When we arrived at school that morning, I sat at my desk and reflected on my talk with Derek on the way to school. I asked him if he'd actually go on a date with Hayley, and he told me he'd give it some thoughts. He later proposed rejecting her offer, and I agreed with him.
I flicked my pen and itched my hair, and then our biology teacher, Mr Spencer, entered the classroom with a textbook and a chalk in his hand. I sighed and rested my elbows on the table, fingers on my chin.
Bonnie walked in and waved slightly at Mr Spencer and he nodded before permitting her to take her seat. My brow furrowed as I wondered why she arrived late at school today. She usually arrives early, so why was she late today of all days, especially on a Monday morning?
"Hi Isabel," She greeted, flashing me a warm smile before taking her seat beside me. I lowered my head at the back of the student sitting In front of me.. opening my mouth slightly, I asked Bonnie, "Why are you so late? What happened? This is unlike you,"
She brought out her textbook and sighed, her face looking pale and gloomy. I creased my brows, knowing something was wrong..
"What happened Bonnie? Is something wrong?" I asked her, my voice barely above a whisper. Mr Spencer had began his lectures on species, and he despises side conversations and distractions in class. Since I didn't want him to see me, I lowered my head, my gaze flicking as I stared at a sad Bonnie.
"Bonnie—"
"My dad rejected and divorced my mom yesterday. He got himself another woman as his mate..it hurts Isabel,. it really hurts. I didn't want to come to school today but staying at home won't help me since I'll be depressed… I decided to show up today so I could inform you physically.."
Bonnie disclosed and my jaw dropped. My eyes enlarged as I tried to process her words. Her parents were known to be loving, amiable and sweet. Mr Graham, her dad, has always been quite lovely to her mother. They even won the best couple award at an event held in our pack's famed villa. They earned the most votes for the greatest couple that year. My mom and I attended the event as well, and I could sense she was lonely that year. She was still single at the time, and she had always hoped to meet her second chance mate.
It's amusing how Mr Walton turned out to be her second chance partner. His son is also my mate, and everything is both confused and crazy.
I looked at Bonnie and I could feel the pain in her heart. It's too early to have such bad news.. Just when my mom finally got married, why should Bonnie's mom be getting rejection from her husband/mate?
Isn't it strange and hurtful?
What could have gone wrong in their marriage? Don't they love each other anymore? Don't they want to be mates anymore? How will Bonnie ever recover from this? I just hope it's all a dream..
"Is - is it really true, Bonnie? Your dad is divorcing your mom? He's officially ending things with her?" I asked once again and she nodded this time around for confirmation, her lips conformed to a thin line.. She sighed and held her pen and I called her once again so she could turn to face me.
"Bonnie.. I'm really really sorry.. I'm sorry this happened.." I mumbled, my voice tinged with sympathy. She nodded and dabbed at her cheeks with her handkerchief, trying hard to stay strong.
"We can always discuss it at the library after class.. I would love to —"
"Isabel.. Please stand!" Mr Spencer called as he adjusted his spectacles and I shifted my gaze at his peering honey brown eyes.
"You seem to be distracted.. no. You aren't distracted but you're distracting others." Mr Spencer snapped as he banged his textbook on the table. He was short-tempered. Not just short tempered but very short tempered….I bit my lips and blinked countless times as his harsh stare sent shivers down my spine.
"Stand up.. you'll leave that seat right away. I won't let you sit beside Bonnie during my class…You'll sit somewhere….." He paused, his eyes darting around, peering at every face of the students in the class.. He was probably looking for who he can make to exchange seats with me. He often does that to people who districts his class. Apart from Mr Richard, he's one teacher people fear as well.
"Sit right there!" He yelled, pointing at Matilda who was seated beside Derek as usual. She has made it her normal routine to sit beside Derek. There was a girl who often sits there but she threatened the girl to leave the seat for her so she would get to sit beside Derek everyday. Derek frequently tells me how irritating she was and how he avoided any conversation with her. She lies to the other girls and her friends that Derek adores her while it's blatantly clear that he ignores her and pays little attention to her.
"Matilda, exchange seats with Isabel for the duration of my class," Mr Spencer emphasized while Matilda rolled her eyes as she hesitantly got on both feet. Mr Spencer snarled at her.. "Don't you roll your eyes at me..Show some respect!"
