Chapter 30

Serenity's pov

I woke up to my phone ringing beside my bed. My eyes were still heavy as I rubbed them lightly before trying to reach out for my phone. I banged my hands trying to reach for my phone but the only thing I touched was nothingness.

As I gained consciousness about my surroundings, I sat straight in confusion. All the events from yesterday came rushing back to me making my headache come back.

When did I walk to bed? When did I even fall asleep?

I ran my hands through my hair making them sticking in all directions before taking the phone which continued ringing on my side table.

I still had one of my hands in my hair as I rested my head on my hand,

"Hello?" I could feel my voice being groggy.

"Good morning." Alec chirped in my ears. I groaned, how did he have such good energy so early in the morning?

"Good morning," I said closing my eyes— still half asleep.

"I am waiting for you downstairs, get down! We have to go to school."

Go to school? I don't want to. I was too tired. I can just rest for one day... it's not too much to ask.

"No." I heard him say before I could even say anything, "We have to go to school."

I stared at the wall— with the paintings which were once in the hallway— in confusion,

"What's wrong?" I asked.

The silence from his side was making me more anxious. I had enough to deal with, I was not sure I could take more on my plate right now.

"Alec?"

I heard him clear his throat lightly, "It's better if you go to school, Serene. Come on down, I'll drive you to school... before you cut me off." I heard him say the last part to himself but I caught onto it.

"Alec." I said in all seriousness getting fully awake, "What did you do? You are making me anxious. I will kill you if you don't tell me."

"Oh my god, just kill me already." He muttered.

I stared at the phone in confusion and checked the caller again. It was still Alec. Then why was he acting so weird?

"Alec,"

"I TOLD HENRY AND MAX ABOUT YOUR PARENTS DIVORCE." He muttered that quickly in one sentence.

I was numb. I didn't know what to think. How to process this piece of information?

I was silent— still trying to wrap my head around his words when I asked him again, "You did what?"

"I am not repeating myself." He said softly.

He is lying. Right? He won't do this to me. He simply cannot! I trusted him! I FUCKING TRUSTED HIM! How could he?... I was about to tell Henry and Max myself, but now he just ruined it all.

"Serene look, I reaaally didn't know that they don't know anything about-"

"Shut up," I muttered.

"Huh?"

"I SAID SHUT UP." I yelled before hanging up the phone.

I sat there staring at the wall with empty eyes before hugging my knees and trying to comfort myself.

I don't want to lose Max and Henry because of this. The fact that I hadn't told them about it until now was bad enough... but now even when they know, it's because someone else told them.

I can already imagine the questions in their heads. 'Did she ever even consider us her best friends?' ... I was so sure that they had this doubt in their heads right now.

And guess what? They won't be wrong to have such a thought because I would have had the same thought if something like this happened to me.

Alec. I sighed, you were supposed to be the person who lessens my burden, who made me feel that everything was going to be alright... You weren't supposed to be yet another person to increase my problems.

But that is exactly what he had been doing recently. Since the moment I fell in love with him, it had been nothing but hardships for me. My feelings, now even my situations aren't in my control.

I need to talk to Max and Henry. I took my phone and noticed Alec's missed calls.

Serves him right.

Ignoring the missed calls, I messaged Max and Henry letting them know that we had to talk. I waited—still holding onto my head but I didn't receive any reply.

Oh my god. They hate me now.

Getting up quickly from the bed, I didn't even bother taking shower as I just changed and made my hair before running downstairs. The school bus will be here any minute now. I cannot miss it. I need to go to school if I want to talk to Max and Henry.

As soon as I was down, I stopped in my tracks as I noticed his car still parked in front of my building. I took a few steps towards him slowly.

He looked at me guiltily as he got out of the car. I stopped before holding my hand out to him.

"Don't come near me."

"Listen to-"

"You messed it up, Alec! And now I need to fix this!" I grinded my teeth, "So you better not come near me right now.

He fell silent as he looked at me hurt. Ugh, those eyes. Those darn eyes making me want to forgive him.

I closed my eyes before facing away from him. I am not getting lost in his eyes this time. I cannot forgive him. Yet.

I walked away from him and as I passed his car I could feel his eyes on the back of my head. As soon as the bus came I climbed up before looking at him one last time.

I knew he was going to board the bus too if I didn't stop him.

"I won't ever talk to you again if you take the bus with me right now."

•••

I ran inside the school building as soon as the bus pulled up. I went near their locker but couldn't find them.

I looked around anxiously. Where were they?

I spotted Nathaniel talking to a girl near his locker.

"Hey, have you seen Henry and Max?" I asked approaching him.

He shook his head, "What's wrong?"

I waved my hands, "It's nothing."

He looked at me skeptically, "I'll give you a call if I see them."

"Please do that." I practically begged him before jogging towards the ground where we used to hang out and talk to each other.

My eyes settled on Xavier and Liya laughing together. Should I ask them too? My eyes shifted to Xavier as I shuddered. I don't want to go near him.

But I need to find Max and Henry.

I took a few deep breaths preparing myself to face the death stare of a person when I felt a hand press down on my shoulder making me jump away— screaming a little.

I felt a wave of relief pass me as I saw Alec standing there. He had his hands in his pants as he shuffled on his two feet.

