That same day Ms.Thomas gave me another disappointed look after noticing Logan's absence once again in class. I no longer even cared about this project or the credit I needed for it. It was Ms.Thomas's stupid project that caused this whole stupid situation between Logan and I anyways.
It's currently Friday now and I'm sitting in Ms.Thomas's class trying not to give into the pounding headache occurring in my mind. She mentioned nothing to me after I walked into class. She simply held up her attendance sheet, checking for those who were and weren't present in class. I can guarantee by the empty seat beside me that Logan wouldn't be marked present.
The more I thought about yesterday the more I became annoyed with myself. Did I really have to cry? I made myself out to be completely weak. Why did I have to be so sensitive to everything someone tells me? I guess after years of people continuously putting you down and breaking you apart theres just no wall left for me to defend myself with.
I glanced up at the board and tried to focus on the locations spread out across map Ms.Thomas was showing the class. She allowed students to take out their phones and take pictures of the map and I was about to until a couple of sharp knocks sounded from the door.
Ms.Thomas glanced around the classroom with a warning look on her face, silently telling everyone to put their phones away for now. She walked up to the door and pulled it open, standing in the doorway.
"You're late Mr.Hunter." Ms.Thomas drawls out. "About twenty minutes to be exact. Care to explain?"
My ears perk up at the low sound of Logan's response. A mumbled excuse is all I can make out considering my seat isn't that close to the door. Ms.Thomas sighs before stepping aside and allowing him to enter the room.
I refrain from looking at him and instead stare at my opened notebook. The only sound that can be heard in the classroom is the sound of Logan's chair scraping against the floor.
Ms.Thomas picks up the attendance sheet, fixing the marks. She soon goes back to her lesson and the flow of teenage chatter begins to pick up through the classroom. I lean back in my seat and let out a secretly relieved sigh at the fact that now I wouldn't fail her class.
The volume of the voices talking raise significantly but Ms.Thomas says nothing. Instead she finishes up her lesson and passes out worksheets to be collected at the end of class. Once I get mine I instantly begin to work on it, trying not to acknowledge the person beside me.
I can feel his gaze on me and it makes me press my pen harder into the paper from uneasiness. I slouch forward, leaning over my desk with my hair shielding my face from his eyes. My head pounds harder and the room begins to feel suffocating. It starts to feel like the room is spinning and my throat feels immensely dry.
It isn't until I hear Lacey squeal that I snap out of my anxious state.
"Oo! Logan!" She calls him. I can hear him shifting in his seat to concentrate on her and I bite down on my bottom lip.
"I had an amazing time last night." She speaks a bit louder than necessary. I can feel my ears turning red from what she's referring to. My conscience scolds me for listening to their conversation. I decide to tune out of it, after all I wasn't in much favor of listening to their late night encounters.
My interest in the conversation diminishes as a memory flashes through my mind.
"Why are you in such denial because I want you?" Ha. What a funny joke.
It was obviously a joke. To Logan it was a joke. It was just a stupid line to try and get me to sleep with him. That meant nothing and I knew better to even believe for second that what he was saying was true.
If he wanted me then why would he sleep with Lacey? Maybe he told Lacey something similar so she would sleep with him, or maybe he didn't even have to tell her anything at all. She was already crazy about him.
Before I know it the bell rings and I hurry to get my things together. I want to leave as fast as possible and just get to my last class on time. I slip my bag onto my shoulder and push in my chair before making my way towards the door.
Ms.Thomas clears her throat as I walk past her desk before she calls me out.
"Grace! Wait. I need you to speak with you for a few minutes." She says.
I mentally roll my eyes. I just want to leave this class and Ms.Thomas only prolonged it further.
"You also Logan." She calls out among the sea of students desperately trying to leave.
I watch as Lacey untangles herself from around Logan's arms. She pouts at him and whispers something in his ear that makes him smirk. I tear my eyes away from the two and bring my attention back to Ms.Thomas who waits patiently for Logan.
When the classroom finally lets out Ms.Thomas points for us to sit in the first two seats in front of her desk. I huff quietly but take a seat none the less. Ms.Thomas walks in front of her desk and looks at us while crossing her arms.
"Logan do you take this class as joke?" She asks with a frown on her face.
I squirm uncomfortably as she continues to scold Logan on his absence and I begin to wonder why she asked me to stay back if all she's going to do is nag at him. Logan snickers at a few of her comments and mostly gives smart remarks.
Silently, I tap my fingers against the desk and stare at the board. Not until I hear my name come out of Ms.Thomas's mouth do I snap my head in her direction.
"What?" My voice interrupts their dispute.
"Grace, I think you deserve an apology. Because of Logan and his lack of ability the come to class you almost failed." Ms.Thomas calmly replies, eyeing Logan with a disapproving look.
My eyes dart between the two of them, my chest burning with nervousness after being put on the spot.
"Oh- No. He doesn't have to do that." I denied looking away.
"Grace I insist that-" Ms.Thomas starts but I cut her off.
