Chapter 31: The Bet *Save Me

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Chapter 28 Part 2 *Save Me*

~Sophia

“She’s hot,” a guy whispers softly to his friend.

I pretend not to hear it and look innocent. He thinks I haven’t heard him. Fortunately, I have a good hearing. I bite my lip to stop the smile forming on my lips.

I don’t know why people keep staring at me. It’s like I’m a bizarre creature. I’ve been studying in this school for three years, and this is my fourth and last year but they just notice me now. Maybe Aunt V overdid my makeover.

Draky and I are on our way to our classroom, minutes before the bell will ring.

“Is she Drake’s girlfriend?” I hear someone asks from behind.

Draky’s mouth forms onto a smirk.

I scowl at him for finding it amusing and then I remember that he wants me to be his girlfriend for the bet. I try to walk faster, I really do, but with these heels I’m wearing, it’s close to impossible. Besides, my ankle still hurts from last night. Ugh!

Suddenly, I’m regretting wearing this dress with these heels, curling my hair and putting make up. And then I remember Draky’s face earlier.

And that makes it worth it. I made him speechless. I made him stare at me with his mouth hanging open. And I know I made the right choice.

When the bell rings, Parker doesn’t waste a minute and start to choose who will discuss first. I don’t know if it’s intentional because he isn’t calling my name. I have a feeling that Draky and I will be the last to report.

I wonder if today’s his last day in teaching us. When will he go back to his college? We haven’t really talked. I hope tomorrow we will. Before he leaves.

There are a lot of discussions going on, one after another. But only three topics grab my attention. The first one is about beauty and brain. Cristina and Xander discuss it. Their topic reminds me of the night when Draky and I talked about love.

They say that your beauty doesn’t matter when you don’t have knowledge in your brain. I think it’s for shallow people who always want to look perfect instead of studying. And then they explain the relevance of the two by adding quotations from books and songs.

The next topic is about attraction and intelligence. At first I thought it was the same as beauty and brain but I was wrong.

Ella and Mitch tell us that if a person is intelligent, he or she will more likely be attracted to handsome guys or girls. Hah.  I thought it’s just me.

I never know that it’s a fact. Until now.

Handsome guys are my weakness. Now I know.

Is my intelligence the only reason why I was attracted to Draky? Is that it? Maybe, because now I know the real him. Now I’ll use my intelligence to outsmart him.

The last topic that makes me listen is about circumstances and people. Kent and Jamie explain that the way we treat people affects their life. If you’re mean to someone and you're hurting them, you have a great impact on their life.

As they say, actions speak louder than words. You don’t know what’s happening in their life so you don’t have the right to mess it. A small thing can lead into a big thing that can change someone’s life forever.

After their discussion, the room’s in a complete silence. The whole class absorbs what they heard.

“That’s deep,” Parker says solemnly. And then he continues to call names for the reporting.

The other topics are quite similar and ordinary, I find myself thinking other things.

I can’t really focus on the next discussions of my classmates because my mind can’t stop replaying the time when Draky brushed his fingers on my lips. I asked him why he did that. He said in an embarrass tone that there was a bread crust on my lips. He really is stupid if he thought he got me.

I can’t wait for this to end so that I can have my normal life back. All I want is to finish my high school and leave this town. I’ll go to my college of choice and will live in a dorm until I graduate.

I want to be away for a while to shape my life the way I want it.

“Last but not least,” Parker says loudly, snapping me out my reverie, “Drake Swift and Sophia Taylor.”

My mouth is dry. I swallow the lump in my throat to no avail.

Draky stands first and nods at me. Clearing my throat quietly, I get up and walk towards the front of the room. All of my classmates stare at Draky and me expectantly.

I’m not usually nervous in standing in front of a crowd but know I am. I don’t know why, but my knees are shaking beneath me. I hope I will not embarrass myself.

Draky looks at me questioningly. His eyes ask permission if he can start the discussion.

I nod, and turn towards the class.

Parker smiles at me and waits for us to begin.

Draky says, “Our topic is about—“

Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find that what you’re looking for

“Stop it,” Parker says angrily.

