Chapter 53

How the fuck did that bitch know about my secret.
I mean, she wasn't sure. Thank God for that but she did suspect it.
‘Of course you can't fight. I can't believe I even thought of it.'
What? So just because I liked to read and get good grades I couldn't fight? What the hell was that about? What did that had to do with anything? Did I have to be weak to get good grades and gain a liking towards reading? Or did I have to be stupid and a complete airhead to be a fighter?
But on top of everything, what could have possibly popped that question? How could that thought occur to her in the first place?
This smelled like Penelope all over. I swear that if she was the one behind all this gossip, I will beat her up so bad that even her mother wouldn't be able to recognize her. I trusted her and let my guard down.
Damn her innocent look. They were playing a coy game; one that I didn't wish to participate in.
I went through the day with the unanswered questions gnawing at me. Did she really do it? Even if I didn't give her that chance, I knew that she was being sincere. I just didn't want to hold on anymore. The more you held on, the more that you'll be hurt because humans were stupid. They were blind fools that wouldn't truly cherish what they had until it was taken away from them and to finally discover that and finally embrace it was devastating.
I slowly got up from my chair to exit the class. It was only first period and I just wanted to get this over with.
The next class seemed to be miles away from where I was and I had to drag my feet to get me across the school to get to Biology. Ah, Bio, the only subject that I didn't dread that much.
I enjoyed Bio as much as I enjoy eating veggies which wasn't that much but it was good enough. It was the only subject that I didn't actually dread to the point of wanting to jump out the window just because I wanted to stop listening to the teacher's endless lecture.
The thing was; I have discovered a few days ago that Penelope was in that class.
Now, I could choose how to feel about this. Dread it because she's in there or be happy because she's in there. Okay, that got me confused.
Let's rephrase it; I can either hate that fact because I wasn't exactly in the mood for her bullshit, especially because she was possibly the person who almost exposed my illegal secret or be ecstatic because I could catch her, interrogate her and finally find out the answer to the question that has been eating me.
I entered the class and sat on the last row. There were a lot of us who took biology so the class was packed with kids. I quickly slipped into the seat and set my bag on the empty stool beside me I took out my files and started reading over on last lesson's notes when my phone went off, signaling a text.
Looking around and finding no teacher around, I checked the text.
Tonight at 8, don't be late -Lev
I texted back a quick ‘okay' when I heard a timid voice behind me and quickly locked my phone. I slipped it back into my bag, afraid that they saw anything they shouldn't see.
I didn't want to give anyone a scarring threat so early in the morning.
Turning around, my face became guarded when Penelope came into view. Be calm, Case, be calm. You don't know for sure that she told Sonia. It's probably a misunderstanding.
And how big was the chance that it was a misunderstanding? I thought about it silently and came out empty.
I thought so too.
Oh shut up, you don't have any proof.
I won't need any.
Realizing that I spaced out on Penelope, I quickly tuned in to try catching the last few words she said and made an attempt to figure out the whole question.
"...taken?" She must mean the seat. I looked at her and then looked at the bag-occupied seat beside me.
Should I, should I not? Should I? Should I not- So many choices and yet so little time.
Finally, my interrogative side got the best of me and I grumbled, setting my bag under the table, letting her drag the chair and plop down on it with what I think was a relieved sigh. I let my conscience win and let my blunt, straightforward side bubble to the surface. I turned towards her.
"Why do you want to sit here?" Okay, that wasn't the question I was going to ask but it's a start. No? Okay, I think I might need a psychiatrist. I'm turning into a wimp.
She looked nervous and I had my conscience up my ass in an instant.
She's hiding something, I know she is! What the hell are you waiting for, human?! Kick her ass!
I shushed my conscience and looked at her expectantly. Come on girl, I don't have all day. My head's about to burst from all these shits my conscience is feeding me man.
"Well, I thought we could talk things out. I mean come on, Case, this has been going for far too long. Don't you think it's about time we patch things up and become friends again?" She had a hopeful look on her face and I almost felt bad for turning her offer down.
"I'm sorry, Pen. I don't make friends with someone whose loyalty is questionable. It's the first thing you need to have when you want to be friends with me; loyalty. Why do you keep on trying to fix things up with me anyway? I mean you saw what happened that night with those guys-" She cut me off before I could finish that sentence and her response stunned me into silence.
"Exactly, that's the thing! You saved me that night and I owe you my life, Case. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. God knows what could've happened if you weren't there to give me a head start and risk your life." She looked so grateful, the glint in her eyes proving just how much she admired my action that night and I felt a chunk of my heart being chipped off.
But I caused that night to happen in the first place. I was responsible for what happened the second I agreed to come to the party with you. If only you knew, Pen. If only you knew, you would hate me. You wouldn't even be able to see me under the same light ever again.
I looked away, the guilt flooding my senses. I felt so ashamed of myself that I almost forgot about the slight suspicion I had against her. After listening to what she had to say and the fact that she thought I saved her from something that I could've prevented by staying away from her was just overwhelming.
My emotions threatened to break their barriers and swallow me whole. I squeezed my eyes shut to prevent any emotions from being shown.
"Did you or did you not tell Sonia that I could fight?" I was finally able to look into her eyes and she met my gaze with a disbelief look plastered on her face.
"What?" She asked in a bewildered tone and I angled my body to face her, ready to spell out the question letter by letter when the teacher entered the class, forcing me to look towards the board begrudgingly.
Guess I have to wait for another hour then.
By the time the bell rang, I grabbed Penelope by the elbow after slinging my bag on and getting out of the seats. She gave out a yelp and staggered forward but kept on following me out the class and into the crowded hallways. When I finally found a deserted corner, away from the ruckus, I stopped short and turned to face her, finally releasing her arm.
"Did you tell Sonia that I could fight?" I asked her in a soft voice, trying not to let anyone hear and yet trying to top all the noise to get the question through to Penelope, who gave me a look of pure astonishment.
"You actually think that I'm capable of such a thing?" I gave her a pointed look, causing her to groan loudly in annoyance.
"Would you let it go, already?"
Let go of what? The fact that you're a two-timing bitch? Hmm, let's see... Nope.
The deadpan look I threw her way was enough to leave her frustrated and exasperated with my ignorant act. Okay, I admit I'm probably being unbelievably childish here but I held grudges.
"Would it kill you to just forget about that small tiny fact already?"
Nah, but I'm not exactly feeling like forgetting so...
All it took her was a single look to know that she's lost this one.
"Just answer the question, already!" I threw my hands up in the midst of my aggravation with her silly rhetorical questions.
"No, Case. I didn't tell anyone, happy? I did it once. People change you know," she snapped. I knew she had more to say than that and was trying to hold back.
I gave her a stiff nod, not wanting to indulge in any of her games anymore. I was already giving her my back and was about to walk away when her hand shot out and latched onto my elbow.
‘Seems like the tides have turned,' I thought silently, letting her hold my elbow and not trying to wrench my arm away.
I stared at her hand and when it was obvious she wasn't going to let go anytime soon, I looked up and met her sorrowful eyes with my icy ones.
"Why? Why wouldn't you just let go? It happened once. I two timed you once. Others could've done it twice, it could've been worse." She asked and her voice cracked as tears started to surface.
I kept my facade and kept my tone even while keeping my stare on her, my stance unwavering.
"Because I've been hurt one too many times and don't you dare say that it could've been worse. It may have happened once in your eyes but I've been betrayed far too many times to be stupid enough to actually offer yet another knife to someone who had stabbed me before. Not even a blind man would fall into the same hole twice."
With that, I wrenched my arm away from her and stalked to my next class, the same question still circling my head.
Then who tipped Sonia?