Tomorrow may never come

Veiled

I looked up and saw the face of James Colver.

The darling of the crowd, captain of the football team and every girl's wet dream.

My boyfriend.

He is unfaithful.  He doesn't love you.

You can say that again.

I could still remember that summer when we went out on a field trip.  I was looking for him and when we met up, I smelled an unusual smell on him.

The same smell that my ex-bestfriend Janine had when we met up with them after.  I had my doubts but it was confirmed when I was the hospital and called his number.  Janine answered his phone.

"Oh hi.  Nice to see you again, James.  I better get going to the next class."  I could have knocked my head on my desk.  I was supposed to be over him.  I was supposed to move on from him.  I was easily flustered when he was near.

"Hey, what's the hold up.  We were looking for you.  I was worried sick about you."  He made googly eyes at me but I steeled myself from it.  The heck that I will fall for that again.

"You were worried sick?"  I asked incredulously.  That should be a laugh.  Where the heck are the cameras when you need one.  "Is that so."

"Yeah.  You should check your phone sometimes.  I called you like forever and you didn't call me back."  He continued as he stood up with me.  I hooked my bag and hid a smirk.  He is such a liar.  My phone didn't even have his contact number.  You would think that as his girlfriend I would know how to contact him.  And I know for a fact that he didn't know how to contact me as he didn't even ask me for my number.

Now you know.  He is unworthy.

I just nodded in dismissal.  Still he kept yapping while following me around as I made my way to the cafeteria.  I wondered how I could have blinded myself with loving him.  He just wants someone as eye candy around him.  He doesn't even care about me except that I would give him a good reputation.  He is aware of what kind of a person I was so he knows that I need him to keep up appearances.  I wanted to beat myself up in regret for wasting all those school years pandering to his narcissistic behavior.  

But then before, when he was just plain James, he was kind.  He helped me when the bullies's words would get to me.  I never wanted to make waves.  I was content to stay in the shadows, helping others to achieve their goals.  I encouraged him to loose his nerdy getup.  When I did that, he just changed.  He became part of the crowd, part of the popular group.  I gulped as I suddenly remembered.  He became part of the bullies.

But then I tried to let it go.  I was content to help.  I focused on my sister and trying to finish up my studies.  I chuckled.  How many times did I have to use the word "I"?

Darn it girl!  I don't need to count the number of times I did something for someone.  I am confident and proud of it so its about time I stopped rehashing this past.

I whirled at him suddenly.  He stopped talking for a moment, a bit surprised at my sudden action.

"You know what, James, it's good that we can have a chat.  I've been thinking about the things that you've just said and I've decided that it's over between us."  I muttered before pulling away from him.  He seemed stunned and unable to speak.  He just stood there looking at me.

I don't want to find out what he was going to do.  I walked over to the canteen and plunked down on an empty seat.  I started eating before a commotion started on the doorway.  I looked up and saw James and Janine locked in an embrace, her calculating eyes meeting mine.

Well, well.

I smiled beautifully before raising my glass at her.

You can have him with my blessing.

*****

"Well, you were absent for almost three months, Miss Dela Roux.  We tried calling your parents to find out what happened but we found out they were out of town.  This medical certificate of yours is proof enough that you were confined but what happened?  Are you really okay to start school?"  Mrs. Smith, our principal asked, her eyebrows furrowed.  I remembered how kind Mrs. Smith was to me.  She was more of a mother to me than my own.

"Uh yes, ma'am.  I just need time to adjust my classes since I missed so much."  I replied with a smile.

"Okay.  I can arrange a tutor for you so that you can transition easier."  She pressed the intercom.  "Valerie is Tamara in there?"

"Yes, ma'am, shall I send her in?"  A voice asked back.

"Okay, send her in."  Mrs. Smith replied.  The door opened after a minute and a nerdy looking girl entered.  She was dressed in a jumper with white long sleeves, her eyes hidden behind Coke-bottle glasses.  She smiled timidly at me as she sat on the chair opposite mine.

She is kind.  You can trust her.

"This is our honor student, Tamara Ricks.  She will be your tutor as an extra credit until her assessment of your performance is enough to warrant removing her services.  You should discuss with each other how you are going to do the time but I must be informed of her performance by the end of the time, Miss Ricks.  I hope you can get along."  Mrs.  Smith explained as she gave us a sheet for filing.

I thanked the principal before we walked out of the room.  I gave my tutor a sheepish smile.

"Hi, um I guess I'll be in your care.  I'm Catarina by the way.  You can call me Cat."

"Yeah, I do know who you are.  You were the captain of the football team's ex-girlfriend.  Um, you can just tell me when you want to have the time for a meet and then I'll just write it down for you."  Tamara told me, her face was already ready for the standard reply.  Maybe she had this type of conversations with some students like me.

"I hope you don't mind but I do need the assistance with my studies.  I'm having difficulty with all the projects I have to pass so I would really love it if you could help me out.  First thing would be to get a job."

"Oh, you're looking for one?"  Tamara's eyes sparkled.

"Yeah and fast."