ONE MORE MISTAKE
LIES
I didn't have the desire to be with anyone today. I wasn't the best company to be with. So I decided I wasn't going to stay in the cafeteria, I was going to go to the library but when I walked by Alexis table, she reached for my hand and stopped me.
She smiled up at me.
"Aren't you going to sit with us? Come on, sit with us." She said sweetly as she grabbed my plate and placed it on the table.
I didn't sit down.
"Hey Thea, glad you're here. It's been a while." Nate came from behind me and placed his plate next to mines. He bumped into me, however he didn't say anything instead he sat down. I looked at him, forcing a smile on my face.
He pushed his glasses his up and smiled back, oblivious to the fact that I didn't want to be around them.
"I was actually going to go to the library, I have some studying to do." I told them as I reached out for my plate but Alexis placed her hand on top of mine.
"Thea, come on. Don't be like that." She said, an innocent look crossing her features. I furrowed my eyebrows, pulling my hand away.
"Plus, you're drawing attention." She whispered, her eyes glancing away from mine and towards the students sitting near us. I look up and she wasn't lying, people were staring but I wasn't sure why.
However when I spotted the group of people walking into the cafeteria I knew why.
Sterling and his friends sat down on the farthest corner of the room. My eyes were trained onto Sterling who looked more brooded than me. He sat down and leaned on the wall, his eyes closing.
I sat down next to Alexis, my eyes never leaving Sterling.
"He looks different, don't you think? More tortured, if that was even possible. I wonder what happened to him during these months." Alexis says, her eyes on Sterling.
I glance away from Sterling once I see him open his eyes. I pick on my food, and pretend to listen to Alexis as I think over the confrontation I had with Sterling.
I wasn't sure what to believe anymore. I was torn between accepting his bland words or never talking to him again. I didn't know what was the right thing to do.
"Raine," Alexis calls out. She gets off the seat and offers it to the girl who appeared in front of us.
My eyes had automatically meet brown eyes. She smiles at us, and even though she looks timid, there something about her that makes me feel uneasy.
Alexis doesn't feel the same unease because she pulls her down to sit down next to me. Her body slumps down next to mine.
"Meet Raine Harris, she's new here, well sort of. Nate, you've met her already during our lab. However, I don't think you two met, Raine this is Thea Nightingale." Alexis points at me, and Raine turns around to face me.
She smiles and holds her hand out.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard quite a lot about you." I take her hand and I'm surprised of how cold her hands are.
"I bet you have." I respond, pulling my hand away.
"Well you can't blame her, after yesterday's incident. I'm sure you're in everyone's mouth. Not everyone goes up to a person to slap them, especially someone like Sterling Haze." Alexis inputs, shrugging her shoulders once Nate bumps his shoulder with hers.
"He would've deserved it, honestly. I probably would've done the same, I don't blame you Thea." Raine was addressing me with a familiar voice that sounded as if she knew me.
The table was quiet.
"Of course, I don't know the full story but from the rumors I've heard I don't think what you did was wrong. Actually, I think everyone is being unfair to you. How is it that you're getting the treatment he should be getting, after all he was the one who faked his death." Raine looked down at her plate, a tint of red marking her cheeks.
"I like her." Nate stated, nodding approvingly.
"But I thought you found Sterling interesting?" Alexis asked as she furrowed her eyebrows.
"I do, I find them all interesting people." Raine glanced up to look at the group huddled in the back.
Of course she would find them memorizing. I don't blame her though, I once did too.
I hesitate but look at the group.
They all seem to do their own thing even though they were in the same table. Linda was talking with Ysabel, while Owen and Alexandra were in their own little world. Lastly sterling and Rory were sitting next to each other, talking however I was surprised when I found Rory's eyes on me.
He was nodding his head, his face slightly turned to Sterling but he was clearly looking at me from across the room. But the sight was not pleasant to look at because all I felt from him was hatred.
Whatever Sterling was telling him was clearly about me and it was making him look at me like that.
Rory Clark knew nothing.
I didn't need to look next to Rory, to know that Sterling was giving me his attention.
I knew it was better not to meet his eyes.
I grabbed my plate and stood up. I felt the eyes of everyone but I only looked at Alexis. "I've got to go but thanks for the company." I didn't give her the chance to reply because I turned around and walked out of the cafeteria.
I spend the rest of lunch in the library, but I hardly touched my food. When I hear the bell ring, I throw my trash away and head to my last two classes.
I try to ignore Sterling all day, it was almost impossible to because he was everywhere. Though, I'm glad classes end early and I don't hesitate to pack up my things and leave school.
I get into my car and head out before anyone else does.
With a cloudy afternoon, I make my way to the hospital to meet with Caine.
I park my car close to the entrance and make sure to put my hoodie on before I get off the car.
Still, small droplet land on my face. I jog down to the entrance of the hospital and pray that I don't slip.
Once I'm inside, I take off my hoodie and make my way towards Caine's room. With a knock, I make my way inside. A smile spreads on Caine's lips when he sees me, and I couldn't help but do the same.
