Sweet Home

I walked towards the cafeteria, slightly drained from the ethics lecture I’d just attended—actually, scratch that—I was slightly drained from the lack of sleep I’d had over the past few nights, due to Romeo’s frequent bedtime visits. I couldn’t help the smile that drifted on my lips as I thought of how tender and sweet he was with me, how he never pushed me further than I was willing to go and seemed to adore me, telling me I was different to any other girl he’d ever met.

Crazy.

I was almost at the door, lost in my thoughts, when I spotted Romeo outside on his phone. I smiled and moved to say hello when I caught sight of his distraught face, his hand on his forehead, and lips pursed in anger as he snapped to his caller in short, sharp grunts.

Without noticing me, he ended the call and headed back inside, but not before he kicked over the trashcan with a loud “argh” and marched through the doors, students scrambling out of his way, sensing danger and running for self-preservation.

Entering the cafeteria, I joined my friends, discreetly watching Rome as he pounded through the room with heavy feet, yanked out his chair, and sat with the football team, pinching the bridge of his nose, face stern with anger.

“Mmm… meatloaf. I lurrrvvveee me some meatloaf!” Cass caught my attention as she dug into her lunch with utmost vigour and Ally and Lexi were talking about the club we were apparently hitting on Saturday night.

“You’re in, Molls, yeah?” Ally asked as I took my sandwich from my bag.

“Sure,” I replied. I’d never been clubbing before so, no doubt, it would be an interesting experience.

Cass was officially “going steady” with the loveable Jimmy-Don and he was taking her dancing after the game—the three of us tagging along and making a night of it.

Conversation moved on to appropriate outfit choices and hairstyles, and I took the opportunity to cast another covert glance at Rome, who it seemed had been staring at me for a while. He acknowledged me with a subtle tilt of the chin. I gripped my seat to stop myself from striding towards him and asking if he was okay.

Word had spread about his official disassociation with Shelly, and even more girls than usual were making their play for the all-star QB, and my inner tether was straining with every bat of a lash or flick of an over-processed ponytail. Ally seemed to have picked up on my frustration and frowned, glancing between Rome and me while she nibbled on her carrot sticks. I decided to just avoid her scrutiny.

Rome fended off the horde of girls with a shake of his head or an uninterested wave. It made me deliriously happy, but the questionable glances from his teammates at his reproof of the bevy of beautiful girls vying for his attention made me realise that we wouldn’t be able to keep our relationship quiet for long. I didn’t think his patience or my calm would last anyhow.

After about fifteen minutes, Shelly entered the cafeteria with her trademark loud, annoying laugh. Catching sight of me, she stormed over and glared at me with pure hatred distorting her plastic face.

The room fell silent.

“God, Molly! If I have to see you walking around with these friggin’ taped-up glasses on one more day, I’m gonna scream! Don’t you own another pair?” She reached forward and before I knew what had happened, she ripped the glasses from my face and threw them behind her onto the floor, the loud clatter thunderous in the quiet hall.

I stood to confront her, but as I started to rise, she pushed on my shoulder, causing me to smack back down. “Sit your ass down when I’m talkin’ to you!” She leaned in, a fraction from my face. “What’s wrong? Momma and Daddy got no money, sweetie? You poor, Molly?”

Despite my best efforts, each of her words lashed me with a paralysing whip of poison, her venom hitting every intended target with perfection. I wanted to fight back, wanted to hold my own, but her words crippled me, exposed every fear I felt.

“Enough!” An angry roar echoed throughout the room. “Back the hell off her. What are you, twenty-one or twelve?” Heavy footsteps drew closer and a hand touched my shoulder and slipped my glasses back onto my face. I tipped my head up and Rome was stood behind me, fuming at Shelly, who paled to a deathly shade of white as she registered that his hands were touching my body.

“Get your hands off her!” She seethed.

Rome fixed her with a taunting grin. “Get it through your head. We’re not together, never will be. Time to cut the shit.” He fixed his attention to the entire student body, arms spread wide. “Despite what shit she may be spewin’, know that I am not with her, never have been, and anything she says is utter bullshit!”