Seth Carver
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As the final bell rang, echoing through the school corridors, a wave of relief washed over me, only to be swiftly replaced by dread. Detention. The mere thought of it twisted my stomach into knots. Madam Jenkins had a way of making the simplest tasks feel monumental, and today was no different. I trudged to the classroom, the sound of my footsteps muffled by the worn-out carpet, my heart heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.
Entering the room, I spotted Seira slouched at her desk, her eyes half-closed, and Ethan tapping his fingers restlessly against the surface of his own. Madam Jenkins was already at the front, her sharp gaze slicing through the silence as she prepared for the extra lesson. Today, it was just the three of us—Ethan, Seira, and me—united in our punishment.
Madam Jenkins started her lecture, her voice droning on like a metronome, rhythmically boring into my mind. She seemed particularly irked with Seira and Ethan, her sharp criticisms aimed at their distracted expressions and whispered exchanges. I watched as Ethan struggled to suppress a grin, a daring smile creeping onto his face every time Madam Jenkins turned her back. Seira, on the other hand, sat with her arms crossed, her irritation palpable.
After what felt like an eternity, Madam Jenkins finally left the room, her heels clicking sharply on the floor as she slammed the door behind her. A silence descended, thick and heavy, enveloping us in its awkward embrace. I exchanged a glance with Ethan, a shared understanding passing between us, and then our gazes shifted to Seira, who had already succumbed to the pull of sleep, her head resting on her crossed arms.
Ethan broke the silence first, his voice low, tinged with curiosity. "So, Seth, I saw Jack glaring at you earlier. Did you and Melly break up?"
I could feel a knot tightening in my stomach at the mere mention of Melly's name. "Yeah, we did." I waved my hand dismissively, trying to shake off the unease. "Not that it matters much."
"Of course it matters," Ethan pressed, his brow furrowing slightly. "Melly is Jack's cousin. I mean, you've seen the way he looks at you, right? Like he wants to—"
"Yeah, I know." I cut him off, my tone sharper than I intended. "But honestly, Melly doesn't deserve my time."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "You know, I always thought something was off about her. Maybe it's for the best."
I didn't have to think hard to know what he was referring to. In my past life, it had been the same story; Ethan often complained about Melly, the two of us getting into heated arguments over her behavior. It had created a rift between us, lasting weeks. Ah, the melodrama of teenage life. It felt like a never-ending cycle of angst and misunderstandings.
Just then, our attention turned to Seira, who was blissfully asleep, her chest rising and falling with each breath. I exchanged a knowing look with Ethan, who wore an amused expression.
"Do you have feelings for her?" Ethan asked, his voice teasingly conspiratorial.
I shook my head vehemently, the very idea making my skin crawl. "No way. I don't want to catch any feelings for Seira."
"Alright, but if you had to choose… who's better? Melly or Seira?" Ethan leaned forward, genuinely interested in my answer, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
The answer was obvious. "That's a no-brainer, man."
Before I could elaborate, Ethan nudged Seira awake, and she shot up, blinking rapidly, her anger quickly surfacing. "What? I wanted to go home!" she snapped, her voice laced with irritation.
"Not yet. Your work isn't done," I replied, attempting to maintain a sense of authority, though I could feel my own irritation simmering beneath the surface.
She groaned, pulling at her hair in frustration. "Tomorrow is a holiday! I just want to rest!"
That caught my attention. Tomorrow was indeed a holiday. I had been so consumed with protecting Seira, thinking of the chaos of our lives, that I'd completely forgotten about it. A whole week off stretched out before me. A week away from the routines of school and the usual drama. But it also meant no time spent with Seira.
I frowned, grappling with the realization. How could I grow closer to her if we were going to be apart? I was painfully aware that, in my original past life, I had squandered those precious days hanging out with my group of friends and Jack, rather than investing time with Seira.