BETRAYED

7 years earlier.....  Rhett was practically running like a maniac.  It was already 5:45pm for God's sake!! She ought to have been at Mrs  Noah's  English tuitions by 5:30pm. She is surely going to eat her alive today. Almost after another 5 mins of running like a maniac  was she able to reach 'ABODE', the lovely abode of Mr and Mrs Noah. Rhett took yet another couple of minutes to steady her 'immensely' heavy breathing. Today was definitely not her day,  thought Rhett to herself. First, she got scolded by her mother for not cleaning her room and now this.... By the time she had reached Mrs Noah's classroom in the first floor of ABODE, it was a perfect 6:00pm by the watch. "You're late",was the first reaction of Mrs Noah upon seeing Rhett standing by the door frame at the entrance to her classroom. Mrs Noah was a kind lady, who was in her mid thirties. She had a fair skin with baby blue eyes which gave her face a general air of kindness. "Uhm....Yeah",was all Rhett could manage to say looking down at her toenails which were suddenly the most curious subjects of observation to her.   "Lucky on your part girl,  I haven't started my lessons yet today,  was a little caught up with introducing my new student, Mr Neil Parr,  to the rest of your friends... " Rhett's head had so dramatically snapped up on hearing about the new student that even Mrs Noah was unable to complete her sentence and stared at the curious Rhett whose eyes raked through the classroom for the new face, finally landing upon the face in question.  Rhett flashed a wide and warm grin to Neil who returned it to her with the same warmth.  The boy has cute dimples,  thought Rhett to herself. Interrupting their exchange of welcoming stares and grins,  Mrs Noah, having recovered herself,  addressed her class yet again. Coincidentally,  Rhett was forced to take the seat beside Neil 'cause for the first time in history,  her class had a full attendance,  resulting in her usual place at the backseat to be occupied.  She sat beside Neil in the front bench. "Neil", said Neil offering his hand to Rhett for a shake.  "Rhett", said Rhett accepting his hand for the shake..  It all started with that simple SHAKE......