Has been here the whole ti—

That’s Taylor Swift’s You Belong With Me. Aren’t they tired of annoying me? They even play music while in class. Really childish.

“Whose cell phone is that?” Parker asks, looking around.

No one’s answering. Some of my classmates look down as if they’re guilty.

“If you don’t tell me this instant—“

“It’s my cell phone, sir,” Gian says, raising his hand shakily.

“Why did you do it?” Parker asks sternly.

“I was just . . .” he trails off, not knowing what to say next.

“I don’t tolerate that kind of behavior in my class,” Parker says in a strain voice. “You’ll have a detention later.”

“But sir—“

“No excuses,” he interjects, giving Gian a pointed look.

Whoa! I think, like my classmates, I stare at Parker with wide eyes. In this instant, he looks like a professor. A real professor. That’s what you get when you mess in his class.

I glance beside me and see Draky shoots a glare at Gian, making him slump in his seat.

“Drake, Sophia,” Parker says, “Please continue.”

Draky grabs my hand softly and squeezes it without looking at me. After that, he lets go and says, “Our topic is about love and life. Love is strange because we love someone who doesn’t have any feelings for us and people love us but we don’t love them back.” He stops and nods at me, my cue to start my part.

“Life is ironic,” I begin. I’m proud of myself; my voice doesn’t even quiver. “It flows the way we don’t plan it. Unexpected things can happen. One moment can lead into another. In just a blink of an eye, your life can change forever.”

“We can’t help who we fall in love with,” Draky continues. “It’s even surprising when you find out that everything you want is not going according to plan.”

What is he talking about?

“Love comes in least expected places and situations,” he says. “You have two options. First is to accept it with open arms. Second, you can let it go away. It’s your choice.” He looks at me after his last word.

“What?” I ask uneasily.

“The connection,” he murmurs.

“Oh,” I mouth. I face the class and say, “Live the life you want and love the way you live.”

My classmates clap their hands as Draky and I go back to our seats.

Parker walks in front of the room and says, “Thank you for sharing your thoughts in the class. Even though I just knew you two days ago, I feel like I know all of you for a long time. I’m glad I had the privilege to teach your class. I hope you’ll have a bright future ahead.”

“Why are you saying that, sir?” Lorraine asks.

Parker sighs quietly. “It’s my last day in teaching you.”

There are sad “Aww” coming from my classmates mouths.

“Remember to follow your dreams,” he continues. “Don’t be discouraged by simple problems. Always believe in yourself. Again, thank you.”

We clap our hands for him. I know that all of us enjoy Parker’s class. I’m so proud to be his friend.

“Sir?” Gian asks hesitantly when we stop clapping.

“Yes?” Parker says, glancing at him.

“Will I still have detention?”

“Of course,” Parker says amusedly, making my classmates laugh hysterically.

After my last class, I go directly to the bus stop and get in when it arrives.

My mind drifts back in Arts, replaying what happened there. I say my gratitude to Chloe and her face brightens when she sees that I’m wearing her gift. In that instant, I know that she and Parker will have a happy future with each other. I know it.

On the next bus stop, I descend the bus and walk in the empty street leading to our house. The soles of my feet are complaining.

I don’t know why I’m afraid, I’m just going to go home and visit my parents. When’s the last time I saw them? I really miss them so much.

A honk beside me makes me jump in surprise. I’m so focused on my thoughts; I don’t notice I’m walking on the road beside a car.

I turn towards it and see Draky lowering his window.

“What are you doing here?” he asks amusedly.

“What are you doing here?” I ask incredulously, gaping at him.

He looks at me oddly, and shrugs his shoulders.

And then I remember the time he followed me. Is it only just yesterday? Why does it feel like a long time ago?

“Are you following me?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Of course not,” he says quickly. “My mother called me to check on my Aunt who’s living in the last house on this street.”

“Really?” I ask dubiously, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I swear,” he says. But why does it sound like he’s defensive?

“Okay,” I say slowly, and then I’m about to continue walking when he calls my name. “What?” I ask.

“Get in,” he says.

“For what?”

“So that you won’t have to walk,” he says obviously. I'm quite surprise he doesn't roll his eyes.

“I don’t want to add burden to you,” I say warily.

