Chapter IX: Avoidance
Story’s timeline: 23/05/2023
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmh7QhbTFh
Adelle screened the lunch area, avoiding eye contact with anyone. She sat at her lunch table with Shanice and stared down at the table. Nick saw Adelle. He thought she’d stare back at him. However, she didn’t she just kept looking down at the table, trying her best not to cry again. She felt like she had lost Nick.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IXVtnY6NS
Nick’s POV:
Why isn’t she staring at me… I miss her. I miss her so much. Is it something I did? It shouldn’t be… I think it is the rumours. But I don’t care about the rumours I just love her so much. I don’t even care if she’s a playgirl. Just some love, even if it isn’t true would be such a dream. Will she ever look at me again? That day I hugged her after the bus ride home… I hope it meant something to her. I shouldn’t go to her now, she looks so upset.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r66kvpef0
Adelle’s POV:
Nick keeps staring at me. I know it. I can’t face him. I didn’t even do anything wrong but… Charles is so popular it’s hard not to like him if they don’t know what he did. I wish Nick would come to me and just tell me it’s okay. I can’t go to him, how can I tell him I want him to come to me to tell me he loves me. Everyone believes Charles, I know Charles spread these around. Oh well, him coming to me again? Ha. It’s a distant dream. Maybe in a hundred years or when I lay in my coffin he will come to me.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItQphBnP6g
Adelle stared into the distance, face blank and emotionless. After all, she’d cried her heart out in the toilet earlier. She saw Charles, laughing and smiling as if he did nothing wrong. She wanted to confront him, scream at him, curse at him, insult him and return whatever he did to her. But… Charles knew how to play victim and she knew she wouldn’t be any better if she retaliated.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqDdbEbrjn
Shanice’s POV:
Adelle looks so sad. I hate Charles. I hate him so much. And all those horrible popular kids. So immature and good-for-nothing. I need to avenge her. I can’t stand seeing my best friend like that. I know what to do… I will dig up dirt on Charles and publish it for the whole world to see his true colours. There’s already enough evidence on Adelle’s phone. Adelle keeps her phone in my locker during class. I could just…
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGG9ExBw2R
She really hoped, Charles would seek his retribution one day. He was already digging his own grave by exaggerating and lying about her. “Only if there was any way to show that he’s the one in the wrong…” Adelle thought to herself. She saw Nick leaving the lunch area early to pack her things again?
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7I97gKFy8
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQoyhzW09H
Adelle’s POV:
There’s no point brooding over rumours that aren’t even true. When he gets exposed I’ll gain lots of sympathy so it’s fine. Oh well… I feel scared of Nick now. And to cope with that, I will follow him to my class and watch him pack.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtW4NgELmh
Adelle then followed Nick to the class and stood outside to watch as he dutifully packed all her things on her table. Nick then turned around, making Adelle go into hiding. She did not want Nick to see her. Nick then turned back and continued packing.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7dyQBjaVK
Adelle’s POV:
Nick is so cute when packing my things. I just love him too much. Him talking to me again though? That’s just a distant dream. If only I had the confidence to go into class and sit by him. I’m so afraid… I’d rather not know how he feels about me now than know he hates me.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFWicigwwT
Nick’s POV:
I know Adelle is watching me. She’s so cute. Why can’t she just come into class and give me a hug, I really hope she still loves me. But she’s watching me she definitely loves me…
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB6Glg6qyI
The bell for the next class rang and Adelle rushed into the class to take her belongings and move. Nick said “Hi” to Adelle but she dashed out of the class without even looking at him. Adelle just wanted to avoid the other classmates entering the class. Her whole reputation had been ruined and she was not about to anger herself further by staying there.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLDg4SGtoQ
Shanice: Adelle, Nick is in the class. Why would you rush out like that?
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0Fu7uTczl
Adelle: Well, I’m scared of our classmates. They are so bold. Openly gossiping about me.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNik6KQWtYG
Shanice: Right. I find this so confusing. I asked around to find out why they think you’re a playgirl and the reason is stupid.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5We3OygMWL
Adelle: So what’s the reason?
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ895u83DdvR
Shanice; Apparently you were smiling and laughing with another girl yesterday, and since you were smiling and laughing you weren’t upset.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb0L3iYaKY
Adelle; Upset about what?
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFugA65EqM6
Shanice: Upset about breaking up with Charles.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2huU3Tnre
Adelle: Uhm… The break up wasn’t that recent. And Charles got over me within like a week.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9hLkM4Hx1
Shanice: Right. I saw him talking to another girl in fact. He tried to pin her against the wall and kiss her.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uPVOd4iXN
Adelle: Eww that’s so disgusting.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEJxKdrIiz
Shanice: I took a picture.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgRwAAI1kh
Adelle: For what?
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCI3VPoyAQ
Shanice: I’m going to send it to everyone in the school.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXtFeLlQRc
Adelle: Uhhh… Do what you want I guess. I just want to let this matter dissolve on it’s own.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTpWXOkkQb
Shanice: Well, I’ll wait a week though. So that people will hate on you for a week and feel guilty for not digging up enough info before spreading the gossip.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrb5wHxPmI
Adelle: That’s actually so smart.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xDCWhuR3U
Adelle: Okay that’s enough let’s head to class now.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SVmKQW0CF
Shanice: Alright!
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoWl6slqsb
Shanice and Adelle then happily skipped to their next class. Adelle wasn’t even upset anymore. She knew that rumours spread like wildfire and within a week, Charles would be over. But how would she endure this for a week? People kept coming up to Adelle to laugh at her or ask her why she would play with Charles’ feelings. It was only the first day.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoFpkkEZYr
Adelle stepped into her next class. And once again, the class quietened and people stared staring at Adelle before whispering. Her feelings were slightly hurt but the thought of what would happen to Charles in a week saved her tears.
With a heavy heart, Adelle sat at one of the seats at the back of the class and Shanice followed. Her heart ached and could barely stand the thought of losing Nick.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XVyLV7C54
Adelle’s POV:
I can’t believe a simple crush like that got me crying in the cubicle… I don’t want these rumours they’re just- just taking my life away. I don’t want to run away from Nick any longer. I just want to stay with him and be his girlfriend. But Nick would be harassed for dating me… Ugh what did I ever do to deserve this?
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzEtETYsdQ
The lesson ended in a twinkling. Adelle could not concentrate the entire lesson as she was busy dealing with the tears yet to flow out again.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5CGzlMJ5p
[As for Nick…]
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0IftFQZrN
Nick looked down at his seat and kept looking at the window. He thought that maybe Adelle would skip class to walk past his class but no. He kept looking out the window with hope only to realise she wasn’t coming to watch him.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVgfhN2TKB
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPCMWIIz8s