He warned but she sneered at him. She grabbed her books and walked out, her lips twitching as she made her way to my direction. When she got to Mr Spencer's front, she murmured, "I can't wait for your boring lectures to be over. If only you realize you've been talking to yourself all along,"
She said it plain to Mr Spencer's face without any remorse and the young man held his glasses and stared at her in disbelief. When she finally made her way towards me, the scornful expression she kept on her face faded instantly and she gazed at me with pure contempt, hatred and disgust.
"Because of you bitch, I had to leave my precious seat to sit in yours. When you get to my seat, don't you dare touch my table, don't you dare touch my stuff and lastly, don't you dare touch Derek! If you try to dare me then you know how crazy I can always be. Dare me and I'd love to see you try.." She said with a smirk and she pushed me out of my seat. She asked a boy sitting behind her to clean the seat with his handkerchief and the poor lad obeyed instantly.. He's one of those nerds and shy boys she orders around like they were kids.
They always obey her orders because they don't want to get on her nerves. She glanced at my seat with pure disgust and she crossed her legs before sitting carefully on it, without touching the table.
I sighed as I grabbed my books; I don't care if she sees me as a dirt or germ. As long as I'll be sitting with Derek, I'm more than happy and relieved.
I walked slowly to his side and a smile parted his lips immediately. I knew Matilda's eyes were on us and I'm certain she must be fuming with anger seeing Derek smiling at me. He has never smiled at her despite all her attempts to make him like her. I glanced at her and her eyes pierced into mine, brimming with hatred and extreme contempt.
"Hi," Derek mumbled and I replied before taking my seat next to him. I opened my books and placed my hands on my lap, feeling so happy to sit beside him. As Mr Spencer continued his explanation on the topic, Derek's hands clasped mine and my eyes widened since I wasn't expecting him.
Matilda's eyes were on us the whole time.. she's obviously and definitely not listening to Mr Spencer's lectures.
"I wish you could sit here with me, all day, every day at school, mate…" Derek mumbled and the word 'mate' echoed so loudly in my ear. Curiously, I darted my eyes across the classroom, hoping no one heard his statement.
"Derek please don't.. we're in school remember.."
He smiled at my words and fondled my hands which were on my laps. My heart raced slightly and I stylishly withdrew my hands from Derek's when I noticed Matilda's gaze was still on us..
When I thought back to what Bonnie said about her parents, a sad countenance returned on my face and Derek was fast enough to notice if. He can easily read my emotions and tell my mood at any time.
"It's Bonnie. Her father rejected her mom. I'm so sad because her parents were lovely people.. What could have gone wrong?"
Derek was speechless for a moment and then, he averted his gaze towards Bonnie whose brown eyes stared into that of Mr Spencer with so much boredom. She was staring at him but I'm certain she wasn't listening. It's clearly obvious that she was lost and not in a happy mood.
"If this is how mate bond works then I'm scared, Derek… Once you start loving each other, I don't think there should ever be reasons for rejection…" I expressed my worries to Derek who kept on fondling my hands softly.
"We don't know the whole story, Isabel. I believe we should hear from her first.." Derek hinted and I nodded in agreement.
"I will never reject you Isabel. I can't see myself having another mate except you.. I don't care if we're step-siblings but I will never reject you for any one else.." Derek stated, his voice tinged with conviction, his green stunning eyes holding me in their grasp. I stared at his punk plump lips and thoughts of grabbing him and kissing me occupied my mind.
I would have done it If not for Mr Spencer who banged the table abruptly, startling me and snatching me from my reverie.
Gosh! I wasn't supposed to be thinking about this and thank goodness I didn't do what was on my mind.
The bell jiggles and Mr Spencer grabs his textbook before leaving the classroom.. Most of the students, especially the backbenchers, booed him as they watched him leave the classroom.
"I love you Isabel," Derek whispered as he closed his notebook and I smiled broadly.
The next thing I knew. I saw Matilda standing in front of us with crossed arms and a confused look on her face.
"Are you both truly dating?" She asked and Gerald walked beside her before directing his gaze at me and Derek.
My heart thudded frantically against my chest and I could hear my heartbeat in my ear.
Gerald saw us then at my mom's wedding… He thought Derek and I were dating when he saw us take pictures together. I hope he won't tell everyone that we're truly dating.. it will make me the talk of the town and I will be hated by all the girls in the class except Bonnie..