Page 21 of Withered

She takes her home right after, while I go back to my room and continue reading. Mom gets home at around 9 p.m.; we exchange a few words but eventually get to our rooms. Once I am done with my homework, I lay on my bed and let sleep overtake me.

The sound of footsteps and a twig breaking jolts me awake. I wake up alarmed at the sudden voices this late at night. When I hear nothing, I lay down and try to sleep, only to hear the footsteps all over again. I turn on the lamp near my bedside table and crawl outside the bed. I gently make my way to my window and peer through the curtains.

Jake is dressed in a black T-shirt and black skinny jeans and is carrying a bag on his right shoulder.

He casts a glimpse at my window, and I duck, trying not to be seen.

He’s gone when I glance out the window again. I’m all alone and surrounded by darkness as my companion.

I wake up before my alarm. After the incident last night, I could barely get any sleep. Jake did not return last night, and my mind kept imagining all the possibilities—all the worst ones.

The clock beside the bed shows five minutes until 6:30 a.m. I look out my window one last time, but there is no sign of him. I don’t even know why I am thinking about him; all he does is infuriate me and fuel my anger. Groaning, I turn off my alarm and get ready for school.

Thefirsttwolecturespass in a blur. I didn’t see Jake, and even more strangely, I didn’t see Tyler. They are always together; they go hand in hand as if they were a team.

I go to my locker to put away all my stuff while my eyes scan the hallway in search of Kristy, but I can’t find her either.Where is everybody today?It’s weird because she is always around. I call her, but she rejects it. I frown and shoot her a text.

Me:Are you okay?

Kristy:I’m stuck in the history class; the professor won’t let me go. I’ll meet you in the cafeteria.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I was getting worried for nothing. When I get to the cafeteria, it dawns on me what day it is. As the realization hit me like a truck, I let out a gasp. I speed-walk there and stomp my feet at the line in front of me. I text Kristy to come as fast as possible.

It’s Chocolate Cake Day. I grab two pieces from the counter and go to our usual seats. Not wanting to wait anymore, I start eating mine andintentionallyhide the others.

Kristy runs to the seat and asks, “Where is it?”

Her eyes widen, and she shouts, “You are eating it without me. You’re not my friend anymore!”

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from laughing and speak with a serious tone. “Kristy, I got this one after standing in the queue for five minutes.”

Before I could finish, she runs to the counter, where the line is long gone and returns with a long face. As I take my last bite, she glares at me. I chuckle and pull her cake out.

Her eyes brighten up as she snatches it from me and starts eating. “Yes, definitely my best friend!”

“That I know.” I smile.

She ignores me and concentrates on her cake.

Who in their right mind could ignore this heaven known as chocolate? You arehappy;eat chocolate. If you aresad, eat chocolate. No matter what emotion you are going through, eat it, and you are all good. God made this masterpiece calledchocolatefor us to tell us that even though he isn’t here, he is sending help.

While Kristy is eating, Tyler and Jake walk into the cafeteria. Their presence cannot be ignored everywhere they go. They are turning their heads as they walk.

Tyler is smiling in our direction, but he is smiling at Kristy while he gives me a slight nod. My eyes shift from him to Jake, who is already looking at me. He has changed. He’s wearing a plain white shirt, black jeans, and a leather jacket. His hair looks like he just rolled out of bed.How do boys look good even in that bed hair? I probably look like a hobo when I wake up.

I avert my eyes from them and look at Kristy, only to see her smiling at Tyler. I clear my throat, which snaps her out of her happy bubble.

Kristy’s got a crush!

I’ve got Math now. Lucky for me because I love it, and equally unlucky because Jake is there too. I arrive at class, take my seat, and begin to pull out my books when the girls begin whispering among themselves just as Jake enters the room before Mrs. Williams. Maybe they are just surprised by the fact that he came early.

But the chit-chat continues; curiosity gets the best of me, and I ask the girl sitting beside me, “What is everyone talking about?”

“You don’t know?” She replies, her face furrowed.

When it comes to school gossip, I don’t know much. Whatever I get to know is because of Kristy, and she didn’t mention anything over lunch.

I shake my head. “Don’t know what?”

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