Chapter 42

Laura POV

I stood frozen, staring at Clara in confusion. "What camera are you talking about?" I scanned the room, but couldn't find anything. That's when I heard it a tremendous laughter escalating from a group of girls, all holding smartphones. My gaze weakened, my strength reducing to nothing. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

"Why are you doing this, Clara?" I asked, my voice shaking with anger and fear. "I'm staying away from you, won't that be enough? Why are you humiliating me like this?"

But Clara just laughed, her eyes gleaming with triumph. I felt a surge of adrenaline flow through my veins, leaving me momentarily confused about the situation. But I quickly regained my composure, picked up my books, and stormed out of the hallway, heading towards the safety of my classroom.

All eyes were on me, and the hallway was filled with murmurs and whispers. "Frank is so naive and blinded by love," someone said. "That's why he can't see that Clara is the best match for him." The gossip spread like wildfire, with students nodding in agreement and casting sympathetic glances my way.

I felt my face burning with shame and embarrassment, my heart racing with anxiety. How could they think that Clara, of all people, was the best match for Frank? Didn't they know about her manipulative ways and her obsession with controlling everyone around her?

I quickened my pace, desperate to escape the judgmental stares and wagging tongues. But the whispers followed me, echoing in my mind like a cruel mantra: "Clara is the best match for Frank. Clara is the best match for Frank.”

"Laura, are you okay?" Valerie asked, concern etched on her face. But she trailed off, seemingly intimidated by the look on my face. "You can keep your opinion, Valerie," I snapped, my voice low and even. "I'm not in the mood for anyone's input right now."

Valerie nodded sympathetically and backed off, sensing my emotional turmoil. I appreciated her understanding, but I knew I needed to be alone to process the chaos swirling in my mind. I continued to my classroom, my feet heavy with the weight of Clara's schemes and the judgmental gazes of my classmates.

As I entered the classroom, I couldn't help but feel like everyone was staring at me. The whispers and murmurs from the hallway seemed to follow me, echoing off the walls. I took my seat, trying to focus on the lesson, but my mind was a jumble of emotions.

Frank, oblivious to the drama, smiled at me from across the room. I forced a weak smile back, not wanting to draw any more attention to myself.

But then Clara walked in, her eyes locked on mine with a triumphant gleam. She took her seat, her presence seeming to suck the oxygen out of the room.

I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, with no escape from Clara's grasp. The teacher droned on, but I didn't hear a word. My mind was racing, trying to come up with a plan to take back control of my life.

"Teacher, don't you think Laura is a bit distracted?" Clara asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I mean, her mind is probably a million miles away, lost in thought... or should I say, lost in Frank?" She smirked, her eyes gleaming with malice.

The classroom fell silent, with all eyes on me. I felt my face flush with embarrassment and anger, but I refused to give Clara the satisfaction of a reaction. The teacher, oblivious to the tension, nodded agreeably. "Yes, Laura, are you okay? You seem a bit spaced out."

I forced a weak smile, trying to play it off. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit tired, that's all." But Clara's smirk told me she knew I was lying, and she was enjoying every moment of my discomfort.

Frank, sensing my unease, glanced over at me, his eyes filled with concern. I tried to smile to reassure him, but my lips felt like they were made of lead.

Just then, the teacher announced that it was time for our assignment, and we were to work in pairs. Clara's eyes lit up, and she quickly grabbed her bag, sauntering over to Frank's desk.

"Hey, Frank, do you want to be my partner?" She asked, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Frank hesitated, looking at me uncertainly. But then he seemed to make up his mind. He rushed over to me, grasping my waist and pulling me close. "You will be my partner on this assignment," he declared, his eyes shining with determination. "I prefer you over anyone else, Laura."

I felt a surge of joy and relief at his words, and my heart skipped a beat as he pulled me into a gentle embrace. Clara's face fell, her eyes narrowing in anger and disappointment. The classroom around us melted away, and all that mattered was the two of us, connected in this moment.

"Really?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Frank smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Really," he said, his voice filled with conviction.

The teacher cleared her throat, interrupting our moment. "Alright, let's get started on the assignment, class."

As we pulled away from each other, I felt a sense of gratitude towards Frank. He had stood up for me and chosen me over Clara. And in that moment, I knew that our friendship was something special, something worth fighting for.

"Lab time, guys! Let's go!" the teacher said, and I nodded enthusiastically, following the class to the lab.