Not a minute have passed after I ran down to the infirmary in tears, I heard Lily's voice.
"Sydney, are you okay?" She called out.
I raised my head from the bed to see her walking towards me. "Yes, I'm fine. When did you get here?" I frantically tried to clean away my tears.
"I came to the infirmary earlier to look for you but you weren't here and then I went out to look for you, that's when I over heard the conversation between you and your mum."
Lily sat close to me. "I know I shouldn't be interfering but I think you shouldn't be speaking to your mum like that."
I frowned. "Lily, you don't understand. Mum made us relocate without giving Isabel and I a reason except, the flimsy excuse of it being for our own good. According to her, she is trying to make life more comfortable for us but yet she landed me in a terrible situation. I miss our old place, my best friends, Lisa and Diamond and I'm sure Isabel must be feeling the same way I am feeling right now but she won't say since she is still a kid."
I broke into tears. "I'm tired of this place, Lily. Mr rude isn't making it easier. I'm just tired."
Lily scooted closer, patting my back. "I know it's hard coping with Rex's taunts and bullying. I too found it hard when I first started Auroral High but I passed that ordeal so did everyone before me and I'm sure you will too."
She continued, rubbing my back in a comforting manner, "you know, I was young when my mum left my dad and I. She was never home when I needed her because she was always on a business trip but whenever she comes back, she would shower me with lots of presents. This made me love her more than my dad, who on the contrary, was always around and the fact he always made me follow numerous rules unlike my mum who gave me a free hand, added to the reason I didn't like him very much. But I never knew my mum saw me as a burden."
I raised my head to look Lily in the eye and she gave me a smile before she continued, "my mum and dad would always argue but I never knew what it was all about until I overheard him pleading with her to make out more time for me but she refused saying she wouldn't allow me to block her pathway to doing great things in life. This continued until she decided to divorce dad. My mum preferred her career over me and she never loved me for once. Those rules my dad put in place, that I detested so much, are what's shaping me into a better person. Now, my dad and I are inseparable."
I was really surprised and I felt sorry for her although, I was practically staying with a single parent but then my case is different because my dad died but her mom was still alive and didn't want her.
"I'm sorry. I never realized you weren't with your mum," I said still in shock.
Lily would always come to school, neat and smart and even with these cute braids. I thought her mum did those for her but I was wrong.
"Yeah, no one would know because I have come to appreciate what I have than what I don't. My dad is my everything and he cares for me a lot. He even learnt how to braid my hair through youtube tutorials," she smiled with puffy cheeks.
My eyes widened, "no way!"
"Yes, he did and I'm proud to tell everyone he is my dad." She cleared her throat. "So back to what we were saying. Your mum might not have given you a reason for relocating but that doesn't mean she loves you less or isn't considerate of your feelings. Isabel isn't saying anything because she had already adjusted to you guys relocating. You are missing Lisa and Diamond, I know that but I'm here to make up as your best friend, hopefully. Learn to accept your mum's decision and wait until she is ready to give you answers. You should take your time to think about this. Just know, I will really miss you if you go back. Right now, I need to go back to class but I will see you after school."
Lily hugged me and left me to my own thoughts. I lay down on the bed staring at the wall without blinking. Sometime later, someone came into the infirmary. I raised my head to see who it was and a frown settled on my face.
Mr rude stood at the door, grinning at me. What does he want this time? I really don't feel like talking to him and I turned back to lie down.
"Hey! How are you feeling?" He asked.
I rolled my eyes. "What do you want?"
He walked towards me, standing right in front of me, blocking my view from the wall and since I couldn't stare at his legs, I looked up at him.
"I came to know how you are doing," he said.
"Why? To play one of your dirty pranks on me again. I'm really tired so please, leave me alone," I said slothfully.
"You are wrong," he said with a frown. "I was the one who saved you. The least you should do is thank me but that is not the only reason I'm here. I came so that..."
I sat up straight, cutting him off, "why am I not surprised? After instigating the whole thing, you expect me to thank you?" I scoffed.
"I didn't do that to you," he quickly defended.
"You did it through Mabel and now I should praise your heroic action." I rolled my eyes again.
"Why would I do that and then save you?" He asked.
"Maybe to appear as a hero in front of everyone. I still don't understand how you got there just in time to save me because I remember seeing you leave," I said in obvious confusion. "Well, except you didn't actually leave."
"Hey! I wouldn't do anything to tarnish the reputation of this school. I won't try to kill anyone. I maybe lacking in many areas but I won't think of taking another person's life," Rex spoke seriously.
I scoffed. "You expect me to believe you after all you have done?"
I asked him, staring directly into his eyes. His resolve wavered and I continued, "you know why you haven't succeeded? It is because I have got nine lives just like a cat. I, Sydney Raymond will never thank you. You should increase your game because you are lacking behind."
Mr rude gritted his teeth. He walked close to me, stretching out his hands and trapping me between him and the bed's headboard before bringing his face close to mine. I shyly turned my face away. What is going on?
My heart began racing loudly in my chest and when I thought it would burst in my chest, he said, "watch as I make those nine lives zero. You are going to see the worst side of me, I promise you that."
"Go on, you can't do more damage than you already have, Mr rude," I challenged.
"What did you just called me?" He asked between clenched teeth.
"Mr rude, you heard me right. After all you are a rude and mannerless jerk," I screamed at him.
His jaws worked and for a moment, I thought he would strangle me but he moved away and just stomped out.
I watched the closed door in shock. What just happened and why was my heart beating so fast?
P.S: Image below.
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