Chapter 7: Callie
1115 Words
So this false endearment he addresses to me now, I knew the true meaning behind it. He could have fooled anyone but I’d always be wary of him and his intentions.
I kept my gaze level at him, daring him to do his worst in front of all these people around us. I want to see him try.
He lowered his head on mine, his grin widening at the expression on my face.
Where was Harry when I needed him?
Abe withdrew back and his deep chuckle sent chills down my spine.
“So,” he dragged out on that smooth baritone of his. No one would suspect him to still be in high school by how deep his voice sounded. “You figured it out.”
My neck could have snapped at the way I shake my head with force.
No.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Everyone’s attention turned to Miss Hollis as she entered the classroom.
“Ah, mister Cristo. Yes, I have been informed of your arrival. Everyone, let us all give a warm welcome to mister Abraham Cristo to Citadel Montessori School,” her words were loud and clear but I’ve muted them out in favor of the pulsating beat ringing on my ears. If I focus hard enough, I could ebb the throbbing into almost nothingness and concentrate on today’s lesson.
Abe’s looming presence inches away from me wouldn’t allow me, though.
“Would you like to share a few words with the class before we begin?”
Miss Hollis always tried to make everyone feel comfortable in her class. I doubt that Abe would even bother but nice try, anyway, Miss Hollis.
My cousin shook his head, gaze still holding mine, and to my dismay, took a seat right behind me. I followed him until he settled on the empty chair which belonged to Marc.
Damn him for choosing this day out of all days to be absent.
The duration of the lesson I was in a constant state of panic, like I was about to pee every minute. His eyes bore into my back, his feet brushing the bottom of my chair from time to time, making me all the more anxious.
Of course, he’d be in my class. I wouldn’t put it past him not to pass his subjects. He must have failed and had to repeat a year. Just my luck.
It had taken all of my will to control the restlessness of my legs, and by the time the bell rang, I grabbed my stuff and jumped out of my chair before the teacher even bid farewell. I ran straight to the lavatory, dry heaving on the toilet seat a couple of times. I didn’t even bother to lock the cubicle door.
There was a sound of giggling on the outside of the stall and I took a moment trying to even my breaths as I let their voices go in one ear and pass onto the other.
However, one single name stood out from the otherwise mundane conversation. My ears were helpless, listening unintentionally to early morning gossip.
“But, he’s like, sort of a bad boy. And I don’t mean like just a typical high school bad boy but I heard he’s actually in a gang.”
Abe? In a gang? I mean, I wouldn’t put it past him but it was still scary to think that it might actually be real.
The last word was whispered as if saying it would cause a jinx or something. There was a collective gasp, then a series of oh my god’s and really’s until the next girl spoke.
“And he’s a million times sexier than Harry when I was with him. I could tell just by looking at the outline of his abs against his tight shirt. The guy’s ripped. And trust me when I say, Harry didn’t have six’s... well, before.”
I thought I knew who the voice belonged to and my suspicion was confirmed by another girl squeaking, her high pitch reverberating painfully in my ears as it bounced off the walls of the bathroom, echoing.
There was a short pause as she let her words sink in.
“You lucky b***h! I knew you slept with him! When? I didn't even know he broke up with Hannah. Oh my god. He didn’t, did he? Ooh, I knew they wouldn’t last long, that girl’s boring as s**t. Don’t tell me he cheated on her with you, Kim.”
She talked so fast, without any pause to take a breath, which I found both amusing and worrisome.
Beside the fact that these girls were talking about Abe being associated with some kind of gang, they were also talking about Harry cheating on his girlfriend.
I’d never actually seen them together longer than a few minutes. I knew they were dating but like I said, ever since that one fateful night when I walked in on him and his then girlfriend Pauline, he consciously avoided being seen with them whenever I was around.
Kim was an entirely different story.
Most of Harry’s girlfriends were actually nice. There were a few who were snobs but none had been worse than Kim.
She didn’t want to break up with him and took it upon herself to gather her loyal minions and bully me in retaliation.
They’d do it when nobody was around to help me. Kim got a hold of my schedule and would know the time frame of which I won’t be with either of my friends or Harry. She’d plan everything out to make the scene look like an accident. Otherwise, she was careful not to get caught.
All of that just to spite Harry.
He and Ophelia were the ones who fought back the most.
When they catch Kim’s minions being mean to me, they’d immediately step in between us. Still, they didn’t know of the rest of the bullying done, the torturous moments when they weren’t there to rescue me which was most of the time.
Not that I needed them, I could fend for myself albeit not as well as they could, but at least I tried.
“What can I say. I always was the better lay,” said Kim haughtily.
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