“Believe me,” he says amusedly, “You’re not a burden to me.”

Is this you’re plan on making me fall in love with you, huh? “Fine,” I say, and slide in the passenger seat. Let’s see what you will do.

But he doesn’t try to start a conversation. He’s silent as he drives.

“Do you want to come in?” I ask when we arrive in my house.

“No,” he says, shaking his head. “I’ll just wait for you here.”

“Huh?” I murmur.

“I’ll wait for you here so that you won’t have to ride a bus when you go to Andre’s house.”

I know that he almost say home instead of Andre’s house but he stop his self because he doesn’t know what I will think of it.

“Okay,” I say, and then get out of the car and walk to the path leading to my house.

It’s so silent; it’s like no one’s here. Again.

I search for my house key in my bag and when I find them, I put it in, twist the doorknob, and open the door. I’m glad I grab the keys in the drawer beside my bed before leaving the house.

“Mom?” I call.

It’s so dark here. My mom doesn’t leave the house without a light. Did she or dad go home last night? I find the switch and click it so I can see.

This is my house but why do I feel like I’m an intruder?

“Dad?” I call as I make my way towards the kitchen. “Mom?” Why aren’t they answering me? “Anybody here?”

My heart is doing little drum beats in my chest. I can feel my blood pumping through my veins. When I rounded the corner to the kitchen, no one’s there.

Maybe they’re upstairs, sleeping. Calm down, calm down, I repeat again and again.

But I can’t. It’s hard to breathe! Do you know the feeling that you’re drowning in the ocean even though you’re safe on the land?

The world is starting to spin; I might faint, so I sit on the floor and pull my knees towards me. I put my head against them. Inhale. Exhale.

I do that for a couple of seconds until I’m sure that the world isn’t spinning anymore.

It’s like when Matt died—

Stop! I don’t have to go that far. There’s nothing wrong happened to my parents. They’re alive; just sleeping in their room.

My mouth is dry. My tongue is like a sandpaper grating against my teeth. I stand up slowly and try to walk towards the fridge and get some water. I need liquid in my body.

When I open the fridge, the food I bought a few days before I started to live in Andre’s house falls to the ground. Why are these foods still here? Why didn’t my parents eat them? They might get spoiled!

Don’t think too much, I remind myself. Maybe they don’t feel like cooking so they just ate outside or maybe they ordered pizza. I have to distract myself to stop thinking these kinds of thoughts.

I make my way upstairs and the first thing I see is the grandfather clock on the wall beside the stairwell.

There’s my room at the far corner. But first, I have to go to my parent’s room to see them.

I open their door quietly even though I have a nagging feeling that they aren’t inside. I push the door so I can enter. I’m right. They aren’t here.

I don’t know what’s gotten into me to check the closet of my mom. What I see when I open it makes me gasp. Some of my mom’s clothes are gone. And then I move to the other side of the room for my father’s cabinet. Some of his clothes aren’t here too.

Tears start streaming down my face when I realize that my parents left me. They left me on my own. My head is pounding hard, I can’t think straight. My body feels numb.

I don’t remember much what happens after. I think I run blindly downstairs, tripping because of the heels I’m wearing.

When I get outside, I hear Draky’s voice calling my name. I ignore him and continue to run without a destination in mind.

A stone on my path I haven’t seen because of my blurry vision makes me trip on the sidewalk. I’m about to fall face first on the ground when a hand grabs my waist and straightens me.

I push Draky away from me but he just ignores my weak attempt to break free. When my arms fall to my side, he pulls me towards him, pushing my tangled hair out of my face.

My head rests on his shoulder and his arms encircle my waist. He’s just quiet, rubbing my back softly while murmuring words at me soothingly.

I’m sobbing uncontrollably, I let the guy I despise so much comfort me.

“What happened?” he murmurs long after my tears stop falling from my eyes.

How many minutes have passed? How many hours? We’re still on the middle of the road. Like before, it’s empty. Empty, just like my heart.

I shake my head because I know when I open my mouth, I’ll breakdown again.

He seems to know what I’m thinking because he doesn’t wait for my answer. “Let’s go,” he says suddenly.

Where will we go?

“Trust me,” he says, and helps me get in his car.