Dark Truths Revealed

CHAPTER 26

PHOEBE'S POV

IT HAS FINALLY BEEN A WEEK. I WILL BE GOING BACK TO MY HOUSE FROM THIS HELL HOLE.

Don't get me wrong. I love my grandma but there is NO FREAKIN' INTERNET HERE. I can't contact my friends or Mike. And right now all I needed was one single phone call to apologize to Caroline.

JUST ONE PHONE CALL.

But anyway, we are leaving tomorrow in the morning and I can apologize to her in person. Caroline, here I come...

That was a little weird. Let me rephrase that.

LET'S GO!

Yup. Sounds more like me.

ELLY'S POV

Leo and I were currently out on a dinner date. Nothing fancy. Just McDonalds. We both prefer that than some expensive restaurant with tiny gourmet meals than doesn't fill stomachs and empties bank accounts. We entered his house, as we decided to just watch Netflix, and there was an awkward encounter with Mr. Salvatore earlier. I kinda' forgot he was Leo's dad. Its weird to date your math teacher's son. And I don't know if it was just me...

But I felt some tension in between them...

"Hey, Mr. Salvatore" I greeted him a little sheepishly

"Hello, Elly" he answered in his normal cheerful voice

How did a cheerful man raise a son that literally sounds like a robot?

"What are you doing here at this time of the night?" he asked me and before I could answer,

"We were just hanging out" Leo said and I didn't miss the nervousness in his voice

"Okay, then" he answered putting a hand on Leo's shoulder and he immediately tensed up.

"Have fun!" he said giving me a smile and walking out

Leo looked annoyed as we entered his room. I contemplated in whether asking him or not. I finally made my decision and decided to ask him. I put a hand on his shoulder.

"What's wrong Leo?"

He sighed

"It's nothing. It's just that, we never really saw eye to eye.

That's it" he said with a small smile.

Suddenly a phone call came. Way to ruin the moment. His face formed a frown. He turned to me.

"Make yourself comfortable. I'll go check who this is" he said giving me peck in the forehead.

There we go again with this anonymous call. Its always so confusing with him. He's so sweet but at the same time so mysterious. I pushed the thought to the back of my mind and started digging in my food. Nothing's gonna stop me form eating McDonald's. After a long 10 minutes Leo came back. His face looked flushed and aggravated. I can't help but feel concerned for him. It looks like he's stuck in something like Caroline said. He entered the bathroom and I heard water running in a few seconds. When he came out he wiped his face in a towel and sat beside me. I turned to him.

"Hey Leo. Who was in the line?" I asked him.

"It was a wrong number"

I rolled my eyes at his answer.

Can he at least be smart in lying.

"So you were talking for over 10 minutes with the person who called the wrong number?" I raised my brows.

"Okay, Elly. Just let it go, okay?" he said with a pained expression on his face.

"Leo, you can always tell me if something is wrong. You dont need-"

"I SAID LET IT GO! STOP NAGGING ME ELLY" he cut me of.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

"I'm nagging you? Are you even listening to yourself right now? I'm asking you because I'm concerned for you"

"You are not concerned for me. You are concerned for yourself! You are concerned that this relationship wouldn't last. You are afraid that you will be lonely. YOU ARE CONCERNED. FOR. YOUR. SELF." he screamed to my face.

Without even realising it tears started pooling in my eyes. How could he say such things to me? I inhaled deeply.

"Look Leo. I have been nothing but supportive of you. You get anonymous calls and say it's a wrong number. And I still didn't ask you anything about it because I trust you. And now you say I'M a selfish person. All I've ever done is care for you"

"I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO. I'M SICK AND TIRED OF BEING LIKE THIS. OKAY? I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE"

His every word ringed in my ears.

"Well then, you don't have to do this, anymore. From now onwards, I'm out of your life. I never want to see your disgusting face again."

I walked out of the house, tears rolling down my cheeks.

...

PHOEBE'S POV

It's finally the next day. Since it was a schooling day I was heading straight to school from my grandparents' home. I kept my suitcase down.

"Bye Mama" I said to my grandma hugging her.

I call her mama since I was really young. It's weird but well, it is what it is.

"I'm gonna miss you so bad" I said as I heard a chuckle from her.

"I'll see ya' soon, Phoebe. Will make some more cookies for ya' when you come back" she said giving her a warm smile.

"Okay, Love you!"

"Love you too darlin'"

I entered the car and enjoyed the view of the country side as the car drove off.

...

GOSH I'M LATE! I'm 5 minutes pass robotics class. And here my parents are, saying I have to get good grades when they CAN'T EVEN SEND ME TO SCHOOL ON TIME! Parents are such hypocrites sometimes. I finally reached school and I raced towards my classroom. I do not want to face the wrath of Mr. Stocklin.

"Excuse me....sir.....can I....can I come in?" I said panting.

