There's a Thin Line Between Love and Hate

There's a Thin Line Between Love and Hate (41)

I stared down at my feet, not knowing if I was supposed to say anything to him. Did he want a moment of silence or something? I was definitely willing to give it, but...

"You're going to need to write a speech," Matthew informed me after a few moments of silence, and I couldn't help but notice that he wasn't as bouncy as he usually was now. "You'll go up on stage at the podium and give your speech right before I call names."

I nodded, only half listening now. I knew everything that had to do with being valedictorian, since I had been studying it ever since I had entered high school. I wasn't worried about that part at all, but I was worried about the fact that it was supposed to be Jesse sitting where I was right then, not me.

"Okay," I nodded when I saw that Matthew had finally stopped talking. "It sounds like... fun?"

Matthew grinned largely. "That's great to hear!"

He only went through a few more things until he finally let me go, and all I could do was trudge all the way back to second period.

I wasn't supposed to be valedictorian. I had thought about it when I was younger, and I always told myself that I would be angry if I somehow didn't get valedictorian. But that definitely wasn't why I was upset right then. I would have happily given Jesse the spot as valedictorian if that meant he'd just come back...

When I opened the door, every single head in the classroom turned toward me. I held back the urge to roll my eyes at all of them as I walked back and sat in my seat. Don't you just hate it when you walked inside a room and everyone looked at you? I do.

"Did someone finally get in trouble?" Alex teased with a grin as he leaned closer to me. "Don't tell me Miss Perfect finally got a detention."

"... I'm valedictorian," I answered unenthusiastically, not even looking toward him as I tried to continue writing the notes that Mr. Benson was writing down on the board.

Alex's eyes went wide in surprise. "Really? You're valedictorian?"

I nodded.

"Why aren't you excited?" Alex now asked as he looked at me as if I was insane, but I didn't really blame him for looking at me that way.

"Because it was supposed to be Jesse."

The look on his face was wiped away and replaced with a frown. I knew he was thinking the exact same thing I was, and I didn't blame him for not saying anything more.

"Hey... Alex?" I whispered, still not looking at him as I stared down at the paper on my desk. "I need to ask you something important."

Alex's eyebrows furrowed at me. "Alright," he nodded.

"Can you go to my brother's wedding with me tomorrow?" I almost begged, now finally turning to look at him. I was surprised that Mr. Benson hadn't even realized that we were talking, but it wasn't like I was complaining. "I was going to bring Jesse, but... you know."

"Why do you need me to come with you?" Alex questioned, his eyebrows still furrowed in confusion. "I understand Jesse and everything, but me?"

"Well... someone's going to be there," I muttered, turning back toward my paper again.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Alex's eyes go wide. "Hunter?"

All I did was nod.

"Of course I'll go with you," Alex nodded, grabbing onto his pencil and turning toward his notes again, too. "Hunter's not going anywhere near you anymore."

I was glad that I had Alex with me. If it wasn't for him, I would have felt even more alone. Though I couldn't tell him about the fact that Jesse was really alive, it was still good enough.