from the coach to report to the gymn immediately. Hehad told Kaithlyn to wait for him, but not wanting to be a burden,  she left. 

And as she walked gently and quietly out of the school, Richrard followed her, when they got to a quiet place he stopped her. 

'Does it hurt?'  He asked, Kaithlyn stopped, she wasn't aware he was trailing behind her. 

'What do you care?' She replied angrily.

'But it's not my fault,' Richard said. 

'Yes, it's my fault, i was the one who said those mean words to you, but it's sure as hell not my fault for apologising, it's not my fault you don't want to talk to me, it's not my fault that you decided not toseat next to me, so it's all not actually my fault, ' she shouted. 

Then she turned around to face him, 'to be honest, ' she sobbed 'it's the first time for me,  I felt bad because I had upset you, i never felt that way not even with vincent, but what would you have me do, you don't even want to  listen to me,' she sobbed. 

Richard stared at her, his emotions swelling up, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't fight back the tears gathering in his eyes. 'So it's fine, we are not in the same class anyway, and besides how was lunch with Lily?' She said sarcastically. 

'I hope youhad a nice time together, ' She sobbed and turned to leave. 

Richard watched her take a few steps, walking gently because of the wound on her knee, he feltas if his legs were rooted to the spot, and then he thought to himself, 'what the hell was i thinking making her like this. '

And as Kaithlyn walked away she also thought to herself, 'what the heck was i thinking telling him all that,' All of a sudden Richard raced towards her, turned her around and pulled her close.