"Thought you weren't going to make it today" he sits up and pats the seat next to him. I shrug off my hoodie and place it on the couch besides the window. Then make my way towards him.
"Why not? I said I was coming, have I ever broken my word?" I ask, making myself comfortable next to him. Caine doesn't say anything and before he starts his argument, I hold a finger.
"That was once," he lifts an eyebrow.
"Twice," I correct myself.
"Three times actually" it's my turn to lift an eyebrow.
"But I already forgave you." He included, a smile forming on his lips.
I laughed and laid my head on the pillow.
"Anyway, how's everything going in Royal high?" He asks and I couldn't help but smile. I soon start to tell him about everything that is happening in school except the one thing that keeps me up at night.
I tell him everything he was interested in, the people he was acquainted with and all about the clubs he was in. Caine was quite popular when he was in school, he had so many friends. He was considered a sociable person, some would say that he was the light of the school. He had gone to school all through ninth grade and all through eleventh grade. He didn't want to leave school for senior year but he had to because he was getting worse and it worried his parents.
Caine didn't want anybody to know he had cancer, he thought it would be easier that way. His parents didn't protest and allowed him to say he was going to move out of state. His only visitors were me and his parents.
"Lara Penning is now with Jeremy Park? Now that was unexpected. Who would had ever thought the good girl would get with the football jock, such a cliche though." He said as he stared down at his hands. He shook his head and started laughing.
"Shit, they look great together, huh?" He asked as he looked up at me, our eyes locking together.
I knitted my eyebrows and looked at him suspiciously. His voice had changed and I almost thought he sounded jealous.
I lift an eyebrow.
"Do you have a crush on Jeremy?" I asked, fully knowing what the answer was going to be.
"Alright, don't get look too shocked. You knew I've always liked him, even before he was popular."
"No I'm not shocked, just surprised you didn't mentioned it to me before. It's been a while since you talked about him." Even though what I was said was true, I felt like I didn't have the right to claim that to him. I've kept things from him, I shouldn't expect honesty from others when I know I haven't been very open.
"Yeah it's been a while since we talked about things like this. I just thought it didn't matter, especially with the current situation I'm in. I'm sorry." He looked down at his hands, cracking each finger.
I hated myself bringing it up, I knew what it was like for him.
I gripped his hand.
"It's okay, don't worry." I whisper, wrapping my arm around his shoulder and pulling him into a hug. He grips my arm, holding me tightly as if he didn't want to let go. I don't move, afraid I'll end up seeing him red eyed. I wouldn't be able to stop myself from crying with him. So I gripped him body and we stayed that way until we both fell asleep.
I didn't realize I did so until I woke up, feeling hot. Caine was turned the other side, his hands underneath his pillow. I leaned forward, rubbing my eyes. I didn't see Caine's parents sitting on the couch in front the bed until I remove my hands from my face.
They were quietly talking with one another, their faces drawn to sadness.
They turn to me when they see me stand up.
They put a smile on for me, standing up as well to greet me. Caine's mom, Marie, pulls me into a hug and I was able to tell how drained she felt. She pulled away.
"How are you? It's been a while since we've seen you, we missed you." She moves strands of my hair behind my ear, and pats my cheeks.
"I've been better. How are you guys holding up? Caine's told me about his improvement, has the doctor said anything else about it?" I asked, even though I knew what the answer was going to be.
Caine's father, Josh, gripped my shoulder and forced a smile upon his face. However he turned to Marie, and there was a quiet exchange between them.
"We haven't talked to the doctor yet, we wanted to see Caine first." Josh told me as he glanced over my shoulder, and I was able to tell how exhausted and scared he was just by looking at him.
I nodded, ignoring the look between them.
"How long have you guys been? I didn't even know when I slept in" I pulled my phone out of my pocket and looked at the time. It's only been thirty minutes, and my uncle won't start to except me until later.
"We just walked in a couple minutes ago. How did Caine look?" Marie asked but before I could answer a groan came out from behind me.
"You know I hate it when you guys talk in whispers" Caine said as I looked over my shoulder. He wiped his eyes and gave us a smile.
Caine's parents quickly made their way towards him, asking him how he felt, if he needed water or anything else. Suddenly, I felt out of place and told them I'll be back before walking out of the room.
I paused outside the room, gripping the handle.
There was something about the way Caine's parents looked at one another that made me feel worried. It was clear that they knew something they didn't want to tell me yet. Whatever they're hiding, I hope it's not what I think it is.
I took one step forward, about to walk towards the elevator but that's when I noticed someone familiar leaning on the wall in a hidden corner. I've could easily not noticed him but he was wearing one of Sterlings hoodies. I would've recognized that hoodie anywhere, I gave it to him for his birthday.
However, I don't know how it came to be in Rory's possession.
His eyes were closed when I first saw him but when I looked up at him his eyes were open and staring straight at me.
And I wasn't sure if I was seeing things, but I could've sworn his eyes were glossy and red.
He didn't give me any attention, he looked away from and walked the other direction as if I were someone he didn't know.