"It's fine, He came and now I'm not failing and neither is he so can I please just leave?" I rush quickly. Ms.Thomas sighs and allows me to leave. I shoot up out of my seat and hurriedly make my way outside of the classroom.
I release a big breath and quickly walk in the direction of the bathroom. My head was now doing olympic class gymnastics and I needed to take a moment.
As soon as I make it into the bathroom I drop my bag on the ground and look at myself in the mirror. The bags under my eyes clearly display my tiredness and my hair framed my face in a frizzy manner. I wet the tips of my fingers under the sink with cold water and rub them around my eyes.
It soothes me for a few seconds, the coldness contrasting against my warm skin. When I open my eyes it seems I've only made my appearance worse. The area around my brown eyes were now red and puffy. I tuck a piece of hair away and breathe heavily.
I bend down and grab the water bottle inside of my bag. Taking a few sips of the tasteless liquid and breathing in and out for a few minutes calms me down a little bit. I take it as a sign to be able to go to class.
As soon as I exit the bathroom the figure leaning next to the door's entrance makes me jump back. A gasp escapes my mouth as a wave of shock runs through my body for a spilt second. I almost thought it was a ghost but it turns out to be none other than Logan.
His eyebrows are furrowed at my shocked expression and I quickly apologize and try to get around him. He gently nudges me back against the wall, shaking his head.
"We need to talk." He says curtly.
"No we don't- I'd hate to waste your time." I reply bitterly, recovering from my moment a few seconds ago.
A look of regret crosses his features briefly but it goes as soon as it comes.
"Look, I only said that because-"
"It doesn't matter does it? You said it anyways. I mean-"
"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean what I said Grace." Logan utters. Silence falls between us as he waits for me to respond.
I stand there and stare at him. My mind shakes and my fingers curl by my side in anger.
"Is that it?" I reply tightly. Logan gives me a look of disbelief and I snap. "Did you really think you could just say sorry and we'd become all friendly Logan? We're never gonna be friends. I hate you."
I try once again to push past him but he grips me tightly in place.
"You don't hate me." He scoffs.
"Leave me alone, why don't you go bother Lacey?" I blurt out. His eyes widen slightly before loosening his hold on me.
"Are you jealous?" He questions.
"No." I grumbled. "But you seem to do such a great job leaving me alone when she's around. Maybe you should go find her."
I shake him off of me, fixing my clothes before walking away.
☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓
I laid across my bed, thanking the heavens that it was the weekend now. I had just finished cooking and had taken an advil or two for my headache. It was around seven in the evening now. My dad wouldn't be home for the next couple of hours due to his job. He would definitely have to warm up the food by the time he got home but at least there was food available.
He seemed a bit more stressed out now whenever I saw him which was rarely now. Last week during the weekend he didn't even come home and regardless of what he's done to me I was worried.
I know that I disagreed every time he argued that my mom left us but he was right. I haven't seen her in years and I was scared that he had left too when he didn't come home.
I was so relieved when I heard him come in through the front door on Sunday night, although I didn't mention anything.
Still, now another Friday night I laid sprawled out and bored to death. I refused to think about Logan and I even deleted his contact from my phone, something I should've done as soon as he put it in there.
Suddenly my phone began to ring and I swiped the answer button. It was Alyssa.
"Hello?" I answer.
"Hi! What are you doing right now?" She booms through the phone.
"Nothing, why? What are you doing?"
"Oh, you know, just watching t.v... But, um, I have a question." I hear a little shuffling around in the background before it calms down.
"What is it? If you ask about that party again-" She cuts me off with a no.
"No No No! It's not about the party this time, if by party you mean the one we're going to." Alyssa adds quickly at the end.
I huff in frustration.
"But back to my question. What time does your dad usually come home?"
"Not until late, Why?" I question.
"How late?"She asks, completely ignoring my question.
"Very late, around 12 or 1-ish I guess. Now would you answer my question?"
"Just want to know what time I should have you home by." She laughs. " And now you have no excuse to say no,your dad won't be home so theres no way he'll find out that you went to a party."
"My excuse to say no is the simple fact that I don't want to go. You really shouldn't go either Alyssa." I reason with her, rolling onto my back.
"Why? Because Finn says so? He can't dictate my life for me Grace. Please please please! I just want to experience something a normal teenager my age would for once!" She begs.
"And you can, just without me." I speak softly.
"But that's no fun! Who goes to a party by themselves? I will come over right now and get down on my knees and beg you, please! Just one party!"
I let out a small laugh at the sound of her voice before sighing and finally giving in.
"Alright Alyssa, fine."
The other line is filed with dead silence and I question if she's still on the phone.
"Hello?" I question.
"Are you serious? Are you really serious? You'll come with me?" She sounds overjoyed right now.
"..I guess one party couldn't hurt." I say a little reluctantly.
"Thank you so much! Oh my god, you're the best! I swear!" Alyssa cheers.
A smile finds it's way on my lips at her excitement. I can only hope tomorrow will be as memorable as Alyssa makes it out to be.
Happy New Year! Break is ending and School starts up again tomorrow so I'm unsure about how soon I'll get to update but I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes made.
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