A SHOCKING NEWS
1185 Words
* Kim's POV*
The weekends flew by very fast.
Monday came with a lot of sunshine ... and a reason to look over my shoulders again.
I kept scanning my surroundings as I walked through the hallway to class. Thankfully, she was nowhere to be found.
I stepped into the classroom hoping to see Allison on her desk with my homework. Her desk was empty.
I had tried to call earlier but her line wasn’t going through.
Becca was all over me before I could take my seat.
She pulled her chair closer to my desk in excitement and kept asking me questions about my ‘ Weekend escapades’.
“ So how did it go with Prince Charming at the ball?” she quipped excited
“ He’s not a prince, and it was not a real party” I replied “ Just some Nepo babies, gathering around to shake hands and drink expensive wine”.
“ Wow... so you didn’t get to kiss under a thousand stars with the wind trapped in your hair?”
“ Can you stop with the Disney reference?” I snapped at her
“Whoa... what’s wrong, Kim?” She asked cautiously
“ Nothing.. I’m fine ...I’m good” I stammered
I was not fine. I was far from good.
I kept thinking of my encounter with Jason.
It left me with strange guilt like I did something bad to him.
I kept battling with questions in my mind: why was he even there that night?
Who invited him, nd why did he just have to make a scene?.?“ So, are you going out with her again” Allison asked, breaking me away from my thoughts “ or is it a one-time thing?”
“ Only till my debt gets paid. Besides, it’s just two weeks” I mumbled
“ What about Jason?”
“ What about him”
“ Well am assuming you guys are still together. Don’t you think it would hurt him if he finds out?” Her voice was filled with concern.
“ Jason didn’t think it would hurt me when he was kissing my bully. I’m not cheating on him, I’m just doing ... whatever it is I’m doing for two weeks so I can pay back the money I owe” I rasped, trying my best not to raise my voice.
“ Besides it’s nobody’s business what I decided to do with my life” I blurted out before I could think.
“ Okay then” that was all she said.
She dragged her chair back to her desk.
I tried to apologise to her for my harsh words but she was already sulking in her corner of the class.
The clock ticked by slowly as I searched impatiently for any sign of Allison.
It became unlikely she was going to come to school as noon approached.
I fought back the urge to ask Becca about her.
She was still angry at me and rightfully so. After thirty long minutes, I swallowed my pride and walked to Becca’s desk, careful not to touch the tigress’ tail.
“ Becca, can I ask you a question” I asked meekly
She gave me a cursory glance “ I don’t know, Kim. Can you?”
I sighed “ Look, I’ve been trying to get hold of Allison but I just don’t know where she is.”
“ Call her, then” she replied curtly
I sighed in exasperation “ Her line’s not going through.”
“ Then we’ll go check on her after school. It’s not like her to ditch out of the blues.” Becca said, her brow furrowed
My heart was filled with gratitude when lunch break finally came.
I waltzed out of the classroom before the before anyone else, and made a beeline for the gym.
I sat in the nosebleeds with my back against the wall. Music blasting in my ears, oblivious to everything around me.
A tap landed on my shoulder, forcing me to pry my eyes open.
It was Scott, standing beside me in his basketball kit, drenched in his own sweat.
His Jersey clung to his body, outlining his ripped torso.
He kept wiping the strings of sweat trickling down his dirty blonde hair into those hazel blue eyes.
“ Hi Scott” I said awkwardly, removing my AirPods.
“Hi there, Jason’s girlfriend” he teased.
My face darkened. “ Please don’t call me that”
“ Well you did not tell me you got a man, now I feel somewhat like an asshole taking you on a date” he drawled
“ You don’t have to feel anyway, Jason and I are not together anymore” I replied, looking him in the eyes
“ My arrangement with you is purely for the money, so don’t get any funny ideas” I added for emphasis.
“ Well that’s a shame, I was hoping to sweep you off your feet and make you fall for me” he teased.
“ Sorry I don’t think I can do this anymore” I mumbled.
I was suddenly feeling guilty. What if Jason comes in and finds me sitting close to him?.
He raised his eyebrows “ And why is that?”.
“ It doesn’t feel right” I pointed out.
“ Well I just paid Mrs Thorne FIVE hundred dollars this morning... does that feel right?” he whispered, leaning forward with his arms akimbo
I sighed. Over two thousand dollars remaining.
Although I detest being at the mercy of others, I knew this was the time to put on my big girl pants and finish what I started.
Just two weeks and I'll make up with Jason. Life returns to normal.
Alright I’m in” I told Scott
“ That’s the spirit” he replied, walked away with a smile “ I’ll text you the details later”.
Lunch break was over faster than expected.
I trudged wearily back to class, trying to ignore the overwhelming feeling of self-reproach.
I had barely made it to the classroom door when the Public Address system rang out :
KIMBERLY STONE, REPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE RIGHT AWAY!!
I sighed wearily and shuffled my feet towards the principal’s Office.
Her secretary ushered me in with a concerned look on her face.
If only I had the patience to peer through the stained glass, I might have seen the two silhouettes sitting down in her office.
“ Good afternoon Mrs Thorne, hope you got the payment...”
I looked up. The words got caught in my throat.
“ Mom?.... Dad?” I managed to say.
I could already feel my palms sweating, my heart was pounding hard, and my mouth went dry.
My parents turned their heads and faced me together.
Their faces looked downcast. My mum kept blowing her nose into her napkin every two minutes.
“ Why didn’t you tell us, Kim?” My mother asked.
My heart dropped to my stomach. “ Tell you what, mum?”
“ Why didn’t you tell us Alison had an accident?”.
- Writer
