A novel of salvage high chapter 35
Keisha’s POV
I couldn’t take the feeling of Alex being drained by the snow out of my mind, so I took a jacket and did the unthinkable - I found myself knocking on Stefan’s door, and let myself in.
“Can I bother you for a moment, no not a moment, perhaps more, or just few minutes.” I said scattering.
“What do you want, Keisha? Just say it.”
“Can you give me a ride? I know it’s snowing and it’s dangerous to ride in the snow, but I really need to save someone.”
“Let’s go.” He said, and I looked at him in disbelief. I wasn’t thinking before I went to him late at night, requesting for a ride while it’s snowing, so now, I feel like I’ll really owe him big this time.
*
We arrived soundly at the amusement park, and I saw Alex there as he said, he was standing outside the snow and wobbled on his feet and almost fell, but I was quick to hold him.
“Is your health that worthless to you?” I shouted, and a smile curve on his lips.
“You came, I’m not dreaming.” He muttered, his voice barely audible , and he embraced me.
*
He called his driver who drove us to Alex suite that is closet to the park.
“I’ve to go now.” I said, and intend to leave, but he held me back.
“Keisha, I didn’t ask us to meet so you could leave like this.”
“Stef already left, so I’ve to go home, else my parents will be worried.” I said, wondering if they will even notice my absence.
“That’s why you shouldn’t leave. Your brother left, so it’s dangerous.” He said, and I glared at him.
“What you mean by that?” I asked, already thinking the worse.
“I’ll ask my driver to take you home, so you don’t have to rush. Give me time to explain myself.” He said, and I let out a sigh.
“This batter not be another prank.” I blurted.
“I’ll be completely honest with you this time, so please I hope you listen and believe me.”
I let out a sigh, and sat on the couch. “Let’s hear it.” I muttered.
“From the start, I loathe you, and I’m sure you are aware. I was willing to go through any length to get back at you, and I even thought of the blacklist before someone else impersonated me with it.”
“Can you fast forward? I know that before, we don’t have all day.”
“This is the best way. I want to be completely honest with you.”
“Ok, ok. Go on.”
“When the whole school turned against you with the fake blacklist, I was really furious. You were like a prey that I want to have all to myself, I wanted to be the one to determine your fate, that’s why I made up my mind to save you back then. But gradually, I realized that I wasn’t trying to save you because they were hurting you in my stead, I simply wanted to save you because you were helpless.”
“Is that it?”
“Keisha, when I kissed you, I did it because it came genuinely from my heart, but I couldn’t admit my feelings, I admit, I was a c0ward, and Jeremy and Gabriel had to bring up that dare game to make me confess to you. It was my feelings, but they were the one who realized first, and made me confess it using the dare.”
“What’s the point now, Alex? It didn’t change that everything was a date that was broadcasted to the whole school. I have never been humiliated that way in my entire life before, so let’s say you win. You got your revenge.” I blurted, and stood up to leave - at that point, I didn’t care about anything, I want to live the rest of my highschool life peacefully, so being swag from him is the best start.
I was about to leave, but he dragged me back and pinned me to the bed.
“What are you doing, Alex?” I muttered, making a fist.
“Keisha, why do I feel like you don’t want to listen to me on purpose?” He asked, and I successfully freed myself from him.
“I don’t want anymore drama, I want to study in peace and graduate the best way I can.”
“Do you think listening to me now will give you a hard time?”
“What will happen if I choose to listen to you?” I asked.
“And how will ignoring me help you live in peace?” He asked back.
“I’ll figure that out myself.”
“Then let’s live in peace together.” He said staring directly at me. His gaze fell on my lips, and I moved away.
“Fine. I’ll listen. So tell me, I eavesdropped on your conversation with your friends, I’m sure you are aware.”
“Yes. But you left with half information. Nothing I say will change the fact that it was all a dare, so I won’t justify that, but I’ll be honest with how I feel. I really like you, Keisha.”
“Who was behind the broadcast?” I asked. I believed him when he said it wasn’t him, so I want to know who was behind it -who knows, it could be another anti-fan, gosh I had enough.
“It was Melanie.” He said, after few minutes of silence.
“What?” I shouted.
“It was her.”
“Why did she do it? I’m aware that we aren’t in terms, but I did nothing wrong to her to earring such wrath.” I said, and he let out a sigh.
“I’ll take care of her, so don’t worry about it.”
“No. It’s my business. I’m the one humiliated, so I demand to know why she did it.” I shouted.
“It was because of me, it’s all my fault.” He said, confirming me.
“I don’t quite get.”
“I didn’t know that she had our conversation recorded behind our back because we didn’t involve her in it.”
“Was that why she did that?” I asked. Because it doesn’t still make sense.
“Keisha, Melanie proposed to me, but I rejected her. She was upset, so I believed she did that to get you out of the way.” He said, rushing his words.
“What? You rejected her?” I asked. That was the only word ringing on my head.
“Yes, I did.”
“Why? You liked her? She was your first.”
“I was a child back then, Keisha. I might have liked her in a different way then, but now I only bore platonic feelings for her as my best friend. But I believe that will change too.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I should leave now, it’s getting late.”
“What now, Keisha? Do you believe me?”
“I do.” I said, and his face brighten up. “But I won’t take back my words.” I was quick to add.
“What do you mean?”
