Clara's POV
The next morning, Caleb and I walked into the school holding hands.
Everyone stared at us, but I didn't care. My cheeks hurt from smiling. His finger was warm, firm, and it felt safe. Like I belonged there beside him.
It was supposed to be just a game, a short relationship to make Fabian jealous. That was the plan. But now, I couldn't get Caleb out of my head.
Every little thing he did stayed with me: His laugh, his teasing, his quiet way of looking at me when he thought I wasn't paying attention.
In class, I tried to focus, but my eyes kept drifting to him. He caught me once, and quickly, I looked away, biting back a shy chuckle. My heart fluttered in a way I didn't like admitting.
During break, we went to the diner together. The smell of fries filled the air, and the whole place buzzed with noise.
We sat by the window, sharing one plate, laughing at silly jokes.
I don't know what it was about him; The way his lips moved when he talked, the way his eyes softened whenever they met mine, they all drew me in. I found myself lost, not in his words, but in him.
Then his phone buzzed
He glanced at the screen, and his whole expression changed. The warmth disappeared. His face went cold, serious. I couldn't see who was calling, but something in my chest tightened.
Before I could ask, he stood up.
"I'll be back," he muttered, too low for me to hear clearly.
And just like that, he was gone.
I sat there staring at my half-eaten food, confusion twisting in my stomach. What could make him act that way?
A few minutes later, I felt a shadow fall over me. Then my plate was lifted and dumped on my dress.
I gasped.
When I turned, Trisha was standing there. Elara and Lisa smirked behind her.
"You think you can be a hottie like me?" she sneered. "Who permitted you to date the new guy? Listen to me, smug face, you are a slut and nothing more. Guys like him don't date girls like you. They just use you."
Her words hit harder than food soaking through my uniform.
I felt my pride crumble. My chest tightened, but I refused to let her see me cry. I just stood there, shaking, my heart pounding so loud.
Across the hall, I saw Fabian sitting with his friends, laughing. Laughing at me.
Something in me broke.
Tears slid down my cheeks before I could stop them. The boy I once loved, the one who made me believe that I was special, kept finding new ways to hurt me.
Trisha's voice pushed me back.
She shoved me, hard. I lost balance and hit the floor. My elbows scraped against the tiles. I felt a sharp pain in my arm.
"Trisha!" I yelled, my voice trembled. "What are you doing?"
She laughed. "You think you can call my name, you slut? By the time I'm done with you, you won't even be able to say it anymore."
She picked up a chair, her eyes wild.
But before she could move, a strong hand grabbed her from behind and pushed her down.
Caleb's voice thundered across the diner.
"Touch her again, and I swear…"
He stood there, his eyes burning. For a second, he didn't even look like the same boy. Everyone froze.
Everything felt blurry from that point. The noise, the people, and even the pain in my arm faded away.
The way he stood in front of me was like a shield. My savior in shining armor.
I came back to reality when Fabian stood up from his seat and walked closer. His eyes were cold, filled with something that wasn't love; anger, hate, or maybe hurt.
He looked at me like he saw through me. "What are you doing with someone like her, Caleb?"
His words pierced my heart. Someone like me. What does he even mean? We have been together for six months. I didn't understand him anymore.
He used to be my safe place, but now I couldn't read what he felt. Maybe the kiss with Caleb had hurt him. Maybe I had gone too far.
He doesn't look jealous at all, but instead, I could feel his distance. It hurt more than I expected.
Caleb helped me up, his hands around my waist. Everyone's eyes followed us as we left the hall. He took me to the nurse's office to clean my wound.
As he dabbed the blood from my elbow, I whispered, "Maybe the kiss made Fabian hate me. He doesn't seem jealous, just cold and distant." I paused for a while. "I think we should stop."
"It's working," Caleb said without looking at me. His face was unreadable as he concentrated on the wound.
"What if he isn't like that. Probably, I can't win him by making him jealous. I don't want to lose him because…" I shot back
"Listen, Clara," he paused for a while as he dropped the cutting wool. "You see the way he reacted out there, it's very obvious that he is into you, and he is pained that you are with me. Give it time, you'll see."
I hesitated but nodded slowly. "Okay. But if he becomes more distant, we'd have to stop."
He smiled, and somehow that made me feel better.
The rest of the day felt blurry. I couldn't focus in class. My thoughts kept circling back to Fabian's stare and Caleb's voice when he stood up for me.
After school, I went to the library. It was quiet and peaceful there.
I picked up a novel to read. I waited for Caleb while he practiced with the football team. The cheers of the crowd reached the library.
When the sun started to set, I finally left.
I made my way to the field, and I saw Fabian talking to Caleb with a few other guys. They stood close; their voices low. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but the look on Fabian's face made me uneasy.
A few minutes later, the others left, and Caleb noticed me. His eyes widened, like he hadn't expected me to be there.
We walked towards each other.
"What were you guys talking about?" I asked softly. "Everyone's gone home already."
He paused for a second, then said, "Nothing important, just football stuff."
Something about his reply was off. His voice was too calm and his eyes guarded.
"Let's make you a hottie," he said as he smiled, easing the tension. "Maybe some new outfit will make the day let's terrible."
We started walking, and when he reached for my hand, I pulled it back. Not out of anger. I just didn't know what to feel anymore.
"Are you okay?" he asked
"I'm fine, my hand still hurts," I replied.
"I'm sorry I didn't arrive on time before she tried to hurt you."
I let out a faint smile.