A novel of salvage high chapter 33
Alex’s POV
My friends and I returned to our hangout and Gabriel unlocked the door with a new passcode.
“Why did you changed it? Did someone trespass?” Jeremy asked.
“You removed Melanie from the group chat?” I asked when u checked my phone.
“What’s going on, man?” Jeremy asked, and Gabriel let out a sigh.
“Would you all allow me handle Melanie, while you help Alex find a way out of his mess.” Gabriel said.
“Why must I be the one to help him? Can’t we do that together? And what’s up with Melanie? You can’t just do as you please without informing us.” Jeremy said.
“Melanie was the one who recorded and broadcast our conversations.” Gabriel said.
“So?” Jeremy asked.
“I confronted her and asked her to own up to her mistakes somehow, but she refused.”
“So believe doing these is the best?” Jeremy asked.
“Do you disagree?” I asked.
“No. Because no matter how hard I think about it, she isn’t the Melanie I knew. She changed after all these years.” Jeremy said.
“Do as you please, Gabriel. Make her face the wrath of her actions.” I muttered.
Gabriel could be really scary whenever his mind is made up, so it’s best I leave him to handle things his way. I also want Melanie to pay for her actions, so it’s best to have Gabriel m handle it. He could joke a lot, but whenever he is angry, he always go overboard. I have only seen him this way once, he barely gets angry, but he is uncontrollable whenever he is.
“Man, I think I know the reason Keisha rejected you.” Gabriel said, and we both looked at him.
“Is it because of Chris?” I asked, and they scoffed.
“Alex, what are you insinuating? She was cool with us until this morning, and I barely see her with Chris these days.” Jeremy said.
“No, they have been working together for their group nonsense. All an excuse to be close to her.” Alex said.
“Will you two hear me out?” Gabriel shouted, and we both looked at him.
“Let’s hear it, man.” Jeremy said.
“I think Keisha eavesdropped on our conversation.” Gabriel said, my eyes widen.
“Why did you assume that?” Jeremy asked.
“You know I don’t speculate things on mere assumptions, I have prove. While checking the cctv footage in the doorway to confirm any trespassing, I saw her. She was here in the morning, she eavesdropped on our conversation, and left without hearing it all.” Gabriel said, and showed us the video.
“So that was it, this was why she rejected me.” I muttered.
“Not that look. This is good news man.l Jeremy said, and we both looked at him.
“How?” Gabriel asked.
“At least she didn’t reject you because you stink, you still have a chance.” Jeremy said, and my face brighten.
“What does that change? It was still a dare, she heard it, and the whole school heard it as well.” Gabriel said, and I stood up.
“Where to?” They both asked.
“To Keisha.”
“To do what?” Gabriel asked, his eyes widen in surprise.
“I don’t care about other people anymore. yes, it all started as a dare because I was a c0ward. I was too scared of getting rejected and you guys have to persuade me with that dare. But not anymore, I’ll fight for my feelings for Keisha. I don’t care how long it takes, but I’ll make sure she see how sincerely. I’ll apologize a million times until she forgive me. “ I said, already determined.
“My lord, I believe you.” Gabriel said, and held my hand, but I jabbed it away.
“Have you lost it?” I shouted.
“Come on, man. You sounded like a real man. Those line sound like it comes from a romance movie. I almost fall for you.” Gabriel teased, and Jeremy knocked his head. “Hey, that hurts.” He whined.
“You need that to get your tact together.” I blurted, and went out.
“I don’t do men.” He shouted after me.
“How did I get involved with that lunatlc?” I thought.
On my way to class to look for Keisha, I saw her with Chris so I managed to duck till they passed by.
“Why are you hiding, Alex? You should walk up to her like a man.” My subconscious said, and I let out a heavy sigh. “Yes, I shouldn’t hide and watch her fllrt with another man.” I muttered, and went after her.
“Keisha.” I called, and they both turned to look at me. Chris held Keisha’s hand, and i controlled myself from hitting him.
“What do you want?” She blurted.
“Can we at least talk?”
“That’s what we are doing.”
“Without a third party.”
“Consider a broadcast instead because I’ve nothing to do with you in private. I already rejected you, Alex. And you proved to that whole school that your feelings weren’t genuine so what else do we have to talk about?” She lashed.
“I wasn’t the one who broadcasted that, will you at least let me explain myself?” I shouted.
“You are taking our time, Alex.” Chris said, and I shot him a glare.
“Who are you to butt in?” I blurted.
“I told you before, that you shouldn’t lay a hand a hand on her, but look at what you did. From now henceforth, I’m going to protect her from scumbags like you.” He said, and I hit him.
“Have you lost it?” Keisha shouted, and stood in the middle before he could reciprocate the punch. “Chris, are you ok?” She asked, touching his face.
“I’m fine. Let’s go.” He said, and held her hand. I watched them helplessly, as they left together.
“Can I really do this?” I thought, watching their retreating back.
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📌 Keisha’s POV 📌
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Chris and I went to the library to get some books, and as I read through the book, I couldn’t feel his gaze on me.
“Could he tell that I aren’t reading it?” I thought, and take my time before flipping each page.
“Are you for real?” He asked, and I looked at him.
“I’ve been caught.” I thought. “No, I’m just briefing through each paragra..-“ I was saying, but he interjected.
“Did you really rejected Alex before the broadcast ?” He asked, and I let out a sigh.
“At least he did g catch me.” I thought. Reading big books was never my thing. “Yes, I did. I believe the broadcast was his way to get back at me.”
“But he said she didn’t do it.” Chris said.
