SHE

SIX

Sitting in the class for a second longer felt impossible. The weird feeling at the pit of my stomach just wouldn't fade. I thought it was becoming stronger, making me feel as if I was slowly fading away.

"Do you mind?" Eden whispered. I looked at her, my brow raised.

She pointed at my hand, making me realize my finger had been beating against the table for a while now. Guess my body had a mind of its own.

I smiled at her, silently apologizing.

Her eyes scanned me longer than she usually did. It made me feel uneasy, avert my eyes from hers. No one had ever paid that much attention to me, not a real one that reached past my great acting skills.

"Hey," she said softly, placing a finger underneath my chin, moving my gaze back to hers.

Her eyes searched mine, while I tried to muster up a smile. Smiling had become quite a hard thing for me to do lately. Something felt off.

"Eden!" Mr. Lake said, making everyone's heads snap to us.

Eden's finger was still underneath my chin, which resulted in whispers surrounding the room.

"Yes, Mr. Lake?" Eden grinned at the teacher.

"Would you like to solve this example?" Mr. Lake smiled back, sarcastically.

"It would be my pleasure," Eden replied.

Before she got up, her thumb grazed my lower lip. I laughed at her, earning a wink as she went to the front of the class.

The classmates were still staring at me, sending questioning glances my way. I raised my brow, challenging them to ask whatever they were thinking, but it was rather obvious no one would have the balls to do so.

The class went on, with me zoning out as usual. It had become too frequent by now and I was growing quite impatient with myself. This wasn't like me.

"Babe, the class is over," Eden said, already back in her seat.

Wonder when she got back exactly. Was I zoning out for that long?

"Let's go," I said, getting up from my seat, getting slightly dizzy as I held on to the table.

"Mom's making her delicious bolognese pasta tonight, you better be there," Eden said, smiling at me.

"You know the way to my heart," I smirked, shrugging off the dizziness.

I heard the loud laughter from across the hallway. Tiff, Kevin and the rest of the gang were there. I didn't even bother going to Kevin. The fact that we had barely talked the past few days, had completely skipped my mind. Seemingly neither of us cared too much about it.

"Hey, guys!" I smiled, "what's the occasion?"

"Just wanted to thank you for making me realize what's truly important," Tiff gave me a sugar-sweet smile.

I looked at Kevin questioningly, the players and cheerleaders going their way and leaving us 4 alone. Something was going on.

"I'm glad I helped, Tiff," I smiled back at her, not even bothering with the unnecessary drama she was trying to cause, "mind stepping to the side? You're in the way."

Kevin was looking anywhere but at me. Coward.

Tiff took a step towards Kevin, her fingers intertwining with his. My eyes followed every little movement, not leaving their hands. I expected to be angry, sad, anything, I guess that's what you expect from a 2 year-long relationship. But I felt empty, bad for them even, for what was to follow. Kevin would be destroyed.

Before Tiff could get the joy of breaking the news for me, I decided to be the bigger person.

"I see you got together," I smiled at them, "can you step aside now?"

Kevin still couldn't look at me. It was quite pathetic actually, but I couldn't expect any more anyways. Other people from the school were now staring at us. I just wanted to get away, this was unneeded.

"You don't mind that we're a couple?" Tiff asked, confused, probably mad that this didn't work out the way she wanted.

I was getting impatient by now.

"No. Is that all?" I didn't bother smiling, sounding quite pissed. Calm down. Smile. It's alright.

"He was cheating on you. We've been dating for the past month," she said, smiling.

Calm down. Don't get mad. Actually no, screw this.

"Listen, Tiff," I sighed, "If you were dumb enough to quit something you were good at for a person that doesn't care about a thing in the world, apart from something that will potentially destroy his future, which I won't even say out loud, because I certainly don't want to steep so low, then it's your mistake and your problem. In fact, it proves my decision of kicking you out was the best one I've made in a while."

I took a step towards her.

"Is it enough or you want to hear more?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.

