The Improbable Clause of Missing You

Chapter Five

"Frankie!" Matthew called out to her cheerily. My story forgotten, she turned to him and grinned.

"Hey, Matt! What's up?"

"Can I... Walk you to class?" His eyes were bright and hopeful. She nodded, giving her mega watt smile. She turned toward him, and just when I thought she'd forgotten about us, she looked back at us.

"This conversation isn't over, okay? Also, Hayley, love ya!" She fluttered her fingers and was off. I couldn't help but notice Matt's arm around her. I smiled slightly.

"Hey Quinn missed you this weekend." I said lightly, linking my arm through hers. "A lot has happened."

"I can tell. Is this seriously what happens the one time I skip out on a party? Darn. Anyway, seeing as Frankie is rather, uh, distracted," at that, she wiggled her eyebrows, "we could catch up! Do you need to rant about you-know-who?"

I shook my head. Sure, I was angry, but ranting about it wouldn't change a thing.

"It's fine, Q. Just stick around me today, please? I don't want to talk to him, or anyone, for that matter. Just you, Frankie, and probably her plus one."

"Don't worry. You'll be safe with us."

"I know." I said, smiling at her.

"And also, the rumours are uncontrollable." I shook my head, thinking back to the two nosy girls earlier. "News here travels so fast."

Sure, Haveridge may be one of the top schools, but that didn't stop the people from being, well, people. To be honest, I didn't really blame them for being curious. And it's expected, anyway, considering this is Owen's love life.

I opened the door, to which the entire room turned. It was almost comical. I didn't know things like this happened in real life. As I walked toward my seat, several tried to catch my eyes, perhaps to get a gauge of how I was feeling.

They say that the eyes are the window to one's soul.

They aren't wrong. But I'm okay.

It was worse that there were some sympathetic glances. Pretending not to notice, I took my usual seat, as Quinn sat next to me.

Cordelia's eyes never left my back. I could feel her boring holes throughout the rest of the class.

"Vultures, the lot of them." Quinn observed.

"I really don't blame them though."

There was a pause, but she gave me a sideways glance. "Neither do I, but it's still awful."

"It really is. We can only hope it dies out soon, right?"

In response, Quinn patted my arm reassuringly. The hallways were pretty crowded now, but somehow I felt the opposite of claustrophobia. People were watching and dissecting, as though I was nothing but a mere specimen in a tank. It was being singled out and watched, like from behind a television screen.

For the rest of the day, things seemed to die down once it was clear that I hadn't broken down into a blubbering mess and that I was, in actual fact, alright.

That didn't stop Frankie's fury, though.

"I will hurt him. I will hunt him down."

"Easy there, love. Owen's on my team, remember?" she blushed when Matthew called her 'love'. "If you injure him, we'll lose. Do you really want that?"

"No," she mumbled reluctantly, though still glowering at his logic.

Then guess who had to come over and join the party.