“It still changes nothing. He was the one talking, and regardless, I already rejected him so what’s the paint.”
“I thought you liked him.”
“I did. But not anymore.” I said, and his jaw dropped.
“You liked him?”
“Yes. I enjoyed his company. Being with that circle of friends reminded me of my friends.”
“Oh, you liked him as a FRIEND.” He said, emphasizing his last word.
“But that doesn’t matter anymore.” I said, and he smiled. “Now, back to you. Did you really confronted Alex? You warned him not to lay a finger on me ?” I asked. Because no matter how I try to view it, I can’t see him doing that.
“Yes, I did. I knew how dangerous Alex and his friends could be, so I did that. But it didn’t change anything, look where we are now.” He said, and I nodded.
“What gave you the courage? Alex was bullying you in my first day at school, if you could threaten him, why didn’t you stand up for yourself back then? Why did you act timid, and now you suddenly became brave.”
“It’s because I feel obligated to protect you.”
“Protect me?” I repeated, hoping I heard him wrongly.
“Are we going to pretend like I didn’t confess to you?” He asked, and I I instantly remembered his confession.
“Chris.”
“I decide not to talk about it so you won’t feel uncomfortable, but I can’t do it anymore, I’m sorry. Can you take my confession seriously this time?” He asked, and I looked at him.
Honestly, I liked him, I admire his intelligence, and I adore him for agreeing to help me with mh studies. But other than that, I don’t think I have any special feelings for him. Just like Alex, I hate€d him from the start, but I ended up enjoying his company. I knew things would improve if I give it a chance, but I don’t just want to, I don’t want to do it anymore. I just want to enjoy the rest of my school life as peaceful as possible, although I knew I was requesting for too much.
“I don’t wang to, Chris.” I said, and bowed my head.
“Why? You don’t like me?”
“No, I do. I admire you as a friend, so I don’t want us to go further.”
“But I don’t want to be just friends. I can’t stay friends with a girl that I haven’t feelings for. So what should we do about that? Should we end it now, or you will think about it?” He asked, and his words sounded like a threat to me.
“Chris, why are you doing this as well? I just publicly got embarrassed today, and I thought I could enjoy your company to avoid everyone, and you are also doing this all of a sudden.” I said, and stood up to leave.
“Keisha, I’m sorry. It just split out.”
“If you will also be this way, then you are not different from Alex.” I blurted, and walked out.
*
Today is just overly dramatic, but I decide to put it all behind and fill my stomach with delicious food to move on. I ignored all the gossip on the school group and decide to enjoy the rest of the day. I did nothing wrong, so I should ignore hat€rs.
I got to the cafeteria and saw students gathered. I intend to mind my business but when I heard the mention of Stella, I went closer.
“She is here.” The students grumbled, and paved way for me to the front. I’m already this famous when I haven’t even spent a month at school. I indeed have what it takes to shine wherever I go.
“Stella, what’s going on?” I asked. He was getting in a fight with a senior.
“Ms. Fearless, tell them yourself how you rejected Alex, and how that provoked him to broadcast that.” He shouted.
“Stella, you don’t have to do this. This is my fight, you shouldn’t get involved with a senior because of me.” I scolded.
“But they were humiliating you. And there is nothing any of them can do to me.” He said, and some of yoke flinched.
That was the first time I saw seniors flinched over a junior’s threat. His family must also be highly influenced. His charisma proved it all.
“Thats enough, Stella. Yes, I rejected Alex, and that probably provoked him to broadcast that. Either his intentions towards me are was genuine or a dare. It ended after I rejected him. So there is no point in this.” I said.
“Stop being fo0l of yourself. How can you prove to us that, toy cheap sIut. You are just a mere dare game.” A girl blurted, and Stella intend to hit her, but I held his hand.
“Let’s go, Stella. Let them suit themselves.” I muttered, trying hard to act strong.
“Keisha is right, everyone.” I heard Alex say from behind, and we all turned around. “She rejected me, leaving me helplessly. But I wasn’t the one who broadcasted that because it’s not only a shame to her, but a taint to me as well. So let’s stop it. I already caught the culprit behind the broadcast, and I have to take care of that part. So everyone should stop now, whoever talk about it again will face my wrath, and I believe wr all know what I meant.” He concluded, and everyone flinched - grumbling words to themselves.
“Let’s go, Stella.” I said, and held Stella’s hand.
“Keisha, please let’s talk.” Alex said, and I held my hands but I freed it forcefully and slapped it ; which made everyone gasped.
“Stay away from me, Alex. I don’t want to have anything to do with you again. Either it’s a dare or it’s genuine. So get lost.” I blurted, and left with Stella.
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📌 Alex’s POV 📌
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I sat on the couch, and Gabriel help me treat my swollen cheek with ice.
“I can’t believe you got slapped twice today, in same cheek.” He teased, and I pushed him away. “Goodness.” He shouted.
“What do you do now, Alex?” Jeremy asked.
“Give up. You whined over Melanie more, but you moved on. Who could have knew you could ever develop feelings for Keisha. You are still in your prime, man. You still have a long way to go. You will meet a lot of people, and date as many girls as you want.” Gabriel said.
“No. Giving up is not in my dictionary. I won’t give up now, after I’m aware that she didn’t truly rejected me.”
“So what will you do?” Gabriel asked.
“You both are useless. Can’t you even try to give me suggestions ?” I shouted.
“I said mine, give up.” Gabriel blurted.
“I can only think of one thing, but it will taint your ego.” Jeremy said, and we both looked at him. He is just the best, I can never be stranded whenever I’m with him.
“Split it man.” I said, already anxious.