“I already rejected you, Alex. And I won’t take that back.”
“Can’t you give me another chance? I’ll be sincere this time.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry.” I said, and intend to leave but he held me back.
“Even as a friend, we can pick up the pieces from there.”
“Why are to being persistent?”
“I really like you, Keisha.”
“You will move on, you moved on from Melanie.”
“It took me three years, three f¥cking years and a dare to get the courage to confess again. Is that what you call moving on?”
“Friends.” I said, and stretched my hand for a shake - at that point, I’m not ready for another drama.
“Thank you. I promise to be loyal this time.” He said, and kissed my fingers.
•
•
📌 Melanie POV 📌
•
Everything that happened just within a day was all uncalled for. I never expected to loose my best friends because of an intruder that came from nowhere to ruin the friendship we shared for years
I’ve a lot of friends, but the thought of ending my friendship with them made me feel empty. Yeah, they were my first friends. I wasn’t able to attend regular school like other students because my uncle was trying so hard to keep me safe from reporters. After my adoption, a lot of people were curious about the history behind my births, wondering why my uncle adopted a younger child that could be his granddaughter. I homeschooled all through my childhood, and wasn’t free to explore like other children, but everything changed when I met them - Alex and Gabriel. I met them when I was 7-years old, it was my uncle birthday’s party, and so many people were invited, there I met them.
*
*
FLASHBACK to when I was 7-years old***
*
I roam around in the party already bored, so I decide to find my way out. I went to the back to the building to jump over the fence because the fence was low. That will be my only escape out of the house that I am not free to leave on my own free will. I decide to go sightseeing with intentions to return before the party is over, because nobody will notice my absence before then.
I was climbing up the fence when I heard someone cleared his throat behind me - it was Gabriel. I flinched in fear and almost fell but I was able to get my balance.
“Are you trying to jump off? Keep going, I won’t tell. It’s a boring party anyways.” He said, and continued on his way.
“Did you really promise not to tell?” I asked.
“Who cares about a princess in distress trying to find comfort?” He teased.
“Who said I’m in distress? I just wanted to go sightseeing.” I shouted.
“Still the same.”
“Do you want us to show you around?” I heard a voice from behind and turned to see a handsome looking boy, also around my age - Alex.
“Alex, I’ve been looking all over for you.” Gabriel scolded.
“You’ve seen me, how may I help you?” Alex teased, and I found myself laughing.
“Hey! What’s funny?” Gabriel shouted.
“Hey, do you want to hangout with us?” Alex asked.
“Why are you being nice to her?” Gabriel asked.
“She was trying to jump off, so we can all jump off together. I’m bored here, let’s go.” Alex said, and my face brightened up.
“Wow. It sounds fun, let’s go.” Gabriel said, smiling brightly.
Together we all jump off, and explored our surroundings, but we couldn’t return before the large ended.
“I’m so scared, I’ve never been out alone before.” I cried.
“Gosh. You are such a crybaby.” Gabriel teased. He didn’t even seem worried, it’s like the whole stuff was fun to him.
“Relax, Melanie. Trust me, I’ll bring you home without getting hurt.” Alex said, giving me an assurance smile.
“Says the person that lost his way as well.” Gabriel teased, and ran off.
“I’m gonna get you.” Alex shouted, and ran after him.
We all run around together laughing hard like we didn’t lost our way. For the first time, I had fun with kids of my age. Despite being lost, I really enjoyed their company.
When it’s almost drawn, Alex went to a security he saw and requested to lend his phone. Theo security flinched after knowing his identity, and Alex called the police.
“Why call the police to report ourselves?” Gabriel complained.
“The police will reach out to our parents.” Alex said, and I pouted my lips together in fear.
“Don’t worry, Mel. Our parents will be here soon.” He assured, and held my hand.
“We shouldn’t have left our phones behind.” Gabriel complained.
“You have been repeating that, and it won’t help us find our way back.” Alex blurted.
“Oh, it’s my dad.” Gabriel shouted, and hid behind Alex as our parents were fast approaching.
Gabriel parents scolded him, but my uncle warmly embraced me, relieved that I was safe. Alex father didn’t react harshly either, and we all left with our parents.
After that day, I couldn’t stop thinking about my new friends, and one day, I gathered courage to ask my uncle if I could spend time with them. He warmly approved beyond my expectations, and since then our driver always takes me to Alex to play with him, and Gabriel was mostly around as well. We form an amazing bond together, and they were mostly telling me about Jeremy. When I was in middle school, my uncle enrolled me in a regular school, there I met Jeremy, and we all formed the beautiful bond together.
*
FLASHBACK ENDS***
*
The thoughts of never having such relationship with them again hurts slit, and I made up my mind to go Alex. Going to him wasn’t helpful at all, he refused to accept my apology until Gabriel does. I have known Gabriel for years, and this is the second time I ever saw him that angry. The first time I saw him angry was when we were in middle school. Neither of us could control him, and even now, it seems like his mind is made up.
I put myself together, with intention to go apologize to Keisha if that’s what it takes to please Gabriel.
*
I left for school the following day, and when I arrived at school, the sight I saw made me froze on my feet. I saw Alex alighted from his car, and ran to held Keisha’s hand, and they walked in together holding hands.
“Despite destroying my friendship, I still failed to get her out of my way..” I thought, with clenched fist.