Chapter 16: Chapter 16

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, trying to control my anger. Honestly, I don't want to lose it. I don't want to lose my temper. I hate when I'm pissed off, what might come out of my mouth would be very mean.

I started."Joey, just stop this childish act of yours, it's - "

She interrupted me, before I could complete my sentence."You think I'm acting childish when you're the one behaving like an immature human being. So funny. I only invited you to a party and you're acting like I just asked you to rob a bank."

My hands tightened into fists, I couldn't help but shoot her a deadly glare."You invited me to a goddamn party and I refused your kind invitation. God, isn't that polite enough? Parties are stupid and attending those fucking parties disgust me."I ranted.

"Without those so-called goddamn parties, you wouldn't have met Romeo and hooked up with him."She retorted, glaring back at me.

"Damn! Attending that stupid party and becoming attached to Romoe is the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life."I snapped back, not caring that Romeo was in the cafeteria listening to our outburst.

At this moment, almost everyone in the cafeteria was staring at us, focusing their attention on the drama Joey and I were performing. Some of them even brought out their phones to record us. Normally, I detest attention but that doesn't matter now, I'm mad already.

"Never knew that you're such an ungrateful person, Ivy. Why are you behaving like you don't like what's going on between you and Romeo?"

I shook my head in disdain."I never knew that you're such an insensitive human. I honestly thought that I was friends with a sensible girl."

Those were the last words I said to her. I cast her a final glance and walked out of the cafeteria.

I have been friends with Joey since I came to this school. Funny how we've never had a real quarrel since we started our friendship and this will be our first break out. Maybe, it will be the last also.

If she doesn't apologize to me, I won't do the same. I don't even need friends. I just wanna be myself. As long as I have my mother, I'm okay.

I don't think I want someone like Joey as my friend, she was behaving like my ex friends, those ones who made fun of my father's death.

Joey didn't tease me over my father's death but still, their behavior has the same flaw. Insensitive.

"Are you okay?"I heard a calm voice behind me.

I turned to the back. It was Xader.

I forced a smile and nodded my head in the affirmative."I'm okay."

He moved a few inches closer to me and patted my shoulder."Liar. You don't look okay."

I shrugged."Well, I'm not okay. You don't expect me to be okay after I had a disagreement with my best friend or my ex best friend."

He lifted an eyebrow."Wait, both of us are going to break up your friendship over such a little thing."

"Obviously, she won't seek my apology. I can't stoop too low to do that also. So, whatever."

He stared down at me, his chestnut eyes swimming with amusement."I never knew you're this petty."

"Now, you know."I hissed.

"Don't give me that attitude, girl."

"I'm not -"

My stomach rumbled, cutting short my words. That is the effect of wasting my saliva engaging in a discussion, instead of eating.

"Wanna go out to eat?"Xander asked me.

I shook my head."Out of the school? No."

"Let's go to the school cafeteria then."

"I don't -"

My stomach rumbled once again, this time around, it was louder than the previous one.

"Choose one,"Xander demanded.

I don't want to go outside the school, it might take a long time for us to return back to school. I don't want to get into trouble for missing classes.

But, going to the cafeteria is a nice choice, apart from the mess I've caused. Those students are going to stare at me like I've grown two horns, especially with Xander beside me.

Wait, why the heck do I care about what people would think of me?

I ought to be thinking about food. I think I'm going to die if I don't eat now. I'm drained already.

"You look stressed out."Xander's voice jerked me out of my thoughts.

"You know what? Let's go to the cafeteria. I'm really famished."I groaned.

He shot me a wink."I thought you wanted to starve yourself to death. Nice choice, by the way."

"No. I love myself a lot and I'm also a fan of food."I winked back as both of us started walking towards the direction of the school cafeteria.

"If I ask you out on a casual date, will you say 'yes'?"

A corner of my mouth tugged upwards."Ask first."

I don't want to have the thought that I'm actually flirting with Xander. I don't think this is flirting. He is friendly and I'm returning the energy. Yes, that is it.

His eyes bored into mine."A date on Saturday? What do you think?"

"Nothing. I'll think about it."

His eyelids dropped."I asked just to receive this response, Ivy."

"What were you expecting? A yes? I'll have to check my schedule first, before thinking about going on a date."

"I think I've seen different versions of Ivy Young today. Maybe, when you're mad isn't really that bad."

"Don't try to get mad, anyway."I warned him.

A few minutes later, we reached the cafeteria and sat down on a seat, located at the deserted part of the cafeteria. The cafeteria was still filled to the brim, anyway. I'm sure the topic of every students' discussion would be what just happened between Joey and I.

As expected, they all stared when Xander and I entered the cafeteria. Well, I don't even care about their stares.

I glanced around the cafeteria when Xander went to get our meals. Joey wasn't in the cafeteria anymore, perhaps she also left angrily. Whatever!

My eyes suddenly met with Romeo's. I ought to look away but the inner devil in me kept staring at him. I was expecting him to cast his eyes from me, but he also continued staring intensely at me.

I felt a hand tap my shoulder, it was Xander. I smiled at him before staring at Romeo for the last time. I noticed that his ocean-like eyes turned a thousand darker and a line appeared between his brows.

I threw him a deadly glare, then focused my attention on Xander who was sitting in front of me.

****

I couldn't stop thinking about the reason our principal, Mr Justice, needs my attention in his office. Am I in trouble again? Or, could it be because of the exchange of words that occurred at the cafeteria?

Well, I will find out when I get into his office.

The path leading to the principal's office was lonely, everyone was inside their class. All of a sudden, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. I didn't want to turn but I noticed that the footsteps became louder and it was also following my directions. I quickly faced back.

My jaw dropped when I saw that it was Romeo. I didn't expect him to be the one. But, he was the one walking behind me.

I took a deep breath. I don't even know the reason I have these sudden butterflies in my stomach. Maybe because he was behind me and also, we were alone. Damn! I need to get a grip on myself.

I lifted my shoulder in a half shrug. I shouldn't get his closeness or anything to get to me. I'm still pissed off with him. He kind of cheated on me, even though we weren't dating. He was also the cause of the misunderstanding between Joey and I. Annoying jerk!

I thought you would turn back or go in another direction, but he was following me. Was he sent after me or what?

"Why are you following me?"I snapped, glaring at him.

He shoved his hands in his pocket, staring at me with a blank look on his face."What were you doing with that son of a bitch, Xander?"

I gazed at him in disbelief. It's official. Romeo is crazy, I think he hit his head on something hard. Is this what he was supposed to ask me? A reply to my question or a simple "I'm sorry" will do it, instead of this trash he just asked.

"I hate you."I spat.

I increased my pace, rushing to Mr Justice's office. I don't care if he was following me. He should just go to hell.

I was shocked when Romeo entered the principal's office with me. What the heck is he doing here?

"It's nice to have both of you here."Mr Justice addressed us, after we greeted him.

He continued."We need your assistance, Miss Young."

"What is that, sir?"I asked the principal.

"Mr Sparks really needs help with his studies. His grades are dropping which will affect him badly in getting admission to college. His parents begged me to help him with his poor grades."Mr Justice said.

"So?"I blurted out.

Mr Justice frowned."That was rude, Ivy Young."

I pouted my lips."I'm sorry sir."

Mr Justice adjusted his eyeglasses, glancing at Romeo for a second, then looked at me.

My subconscious mind told me the principal was about to say something that is going to irritate me, but I still maintained my composure.

Mr Justice cleared his throat."Ivy Young, I want you to be Romeo's tutor."