She stood there looking at me way different than she had before, clear confusion in her face.

"Assuming it's still not enough, I'll remind you of something. You trained so hard for that position in the team that you even had to go to a hospital from all the cuts and sprains. You put in all of that effort for what? To throw it away for some guy? Alright, I get it, the team wasn't enough of a motivation... Then how about the scholarship you had lined up thanks to the position and my recommendation?"

"I'm sorry but all I feel is bad for you," I put my hand on her shoulder, "In fact, I was considering forgiving you if you at least apologized to the team, if not me. But I guess screwing my part-time boyfriend was more important than your future."

"Now," I smiled at the both of them, "I wish you all the best. Truly. Not that you ever needed my approval, right?"

The reason people had respect for me was that my parents had money, they ruled the town. I could only assume that from now on they would. respect me because of my actions.

"I think it's best if you guys go now," Eden chimed in.

I had nearly forgotten she was there. But the feeling of her fingers connecting with mine, how I could ever forget. That small gesture sent chills down my spine.

Tiff and Kevin looked between the both of us.

"Hope you both don't end up the way I think you will," I said sincerely.

The thought of them together made hundreds of bad scenarios go through my mind. Kevin was an alcoholic, who was lacking love and attention from parents, meanwhile, cheerleading was nearly the only thing Tiff was good at, it kept her parents happy and herself sane. This was just bound to go wrong. But who knows, perhaps two wrongs could make a right, after all?

Tiff gave me a weak smile, tugging on Kevin's hand, who was still looking anywhere but at me. They walked off, holding hands.

"Are you alright?" Eden asked, searching my eyes.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I smiled at her. Here comes the smile again. I just want to drop the act.

"Well you were just dumped and told you were cheated on," she chuckled.

"Yeah... I just.. You know.. It's different," I mumbled, not knowing the right words. I needed to feel, I wanted to feel, I just couldn't. What was I supposed to say? It was my boyfriend, I should feel something.

"It's alright, no need to talk about it," Eden smiled at me.

She dropped the subject, which I was thankful for, as always. School went on, me wishing for it to end already. The practice was the only thing I could look forward to. The only thing that could bring me out of whatever state I was in.

"Do you want me to wait for you?" Eden asked while I was changing into sports clothes.

"No, I'll walk," I said, taking the dress off, "thanks for the offer."

"Alright, as you wish."

She came to me, giving me a peck.

"I'll see you later," she winked, walking out just as the other girls started coming in.

Stacey, one of the cheerleaders eyed me. "So, Ruby.."

"What is it, Stace?" I asked, putting the top on.

"I was just wondering what's going on with you and Eden?"

Thousands of thoughts ran through my head, as my body stiffened. I couldn't put my finger on why I reacted this way thought.

"Nothing, we're just friends," I smiled.

Right, that's what we are.

"If you say so. Just saying, but even if it is more, the whole team is here for you," she said, honesty clear in her voice.

The other cheerleaders in the room nodded, letting me know they were truly there for me.

"Besides she is hella hot, I don't know how you can be just friends with that girl," Jenna said.

"Totally, but have you noticed how she looks at Ruby? Gets me every time," Chloe agreed.

I rolled my eyes, laughing. Eden didn't treat me as anything special, we were just friends.

"Ruby, since you're friends, you don't mind me making a move on her, right?" Jenna asked, looking at me.

I felt weird but decided to ignore it.

"Sure, you have my approval," I laughed, winking at her.

I didn't say I'd rather she didn't. Because I couldn't explain why. I didn't say how I felt about Eden, because I didn't know myself. We were just friends and I had to remind myself that before I got in too deep.

/////

The practice ended but I still didn't feel good. I had barely eaten today, feeling quite down.

I headed home, taking my time to walk home, hoping the fresh air would make me feel better, yet somehow all I wanted to do was hide under my sheets, and stay there forever.

And so I did when I got home. I just wanted to be alone, away from the world, from anyone.

I went to sleep, the thought of something not being right not leaving me.