Revelation

Fahmeen's POV:

I was going to talk to him today. I deserved some sort of answer and I was worried of that note. It must be kind of terrible judging by his silent anger. Everything's been so cold for a while. I'm done with it.

Class dismissed and I stayed in my seat.
"You're not coming?"
"You go, I'll be there soon." I reply to Georgia. Now it's just the two of us.

Silence

I look at him, waiting for him to do the same. He inhales deeply and takes out the note.
"It's another one." He mumbles. I'm confused, another one?
"There was another?" I stand and approach his desk.
"What's on the note Rolf?" My heart's accelerating, nervous at whatever his answer will be. Instead, he finally looks at me and shows me it. I take a deep breath and take it from his hand. I swallow hard, nerves tickling my belly.

Good work but not good enough. I want to see her cry

"What does this mean? Make who cry? What good work have you done?" I plead with my eyes, looking for something. Rolf stands up and comes around to me. We stand face to face.

"I should start from the beginning. I first got a note like this a couple of weeks ago. It said 'I know your secret'." He pauses and looks for a reaction, I give none and await his explanation.

"I tried hard to shrug it off but the more I thought about it. I figured somebody found out about us. Then I worried for me. For you. I had no idea how kids here would treat you if they found out. I didn't know what your mother would say about it. Especially after you told me about the arguments, I didn't want to cause anymore. I was selfish too. I worried for myself. So I tried to break things off with you."

I'm astounded. Never would I have thought it was this.
"But you did it in such a painful way. I... felt like you'd used me and... there must've been a better way. To have told me." I feel my eyes watering and he swallows hard, his arms are tense and he's holding back from touching me. He doesn't say anything and looks down.

"You should have told me about this note. We could've done something about it, together. What were you planning to do?"

"I would've... I didn't think that far ahead I just thought that they got what they wanted. We weren't together anymore."

I look over the note.
"This is personal. Make her cry? This person has a vendetta against us."

"Against you specifically. I have a few ideas on who it is." Rolf says thinking hard, still tense.
"Look, whoever it is. Whatever they want." I place my hand on his cheek, making him look at me.
"Doesn't matter. They have no proof of anything. Nobody saw us. This could even be about something else. I just wish you told me."
It's quiet for a while.

"Me too." He whispers, and I'm conflicted as to how to feel. His look has warmed up again towards me and it feels surreal. For just one look to take you back to your happy place. It wasn't his fault, he was scared for the both of us. I don't even know how I'd react if I received something like that. It was difficult to hold this against him.

"I would take it all back. Tell you from the beginning so I didn't have to hurt you like this. God knows how much it hurt me."
I didn't think he'd be hurting like me.

"Is it the same for you? Because I can't do this if you don't feel the same way." I admit, closing my eyes. Looking down, I imagine Rolf not reciprocating these feelings and it felt too painful. But I'd live. But a few months down the line? I couldn't handle it.

He takes my chin and makes me look up at him.
"If someone had to threaten to keep me away from you, that explains everything."
"I finally understand it." He whispers and intensely looks into my eyes. His green absorbs my brown and I'm lost in him.
I want to ask what he meant but he leans in to kiss me. I forget that we stand in his classroom for a moment but the security camera behind him ruins the moment.
"We can't."
He stills and we stare at each other.
"Alright trouble, you need to get to your next class."

Fahmeen's POV:

I eventually went to my other lessons, but my mind stayed with him. Before I left, Rolf apologised for his date but I shrugged it off. We both were hurt and we reacted in different ways. Which reminded me, Aston will be picking up his shirt. Whilst walking, I reach into my bag and feel the material. He was a really good guy, I can tell. I know he was interested in me, he made it pretty obvious but I'd like to be friends with him. There's something about him, a goodness I don't sense in many people these days. Including myself.

"Watch it."
I've bumped into Shania and her eyes are disgusted as she looks at me from head to toe.
I hold back on my automatic apology and don't say anything. I step away and ignore her as usual. She won't ruin my mood today. Not today where I feel hopeful and... happy. She scoffs and doesn't move and seems to have expected an apology judging by her raised eyebrow. Too bad.

It's lunch time and I'm excited to meet up with Georgia. Tell her everything, finally. The truth. I hated hiding things from people, but I'm going to tell her everything I can. I still had to look out for Rolf. I trusted Georgia with my life but I still couldn't risk his career. I wouldn't.

It seems something is out to get me today as I once again bump into someone.
"Ugh seriously Fahmeen!"
It's Harriet. She's dropped her notepad. A lot of blank pages I notice. I help her with her stuff and she snatches the notepad away from me. She doesn't make eye contact and I find that weird.
"Sorry Harriet." I apologise and a few people were watching us. I know they were anticipating a tantrum from Harriet but surprisingly she seemed to be in a rush to leave.
"Just stop, okay." She huffs and walks off, clutching that suspicious notepad tightly to her chest.
...

"I am so hungry, you wouldn't believe it!"
"Oh I do." I smile as we place our food trays on the table, the cafeteria buzzing with hungry students. We always managed to get our lunch early, perks of being a senior.

"So, what was so urgent you had to text me. In the middle of class, by the way. You know I don't keep my phone on silent." Georgia looks at me, expecting an answer.
"Okay, first of all don't freak out because I think you might. And second of all, don't ask too many questions? I won't be able to answer them all, for good reason. Trust me?"
"Of course." She says, leaning in and starting on her sand which.

I take a deep breath.
"I'm kind of seeing someone? I don't know..."
Georgia squeals and she's jumping up and down in her seat. I try to ignore the funny stares from passing students but I continue.
"You're in a relationship!" She suddenly gasps.
"And you didn't tell me!"
"Stop. Stop. Minimum questions later. Let me finish."
She mimics zipping her mouth.

"Okay thank you. So, yes there is someone. And Georgia? I can't explain how he makes me feel. He's... he feels like what I've been missing in my life. You know how I've never imagined a future because... you know. Anyways, now I think about a future. There's plans and ideas whatever. We like each other, a lot. And we've kissed as well."
Georgia's eyes widen and she covers her squeal.
"Twice."
Another squeal.
"Yes, I know. It seems fast. But it's been at least a few months we've known each and when we finally... got closer, it's been a month perhaps."

"But something happened." The turn in my mood changed hers too and she looked worried.
"Someone knows about us I think. And they want to stop it. Or they have something against either of us and he received a threatening note. Two, actually. All that caused him to stop seeing me but I eventually found out. But now that I know about it, we're okay now."

"Wow." She sits back with a thud and even stopped eating. I know she's astounded.
"That's so dramatic. It sounds like an episode of Riverdale or something."
"I know right. I just don't understand who would write notes like that."
"Yes, that's kind of scary." Georgia remarks; deep in thought.

"But I did see something... odd. Harriet was clinging to this notepad."
"Since when did Harriet hold anything other than two carbon copies of her lip gloss?"
"Exactly. She basically ran off, kind of hiding the notepad." Georgia's processing all this information and she's taken it like a champ. I know she's burning to ask who he is but she understands.

"This year just got a whole lot more interesting."