The Wallflower's Revenge

AWR Chapter 25: In a blink of an eye

A kiss mark?

Stella glanced at him and their eyes met. She smiled as she was a bit tipsy this time.

“Where have you been exactly?” Carson couldn’t help but ask her.

“Am I asking you where you've been if you're going outside with your friends?”She responded with a tipsy tone of voice. She could even reason out even if it is out of context already.

Carson was a bit stunned about what his wife told him just now. He never thought that she would answer him that way. It was unexpected of her to respond that way to him. Before he forgets everything, he turned to Leylah as he gazed into her eyes.

“Can you please leave us alone, dear? I guess your mom and me need to talk for one sec,”

“Alright dad, I will go out now.”

“Thanks, dear,” Carson answered her daughter without looking at her. He's more concerned with what he saw a while ago. When Carson made sure that Leylah was out of their room, he inched closer to her wife that's lying on the bed, closing her eyes.

"Sweetheart?"

"Hmm…"

"Where have you been, exactly?"

There was no answer. When Carson glanced at her once again, he noticed that she fell asleep already. How could he confront her if she couldn’t answer the things that he wanted from her? Carson noticed the big change from his wife. It’s as if she's not the same Stella that he knew before.

The next day, Stella woke up very late. It was the first time that Stella was the last one to get up from the three of them. Carson touched her cheek and forehead gently and he noticed that she’s unusually hot.

That’s when he realized that Stella may have a fever. 

“Ley, please go to school by taxi. I guess I can’t drive you to school today because I have to take care of your mom.”

“I will, dad. Thank you.”

Leylah sighed as she prepared to go to school. Even Leylah noticed how her mom changed these past few days. It confused her in an instant how her mom would like to go with friends last night when she’s almost an introverted person. It made her curious about what happened to her mom. She noticed changes since last week. She remembered the previous nights from last week. She didn’t even make a great dinner because it’s like something was bothering her.

“Lei? Where are you?” Leylah typed on her message box to send it to her best friend. It’s been a long time since she took hold of her phone. She missed using it so much. Although, she saw that some of her contacts were missing because her father did this to her phone. She could only memorize Walter’s original number and Lea’s cell phone number. 

She waited for a long time before she took a deep breath. She admitted that they’re not been on good terms since last week. However, she’s willing to talk to her again if it means to bring back their friendship. After all, it was just a plain misunderstanding between the two of them. She knew how to talk to Lea for both of them to be okay.

When she walked to the hallway, she saw Lea right away but she seemed to talk to someone and they’re having fun together. It’s like she’s enjoying the company of others more than her if she’s not around.

She tried to wave her hand and her other classmates nudged Lea’s shoulders. However, she intentionally ignored her as she rolled her eyes. She saw Lea laughing more about her other classmate’s topic for that reason. 

As she took the steps going far from them, guilt was filling her heart. She heaved a deep sigh as she looked down. Leylah felt that Lea doesn't plan to reconcile with her anymore, for whatever reason. She waited for almost the entire day for her and Lea to talk. 

When she saw that it was already their break time and lunch at the same time. When she attempted to run towards her best friend, she saw Eveelia coming towards Lea first. When Eveelia glanced at her, she even grinned in triumph.

How does this all happen in almost a blink of an eye?

"Let's go?" Eveelia said as she grinned. Lea nodded and she went with her. Leylah is more than shocked. How come Lea will come with Eveelia when she knows that she's her enemy for life?

Why would she do that when she hates her too, in the first place? Is she out of her mind or something?

She tried to follow both of them and they even went to their favorite place in the cafeteria. They even sat on their favorite seats. Is Lea doing this on purpose?

"You're coming in the right place, girl." She heard Eveelia's resounding voice for a giggle.

"Yeah, thanks," Lea answered as she glanced at where she's sitting right now. It looked like she knew that Leylah had been following them.

Leylah clenches her fists secretly. She wanted to cry because she felt betrayed because of Lea's sudden actions. She couldn't understand why she had a sudden change of heart. 

"Well girl, don't go with losers anymore, okay?" Leylah heard Eveelia's voice again. It's as if she is purposely saying it for her to hear it.

She stood up and almost stomped her feet on her way out from the canteen. She can't imagine that Lea would do this to her within the weekend. Even if many students follow her with their gazes, she doesn't care anymore. She wanted to go away from that place. She wanted to forget what she saw a while ago.

She wanted to rush to her secret hideout with Walter. Even if he did that to her, she wanted to give her the chance to start again. If Walter loves her, reconciliation is not impossible. After all, she's willing to forgive him if he will not do that again.

As soon as she went up to their secret hideout, she couldn't find Walter somewhere. It's the first time that she couldn't find him anywhere. Is he angry with her this time because of what happened when they parted ways last week? Knowing Walter, he can't be angry with her for so long. That is if he still loves her despite what had happened.

She sighed as she went down the stairs. She instantly felt hopeless when she couldn't feel any presence of Walter anywhere around this haunted place. If he's not around, everything in this place creeps her out that she hurried up as fast as she could.

When she joined in the crowd, many girls looked at her as they whispered to each other. 

"Oh, the mouse is alone." Eveelia blocked her way while grinning. She even folded her arms as she glanced at Lea that's behind her.

"Get out of my way. I guess that's more fun to do than talk to me."

"Oh, yeah? How about this?" Eveelia said as she pushed her on her stomach that she felt her butt being forced to the ground. It's the first time she hit that part of her body to the ground that she whimpered in pain.

"It hurts, right?" Eveelia said in sarcasm. Leylah glanced at Lea once again. Surprisingly, Lea didn't even bother to stop Eveelia this time.

"Leave me alone! What do you guys want?" Leylah clenched her teeth as she closed her fist. She put both of her hands on the ground and pulled herself up.

"Oh, you poor thing. You know what? I'd rather be hated by everyone for showing my true colors rather than pretend to be good but a hideous monster on the inside. Would you like to agree on this, Lea?" Almost everyone turned to Lea. She shifted her gaze to both Eveelia and Leylah. She looked confused and hurt that her response was to walk out in front of everyone.

"You know what? I pity you. If you're a good friend? The only one who believed in you would never leave you whatever happens." Eveelia said as she started to walk out from everyone too. Her minions slowly followed her as well. Most of the bystanders also left that area. Nobody even dared to help her stand up from where she is right now.

She went home after their class with a heavy heart. She cried a lot to herself that she almost forgot the time of dinner. She never even noticed how her father went into her room.

"I was so worried that you're not picking up my calls even if you're only inside your room. Would you mind?" Leylah shook her head. He walked towards her and sat beside her bed. 

"C'mon, dinner time. Your mom cooked your favorite soup tonight." Leylah forced a weak smile but her swollen eyes didn't escape her father's gaze.

"What happened to you?" He asked, looking alarmed that he cupped her cheeks.

"No, nothing dad," She tried getting his eyes off her face but her dad is much stronger than her. She felt like crying and she couldn't control her tears anymore. She told everything that happened to her at school that both of her father's hands slowly closed.

"I will not let this one go."

"Dad...please?"

"I will go to your school tomorrow. No buts."