The next day, Xavier did not come to get her. She had waited for ten minutes outside her house, sitting on the porch but he did not come. In the end, when she realised that the bus was missed, she had asked her father to drop her, saying that she was late and would not make it to the school on time.

Maybe he was too. After all, once in a while everyone could be. But she felt bad at the fact that he did not inform her. She was waiting for him too.

​​

Jason did not object. He understood that once in a while, a person would sleep in for a few minutes extra, accidental or not.

She climbed out of the car after bidding her father farewell.

As she walked inside she noticed that not a lot of people were here yet. Given that she came straight by car and not a bus, she had made it sooner than many.

As she walked to her class, she could not help but think about it. He could have informed her about being late at least, or had he not gotten up, to begin with? At this thought, she felt bad maybe she should have called him once Instead of just waiting.

She sighed and continued to walk when she heard laughter, boisterous laughter. She would not be bothered by it but it was a particular laugh and which had her stop.

Looking inside a room she saw Xavier and his friends laughing. They were all wide awake and ready for the day. Shaking her head, she walked away.

Late my ass, she hissed in her mind. He is ignoring me. That hurt. That hurt like a bitch.

That made her feel bitter inside. Something was telling her to stop and be with them but a force in the corner of her mind was telling her to walk away. If he could have attitude and so could she.

Angry tears came to her mind as she felt humiliated by him without any reason.

*********

"Really?" Adeline asked leaning in for more with her eyes wide and her body buzzing with excitement. She had been in the Scholl for months and she had not found any good gossip but here it was. Finally!

"Yes," Elizabeth hurriedly nodded. "They got caught and the video was shown to their parents."

"Oh my god!" Adeline gasped. That must be horrible!

Marshall came to the table and kept his bag on the floor. "What are you talking about?

"Barbie doll and her ken got caught in the hallway!" Adeline repeated in an excited whisper similar to what Elizabeth had told her. "She was sucking him off."

"What who?" He asked immediately totally immersed in the gossip. He was a perfect fit for the group.

"Missy and Atlas." Christine chimed in. "And guess what the principal did, he showed what exactly were they doing in the hallway to their parents." Christine even showed him the video. Both from the CCTV and what the children had recorded.

"No shit!" He said with his eyes wide. "I guess they are not coming back." He laughed.

"Nope, Marshall. I hope not." Elizabeth tsked, "I mean I would leave the town after that for sure."

True, Adeline would never get out of her room much less her house. She would rather die than do something like that.

"Yes, it would be harsh for their souls. Everyone knows about it." Christine said as she took a bit of her sandwich. "The video was shared and every junior and senior has it. Maybe, it is up at a site by now."

"Wow," Marshall blew some air out. "They certainly have some guts to it in the hallway." He then added, frowning as he thought hard about it, "what were they thinking?"

"Clearly. They were thinking about relief from stress." Christine smirked and winked. "Exams are 'hard' for everyone and something warm often helps."

Adeline laughed a little as well. She felt eyes on her back all this time but she did not bother to check on who it was.

She came first.

And she was going to show him that. After today, he would know. He wouldn't be taking her for granted after this.

********

When the time of dismal came, she had walked out with her friends completely ignoring Xavier who was standing outside waiting for her. She didn't even glance at him for once.

He didn't wait for her in the morning why was he waiting for her now! He had no reason to. She wondered why he stood here now or why, after ignoring her for the entire day his eyes never left her.

"Bye guys," she waved her hands at her friends and they waved back with smiles. She then turned around and walked to the bus stop where it was due in the next six minutes. These were the minutes that Adeline spent talking with her boyfriend or more like narrating to him everything that had happened but he had practically chosen not to be here.

Should she confront him? Talking it out could do a lot so the immediate thought had popped into her mind was that. But in front of people? Everyone would stare at her and she was not capable of that.

But, she did care for him and she had solid feelings for him too. So, maybe it was worth a try.

Glancing back at him for a second she saw him standing there with his friends. But when she looked back ahead, she saw the reflection of him in the steel and she did not like what she saw.

His friend looked at her and then whispered something to Xavier who in return turned around and glanced at her and then laughed loudly at it making her blood boil.

That was it.

She had had enough humiliation for today. She was soft and she knew that. James told her that and so did her father but she had a fire instead of her too and she was not afraid to snap back when the damn limit was crossed.

She blinked back the angry tears that came to her eyes. How could they? How could he let them make fun of her like that?!

Swinging her bag on her shoulder she walked no, marched up to him, grabbed his shoulder and then turned him around with some force making him glared at who it was.

"Hi," she said with a stickily sweet smile on her face. "How are you?"

Glancing around, he said, "Fine. . ."

Oh, now he wanted to protect his reputation? Well too bad.

"Good," she interrupted. "That is good to know." She nodded firmly. She was pissed and people knew that.

"Because I was wondering that why would you be late in picking me up and like every day we would walk there together. But then I thought that he might have up doing god knows what." She shrugged as did she had no idea.

"But you were not late were you," she took a step closer with her eyes glaring into his shocked ones. "You were here before me." She stated the fact.

"I—"

"But that's okay." She interrupted him again. "Fine. I believe that this is the end perhaps. Exams on are the head and here I am worried about you being late. Is that what I should be worrying about?"

He stared at her not knowing what to say. His stare said it all.

"I don't know what game you are playing at but let me tell you something," She seethed the words out. "You sure as hell won't play me. So get your shit straightened out cuz' I am leaving." She turned and walked away. The bus was standing there and Christine was at the door.

Adeline climbed and turned to the driver. "thank you for waiting for me."

He nodded and then closed the door. This was nothing new for him.

Adeline sat in her regular seat and sighed. Where did she have that much courage come from? She had not even raised her voice in public and if she ever did, it was for academic performances.

Something was driving this force inside and she would not dare to complain.

"Hey," Christine's soft voice came, "mind if I sit with you?" She looked hesitant. But to be honest, after the scene, she had created purely out of anger, who would not be afraid hesitant.

"Yes, yes, why not." Shuffling around she made room for her friend and kept her bag in her lap.

"You okay?" Christine muttered looking in front. She was invested in the conservation but was not looking at her.

Adeline was grateful for not having her full attention on her. "Yes," she breathed.

Then Christine asked with a sly smile, "Where did that strength come from? I never thought that you could yell."

Adeline chuckled a bit. "No idea," she frowned and looked outside.

She had no idea.