I saw Caroline staring at me with wide eyes. Nick was beside her.

"Ah, Miss Jones. I was just talking about you." I frowned in confusion at his statement.

"About me?" I asked

"Yes. And your partner Danielle of course"

I frowned even deeper if that was possible. He took my project out and put it on the table.

"Now class, if I look at this, you know what I think? BASIC!" he said

My heart sank. I looked down immediately. Too embarrassed to show my face. Danielle was giving me an apologetic look. He then took another project out.

"Now look at this class. I want you to compare the two."

I saw Caroline putting her face in her palms.

"Phoebe and Danielle's. Exact copy from the text book. Nick and Caroline's..."

My head snapped towards the other project. Of course, it was hers.

"Complicated yet astounding. Such minor details to it that makes it much more spectacular. The two of them got an A+. While you two..." he pointed at me and Danielle.

"D. Well, I am happy to say that the lowest grade of this class is a D" he said.

After putting so much work in that project I get the lowest mark? How is this happening? I looked down feeling embarrassed of myself. Caroline got an A+. And her partner? Nick! Nicholas Davis was her partner and she still could get an A+. While I, even with having a partner as great as Danielle, couldn't get even a B. I looked at Caroline seeing she had an apologetic look on her face. That just made me even angrier. She just looks like she's sorry. But she's not. She's probably jumping in her mind that she managed to get such good grades without breaking a sweat. I turned around and started walking I could hear muffled voices of Caroline and Mr. Stocklin. She trying to get out of class and him restricting her from it. There she goes again, putting her sweet face on, wanting to help. As I walked, my mind was filled with negative thoughts.

She always gets what she wants.

She doesn't need to work hard.

She has such supportive parents.

Her parents didn't scold her no matter how low her grades were. They just asked her to try again.With a happy smile. But not that for me. My parents expect so much from me that its suffocating.

I need to get good grades.

Need to be good at sports.

Need to be the star student.

The Valedictorian of The Class.

I needed to work for everything. While she gets it for free. I know that none of this was her fault. I know that she loves me. And I love her too. But sometimes, I just feel so down that I can't help but be jealous of her. And I have to blame her...

Because if I dont I will blame myself. And I don't think I deserve that.

She was the first in everything.

While I...

Always the second.

I didn't even realise I was crying until I reached the bathroom and saw myself in the mirror. I was a mess. I heard footsteps behind me after a while.

"Phoebe" I felt an arm on my shoulder.

I shrugged it of.

"Phoebe I wanted to say sorry for the other day. I was just-"

"Dont... Don't start." I said wiping my tears of.

"Phoebe, don't worry about the project. There's always a next time"

I scoffed.

"Of course you'll say that. You get good grades while I fail everything. Now you know why I have to focus on my studies Caroline? Now you know why I can't listen to your stupid rants? Now you know why I work so hard? And even after working so hard...a D"

Caroline was on the verge of crying. I could see it.

"Phoebe I-"

"Just leave me alone Caroline."

I said. Now Caroline looked kinda angry.

"How is any of this my fault Phoebe?" she asked with a soft voice.

She looks at me like I would break in a few second. Calculating and thinking every word she wants to say so that I wouldn't fall apart. This just seems to anger me even more.

"IT IS NOT DAMNIT. IT IS MY FAULT. AT LEAST LET ME TAKE CREDITS FOR MY MISTAKE. DO YOU EVEN WANT THAT?" I screamed to her face.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means I don't wanna talk to you!"

She was dumbfounded.

"You are the best in EVERY SINGLE THING. Can you just let me have my moment?"

I took in a deep breath.

"Look Caroline. I need a break. I think you need it too" I said as I left the bathroom.

...

CAROLINE'S POV

I was dumbfounded. Does she really think that of me? Does she think I try to steal her spotlight. I don't even know what to think. My best friend whom I've known for years, thinks of me as a competitor. I walked out to Elly's house. I didn't care about skipping school. She didn't come to school. As I reached her house I went to her room. Her mom was there and said she was sick. I went up only to find her crying.

"Elly?"

She turned her head towards me, and I was met with bloodshot eyes.

...

She filled me in on everything that happened. Leo is gonna get a piece of my mind. She sniffed.

"Why are you here?" she asked me

Now it was my time to fill her in...

...

She just stared outside. I get that she's hurt. So I just wait for her to talk. And then she did. But I hoped those words never came out of her mouth.

"Don't you think she is right?"

My head snapped towards her.

"Maybe we all do need a break. We're committed to too many things. Maybe it's time we take a break." she finished

"You're not thinking straight-"

"I AM, CAROLINE! Who knows maybe if we didn't have this much baggage we could've handled things better"

I looked at her with wide eyes, filled with terror. Tears were spilling down my cheeks. I stood up. Took in a deep breath, and looked at her.

"Okay, then... Let's take a break." I said walking out.