CHAPTER SIX: You’re Cheating
1456 Words
The doorbell rang through the quiet house.
I could hear it clearly from my room, but I didn’t bother getting up. Mum would answer it. Besides, I had no idea who would even come looking for me anymore.
A few moments later, I heard the front door open.
“Good day, Mrs. Carter. Is Ara home?”
The moment I heard that familiar voice, I sat up slightly.
Chris.
“Yes, she’s in her room,” Mum replied before walking away.
I heard his footsteps approaching my room.
I stared at the ceiling, wondering why he was here. Before I could think too much about it, there was a knock.
“Ara.”
“Coming!”
I quickly got off the bed and opened the door.
Chris stood there with a worried expression.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” I replied quietly.
I walked back to my bed and sat down. He entered and gently closed the door behind him.
He studied my face for a moment.
“Are you okay?”
I let out a humorless laugh.
“I’ve been expelled.”
“What?”
The shock on his face made my eyes sting.
“I’ve been expelled from Crest High.”
Chris sat beside me.
“I don’t understand. Why?”
“I don’t even want to talk about it.”
My voice cracked.
“I actually regret ever applying for that scholarship. I shouldn’t have left Golden High for Crest High. Everything was going perfectly before I went there, and now…”
The tears I’d been holding back finally fell.
“Now it’s all ruined.”
“Hey, hey.”
Chris immediately pulled me into a hug.
“Stop crying, baby. I’m here for you, remember? Don’t hesitate. If you need something, just call me, and I’ll show up at your doorstep.”
I buried my face against his shoulder.
“Thanks a lot, Chris.”
He held me tighter.
“That’s how much I love you.”
I immediately pulled away.
“Chris, please…”
“Ara, please. Just accept my love for you. I’ve loved you since Grade Seven.”
I looked away, uncomfortable.
“I’m not in the right state of mind to reply to that.”
“I can wait.”
He smiled sadly.
“If possible, forever.”
“Don’t.”
I shook my head.
“You don’t have to wait. You might find someone who deserves your love more.”
Silence filled the room.
The confession had changed the atmosphere completely.
Chris looked down for a moment before forcing a smile.
“Why don’t we go have some fun?”
I looked at him.
“Fun?”
“Yeah. Anything to get your mind off school.”
For the first time that day, I smiled.
Maybe I did need a distraction.
⸻
The next morning, I woke up out of habit.
My hand reached toward my alarm before I remembered.
School.
I wasn’t going to school.
I stared at the ceiling for a long moment.
A week.
It had only been a week, but it felt like an entire year.
I missed the noise.
The teachers.
My friends.
Even the annoying students.
I had spent the past few days trying to understand Mum, but the more I tried, the more frustrated she became. I was grounded, stuck inside the house with absolutely nothing to do.
I finally dragged myself out of bed.
After showering, I walked to my closet and picked out a few outfits for the week.
What else was I supposed to do?
Read.
Eat.
Sleep.
Repeat.
I eventually went downstairs wearing short jeans and a singlet.
The house was unusually quiet.
I walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
I grabbed an apple, took a bite, and headed back upstairs.
Everything was dull.
I threw myself onto my bed and stared at my phone.
I had practically forgotten it existed.
I unlocked it and scrolled through my contacts.
Who could I possibly call?
I’d read almost every book in the house several times because Mum wouldn’t let me go anywhere.
Then I saw a name.
Kuc.
My eyes widened.
“Holy crap!”
I suddenly remembered the promise I’d made to call him after what happened at the bridge.
How had I forgotten?
I immediately pressed his number.
One ring.
Two.
He answered.
“Ariana?”
“Kuc, it’s Ariana.”
There was a brief silence.
“Ariana, you haven’t been to school for a week.”
“I was sent out, remember?”
“You should’ve told me earlier. I would’ve done something to help.”
“You don’t need to stress yourself.”
“Crystal can’t do that to you. All that hard work you put into getting into Crest High is going down the drain.”
I stared at the ceiling.
“Maybe it happened for a reason.”
“Why didn’t you call me earlier?”
“Uhmm…”
“Busy with your friends?”
I laughed awkwardly.
“I’ve been grounded.”
“That’s really bad.”
“Please, I need a favour from you.”
“What would that be?”
“I need you to keep me company for a week. At least until I can go back to school.”
There was a pause.
“Hmm…”
“But if you’ve got something doing, then I don’t mind.”
“Of course I’ll keep you company.”
I smiled.
“You’ve always been there for me. Thank you.”
“And I’m also happy that, among all those friends of yours, you chose me.”
I laughed.
We continued talking.
For the first time in days, I forgot about the expulsion.
Kuc had a way of making everything seem lighter. His silly jokes had me laughing so hard that my stomach hurt.
“You’re so funny, Kuc,” I said between laughs.
He chuckled.
“I’ve got to hang up. I’ve got classes to attend.”
“Okay.”
“Goodbye.”
“Bye.”
I ended the call and stared at my phone with a smile.
I still couldn’t believe someone like Kuc—handsome, rich, confident, and ridiculously sweet—had never had a girlfriend.
Maybe there was more to him than I knew.
⸻
At school, Crystal sat in front of her mirror, carefully touching up her makeup.
She was completely focused on her reflection when Kuc approached.
“I have to talk to you.”
She didn’t look at him.
“What’s it about?”
“You wouldn’t want me to say it here.”
Her hand stopped.
Slowly, she looked at him through the mirror.
She already knew.
Crystal closed her makeup compact and stood.
“Fine.”
She followed him outside.
Once they were far enough from the others, Kuc turned around.
“I want Ara back.”
Crystal’s expression hardened.
“Sorry to say, but I won’t do that.”
Kuc stared at her.
“I wouldn’t want to repeat myself.”
“And I’m not going to do it.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Without a doubt.”
Kuc’s expression changed.
“What if I tell Zayn about what you did at the New Year’s party?”
Crystal’s confidence faltered.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kuc smiled.
He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“I knew you’d deny it.”
He unlocked the screen.
“That’s why I got this on camera.”
He played the video.
Crystal’s face immediately drained of color.
“Were you stalking me?”
“I wasn’t stalking you. I was recording, and I happened to catch you on camera.”
He paused the video.
“You’re cheating on Zayn with Carson?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“You know Zayn. He doesn’t even like you. He’s only doing this because of his parents.”
Crystal’s jaw tightened.
“And you know exactly what you did to make that possible.”
“You can’t do that.”
Her voice carried a warning.
Kuc stepped closer.
“Yes, I can.”
He stared directly into her eyes.
“You have twenty-four hours.”
Crystal swallowed.
“If Ariana doesn’t come back, get ready to face the consequences.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“You can think whatever you want.”
His expression remained cold.
“I f*****g don’t care.”
He turned and walked away.
“Kuc?”
He didn’t stop.
“Kuc!”
She watched him disappear down the hallway.
Her hands curled into fists.
For the first time, Crystal realized she wasn’t the one holding all the cards.
And that scared her.
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