His sky blue eyes fixating me in my spot as I stared at him.

"I told you I don't want to talk to you," I muttered looking away from his eyes.

"You don't have to." He was quick to answer, "Did you find them?"

I pursed my lips before shaking my head.

"I guess, they are still at Henry's house." My eyes snapped up to look at him. He was right.

Of course, they didn't come to school to avoid me.

"I have to go." I muttered before dashing straight for the exit when I suddenly felt his hands wrap around my wrist— stopping me.

I turned around to give him a quizzical look.

Look at him trying to hold onto me even after what he did.

I tried to free my hand as I felt him tightening his grip more.

"What do you want?" I asked still trying to free my hand. He pulled me towards him, leaving just enough space.

Someone, please stop him.

"Let me take you." He whispered.

I opened my mouth to deny it when he placed his finger on my lips making me go quiet.

"I won't talk. I promise." He said, "Just let me be with you."

I looked into both his eyes and for the first time, I saw... affection.

Automatically, I looked around trying to see if Liya was anywhere around me. But she wasn't. It was just him looking at me.

The look which he always had for Liya. He was finally looking at me that way. For the first time, he wasn't looking at me as if I was bothersome. As if I only confused him and hurt him.

He actually cared for me. And I don't know how to feel about it right now.

I was mad at him... but he comes and looks at me that way. How am I supposed to react?

I cleared my throat before stepping away from him, "You can come." I could feel his signature smile covering his face when I held my finger out," But you don't talk to me, do you understand?"

He nodded his head happily at me.

•••

I stood outside Henry's house. I was sure they were together right now. Probably talking about how bad of a friend I was to them.

I tried calling their phone but it went straight to voicemail.

I turned around to look at Alec, who decided to stand behind me and not leave me. I watched him as he kicked a stone on the road making it go and land near my feet.

He stopped for a while before slowly lifting his eyes to look at me. As soon as his eyes met mine, he passed me a smile through his half-closed eyes because of the sun shining directly on us. I was about to return his smile but I stopped myself.

I am mad at him, I reminded myself. Ignoring him, I looked at Henry's house again.

"I WON'T GO BEFORE YOU OPEN THE DOOR AND HEAR ME OUT!" I screamed getting attention of the few people around me but I didn't care.

I knew they could hear me. And it was confirmed the second I saw Max trying to peep in between the curtains from the window.

He held onto the curtains tightly together as I saw the outline of his eyes very clearly.

A silhouette approached him before smacking him on his head and making him step away from the window.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"I wouldn't have yeeted you away like that, Max." I said.

I looked down at my feet with a small smile when I heard Max's voice.

I snapped my head to look at him as fast as I could.

"That's why you shouldn't have lied!" He yelled, "It hurt, Serene."

I understand very well that it hurt. And I understand that they are mad at me.

I opened my mouth but I watched as Henry came and just grabbed Max before pulling him inside. I looked at the empty window when I saw Henry come again. He didn't even glance at me before shutting the window close.

Ouch.

I sighed before sitting in front of their house. It's going to be hard.

I turned around to check on Alec but he wasn't there anymore.

Huh? Where did he go? His car was still here.

"Don't worry, they'll open up eventually." I heard his voice from my other side making me jump a little.

Holy mother of Jesus, what is it with him and his weird appearances out of nowhere?

I turned my head to look at him and found him sitting beside me— giving me company.

I didn't utter a word as I looked away from him. I could feel his eyes roaming over my face as he took in a deep breath.

"It's going to be a long day." He clasped his hands together, "At least I get to spend it with you."

•••

Two hours had passed and the sun had only gotten worse. It was directly on our heads now... I almost felt like my brain was being fried in this heat.

I groaned.

Just open the door already. How long will they make me sit here?

I closed my eyes as I hugged my knees while sitting. I felt Alec getting up from beside me and walking away.

Even he is fed up of this heat.

He wasn't even gone for minutes before I heard his footsteps returning. I opened my eyes slowly. Before I could turn around to find what he was doing, I felt a shade over my head— blocking the sun.

I tilted my head upwards to find a hoodie above me spread and held above my head. I couldn't help but smile.

He was being considerate by holding the hoodie over my head for me. So that I don't get the heat of the sun.

How can I stay mad at him?

I turned around to let him know that I wasn't mad at him anymore when I felt him putting the hoodie in my laps. I looked at him confused as I watched him come and sit next to me unbothered.

Huh? Excuse me?

"Just hold it above your head like I did right now. It will be helpful." He said looking straight ahead at the house.

I stared at him dumbfounded. Come again? What did he just say? Hold it myself? I was gushing over him for no reason.

"I would have hold it for you, but you are not even talking to me." He continued completely unaware of the glare I was giving him.

You know what? Forget whatever I said about forgiving him... this just made me more mad.

I took the hoodie before aggressively opening it and holding it over my head.

He deserves a longer silent treatment now. Oh my god, I still cannot believe he did that. Ugh.

I was about to curse him more when I heard a noise. My eyes automatically went to look at the window.

I felt a surge of happiness pass through me as I looked at the 'now-opened' window and the curtains swept aside.

They are slowly opening up.

I held the hoodie straight on my head with enthusiasm now, it wasn't long before they were going to invite me in to talk now.

___