The bell rang, cutting through the tense silence between us. Tanya turned away, leaving me standing in the middle of the hallway.
“Great,” I muttered to myself, feeling exposed.
I glanced at my phone, checking the time. I needed to get to class. I started walking down the hall, trying to shake off the confrontation.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. It was Warwick, leaning casually against the lockers.
“Having a bad day?” Warwick asked.
I forced a smile, trying to mask my irritation. “You could say that. Just dealing with some… drama.”
Warwick raised an eyebrow, his expression genuinely curious. “Want to talk about it? I’m all ears.”
“It’s nothing, really. Just some friend issues.”
“I get it. Friends can be complicated. But I am here if you need anyone to talk to.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll be okay.”
Warwick pushed off the lockers, stepping closer. “You sure? I mean, I might not be a therapist, but I can listen. Sometimes it helps to vent.”
I hesitated, glancing around the empty hallway. “I appreciate it, but I don’t want to drag you into my problems.”
He shrugged, a playful smile on his face. “I can handle a little drama. It’s not like I have anything better to do. Besides, you seem like you could use a friend right now.”
I looked at him, weighing my options. “Okay, fine. Tanya is still upset about that rumor of Logan and I dating like c’mon it’s just a rumor someone threw into the school.”
Warwick raised his eyebrows. “Ohh, so that’s what’s going on. I didn’t realize it was that serious.”
I sighed. “It’s just frustrating. I didn’t think a rumor would blow up like this. It’s ridiculous.”
He nodded. “I get it. High school drama can feel like the end of the world sometimes. But it sounds like she’s taking it pretty hard.”
“Yeah, and I didn’t help matters by not telling her Logan is my stepbrother. I should have said something sooner.”
Warwick shrugged. “At least you apologized. That counts for something, right?”
“True. But I hate that it got to this point.”
“Don’t worry about it too much. Friends fight, friends make up. That’s just how it goes.”
I gave a small smile. “Yeah, I guess .”
“Anyway,” I said, glancing at the clock, “I should get going before I’m late for class.”
Warwick nodded. “Yeah, don’t want to keep your teacher waiting. We can chat later if you want.”
“Sure,” I replied, grateful for his offer. “Thanks for listening.”
“Anytime,” he said, flashing a quick grin before walking in the opposite direction.
As I made my way to class, the usual chatter and laughter of my classmates felt distant. I took my seat, trying to focus on the lesson, but my mind kept drifting back to the situation with Tanya.
When the bell rang for lunch, I gathered my things and headed to the cafeteria, my stomach in knots. I scanned the room, noting the empty seats around me. It seemed everyone was still giving me the cold shoulder.
I grabbed a tray, filled it with food, and found a corner table where I could eat in peace.
As I sat there, I couldn’t help but overhear snippets of conversation around me. “Did you hear about Audrey? Apparently, she’s dating Logan,” one girl whispered.
“Yeah, right! Like Logan could go for a girl like her.”
I clenched my jaw, trying to block out their words, but they pierced through my thoughts like daggers. I focused on my food, forcing myself to take a bite despite my stomach’s protests.
“Did you see the way she was acting in class?” another voice chimed in. “Totally not the type for him.”
I sighed, looking around for a distraction. That’s when I noticed Tanya entering the cafeteria. Her eyes darted around, scanning the room, and my heart sank when she didn’t make eye contact with me.
“Looks like your friend is in here,” a familiar voice said, startling me. It was Warwick, sliding into the seat across from mine.
“Thanks for the reminder,” I replied dryly.
He chuckled lightly. “I’m just saying, you might want to talk to her.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea right now,” I said, glancing at Tanya again. “She’s still mad.”
Warwick shrugged. “What’s the worst that could happen? It might be better to clear the air.”
“I don’t want to push her further away,” I said, fidgeting with my fork.
“Fair enough. Just know that sometimes a little space can help. It might be worth waiting until she’s ready to talk.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I said, not feeling convinced.
He nodded, then shifted the conversation. “So, any plans for the weekend?”
I shrugged, trying to shake off my worries. “Not really. Probably just catch up on homework. You?”
“Same here. But I might hit up the skate park for a bit. Want to join?”
“Skate park?” I echoed, surprised. “You skate?”
“Sometimes. I’m not pro or anything, but it’s fun to mess around. You should give it a shot.”
“I’m not sure I’d be good at it,” I admitted. “I’ve never tried.”
“It’s all about practice. Plus, it could be a good distraction for you. Just some time away from the drama.”
I considered it for a moment. “Maybe I’ll think about it. I could use a break.”
Warwick smiled, clearly pleased. “Good. Let me know if you decide to come. We could bring some friends along.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I replied, feeling a bit lighter.
After lunch, I gathered my things and headed to my next class: Literature. I walked into the classroom, which was already filled with students chatting and laughing. I found my seat and settled in, trying to shake off the tension from earlier.
The teacher began the lesson, droning on about themes and symbols. I struggled to focus, my mind wandering back to Tanya and the rumor.
As the class dragged on, I glanced at the clock, counting down the minutes until it was over. Finally, the bell rang, and I packed up my things, ready to go home.