NADIA
I walked through the school corridors, surrounded by Anthony and Vicky, the whispers and stares of our classmates piercing through the air like knives. The news of our fathers' deaths had spread like wildfire, and people were already speculating about the circumstances surrounding their demise.
Some were even calling us the "cursed friend group," wondering how it was possible for our fathers to die on the same day.
As we walked in silence, the tension between Vicky and I had dissipated. We weren't really as close as before, but we were cordial. Elijah and I weren't on speaking terms though, and the distance between us felt like an insurmountable chasm.
We headed to the cafeteria, the early morning sun casting a golden glow over the bustling hallways. Everyone's eyes were on us, their gazes lingering on our faces like they were trying to read our thoughts. In front of everyone, we put on a united front, but behind closed doors, things were still the same.
As we entered the cafe, the whispers intensified, "Hey, look at the cursed girls," someone said, their voice dripping with malice. "Their dads died, and now they're slumming it with each other."
Vicky's expression remained impassive, her eyes fixed on some point in front of her. This was the first time I'd seen her so subdued, so unlike her usual fiery self. I, on the other hand, flipped the guy off.
But the comments kept coming, each one more outrageous than the last. "Maybe their dads were cursed," someone else said, their voice loud enough to carry across the room.
I swear if one more person said something directly towards us, I was going to end up in the head masters office for beating the heck out of them.
Anthony's face darkened, and he shot back, "Shut your mouth before I shut it for you." The guy who'd made the comment looked taken aback, but the whispers continued, a steady hum of speculation and gossip.
Anthony turned to us, his expression softening. "You guys okay? How are you feeling? You didn't have to come to school, you know." Vicky shrugged, her voice detached. "Life goes on, Anthony. It doesn't just stop after my father died. It's just... it is what it is."
I nodded in agreement. "My dad would have wanted me to be here. He would actually kill me if I wasn't at school, because of him," Just then, Blue appeared out of nowhere, her eyes fixed on us with concern. She shot Anthony a look and he seemed to have gotten the hint. "Well I'll go," he said but not without kissing Blue on the forehead. I couldn't suppress the small smile from forming on my face.
She knew exactly what had happened in our houses the other day, and her expression was a mix of empathy and wariness.
"I don't know what's happening in your lives," she said, "but there clearly seems to be something going on. I don't know if I'm interested in knowing exactly what's going on, because clearly you two are aware of what's happening. But I just want to make sure that you guys are okay. I think I'm just better off without knowing, because if I do know, I don't know what's going to happen."
Vicky and I exchanged a look, and then we both gave Blue a hug. "Thank you for being there for us," we said in unison. "Thank you for your support."
Blue's expression softened, and she hugged us back. "You're welcome, guys. I'm here for you, no matter what." In that moment, I knew that she was a true friend, a loyal friend who would stand by us through thick and thin.
____
As the last period of the business session class drew to a close, I caught sight of Elijah standing at the end of the corridor. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met, and I felt a sense of inevitability wash over me.
The universe seemed to be conspiring against me, connecting us in ways I never could have imagined. I didn't want our families to be tied together by blood, but fate had other plans.
As I stood there, frozen in time, I couldn't help but think about how I was going to get over him. We were going to be connected in a way that would make it impossible for me to avoid him. He would be a constant presence in my life, a reminder of the arrangement that had been made between our families.
Elijah and I held each other's gaze, the air thick with tension. No words were spoken, but the silence between us was palpable. People passed by us in the corridor, their footsteps and chatter fading into the background as we stood there, locked in a moment of mutual awareness.
There was a sense of familiarity, a comfort that came with knowing that we were bound together in this way. But before I could process my emotions, a familiar figure appeared, shattering the moment. Nicolas, the green-eyed person who had been a thorn in my side for so long, approached us, a smirk on his face.
"Hey, bro," he said, patting Elijah on the back. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, my stomach churning with disgust. I didn't want to see Nicolas, didn't want to be reminded of the pain and suffering he had caused me.
As I looked at Elijah, I wondered if he had known everything, if he had been playing me all along. Was it all part of his plan to get what he wanted? The thought made me feel even more disgusted, and I turned away, unable to bear the sight of Nicolas.
When Nicholas attempted to wave at me, I ignored him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his presence. I knew that was what he wanted, and I wasn't going to give it to him.
But then, Nicholas spoke up, his voice loud and clear. "I heard that your sister's going to be marrying someone new," he said, his words dripping with malice. Elijah's response was immediate, his jaw clenched in anger. "That's something I don't want to talk about," he said, his voice low and menacing.
Nicolas pressed on, his tone taunting. "What's wrong, bro? Why are you so upset? Would you have wanted to marry her?" The question was clearly directed at me.
What a prick.
Elijah's gaze locked onto mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Before I could linger any longer, one of my teachers called out to me, needing a favor. I turned away, grateful for the interruption, and walked towards them.
As I left the corridor, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had been trying to avoid. Despite telling myself that I didn't care what Nicolas had to say, I couldn't help but wonder what Elijah would have said if given the chance.
Would he have admitted to wanting to marry me?
The thought sent a flutter through my chest, and I pushed it aside, refusing to acknowledge it.