CHAPTER 118: ANOTHER WEAK

**OLIVER WEST**

Another week of school. I sighed as I walked through the hallway, my backpack feeling heavier than usual. The week was just starting, but I was already exhausted.

Another week of school, and I’m already weak. The rhyme popped into my head, and for a brief moment I wondered if I had some hidden poetic talent.

Right, because a lazy student with little hopes of getting into college and getting possibly separated from my boyfriend is what my future needs right now. The thought sobered me instantly.

"What’s wrong?" Kieran’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

"It’s nothing," I replied too quickly. I could feel his eyes on me, studying my face with that intensity that made me feel like he could see straight through to my soul. I tried to force a smile, but it felt wobbly and fake even to me.

I couldn’t tell him that I’d spent most of last night researching long-distance relationships and highschool sweethearts. The statistics were brutal - less than 1% of people ended up with their first love and different college choices was a lead cause.

"What are you hiding from me, Ollie?"

My breath caught in my throat as he stepped closer, leaning down to my eye level. His thumb brushed across my cheek, and the gentle touch made my chest tight with guilt.

The question sounded casual enough, but combined with Kieran’s searching gaze, I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of everything I was keeping from him.

I was keeping my promise to his mother not to tell him, but hiding something so huge from him, such as his father might not make it, made me feel a whole lot scared and uncomfortable.

A flicker of confusion crossed his features as his fingers moved to grip my shoulders gently.

"You’re so tense. You really are keeping something from me, aren’t you? What is it, Ollie?" His voice carried a severity that made my heart lurch.

Maybe I should just tell him? I had never been in support of keeping his dad’s condition from him in the first place, they weren’t on close terms, but he was still Kieran’s father.

"Kieran, there’s something I want to tell you..."

His phone rang then, sharp and intrusive. A curse escaped his mouth as he straightened and pulled it from his pocket. The moment he saw the caller ID, his expression darkened like storm clouds gathering.

"Who is it?" I found myself asking, though I already guessed what could elicit this strong of a reaction from him.

"It’s my Mom," he muttered in a tight tone.

My shoulders slumped as the words I’d been about to say died in my throat. It’s like a sign. His mother reminding me to keep the secret.

I placed my palm on his shoulder gently. "You should answer."

For a moment, I thought he was going to refuse. His jaw clenched, fingers hovering over the decline button. But at the last second, he gave in and clicked answer.

It wasn’t his mother’s voice that flooded through the speaker, but their head maid’s. She was speaking rapidly about Mrs. Morrison fainting, being rushed to the hospital, regaining consciousness but asking for Kieran repeatedly.

A lump formed in my throat as I watched Kieran’s face cycle through emotions - concern, anger, guilt, then that familiar wall slamming down.

"I’m not coming," he said, his voice flat and final.

He ended the call and his gaze found mine, holding it like he was thinking that I would argue.

He had almost said yes. I saw it in his eyes for just a second before he shut down again.

The knowledge gave me a tiny spark of hope. Maybe his feelings toward his mother were starting to soften, even if he didn’t realize it yet.

His arms wound around me, pulling me close. "Let’s go to class."

"Maybe you need to clear your head first. You can’t focus like this," I suggested softly.

"I’m fine!" he grumbled, but instead of heading toward our classroom, he was steering us back toward the parking lot.

There were still fifteen minutes before first period. Plenty of time to sit in his car and pretend the world didn’t exist for a little while.

**

Mrs. Wayne did not look happy when we finally pushed through the classroom door twenty minutes late.

"Mr. West, please explain to the class why you’re gracing us with your presence at this time," she directed at me, completely ignoring Kieran who stood behind me.

I groaned mentally, the injustice was very much obvious.

"W..well I..I. " I stuttered, unable to think of any response, not to mention that all pairs of gazes were watching me.

"He’s my boyfriend and was late because of me. I’m sure you don’t have a problem with that, do you?" Kieran’s voice cut through my stammering, echoing across the entire classroom.

Oh god, he did not just say that!!!

Instantly, there wasan uproar of whispers from the whole class, I wished the ground would just consume me.

Mrs. Wayne’s simple scolding would be much better than the piercing attention from all corners.

I tried to hide my face with my book as Mrs. Wayne’s gaze narrowed visibly, I could almost see myself failing in her eyes. No doubt my position as a dull but obedient student has changed drastically.

"Take your seats, both of you. Don’t disturb the rest of the class any further."

Ignoring the burning stares and hushed conversations happening around us, I made my way to the far edge of the classroom. When Kieran patted the seat beside him, I deliberately chose the one in front of him instead.

I pretended not to see his frown as I took the space beside Raya, she gave me a tiny wave as I sat beside her which I managed to return despite being embarrassed.

Now, I just had to listen quietly as much as I could, to avoid any distractions. I didn’t want Mrs. Wayne to be madder at me than she was already.

She was talking about the class field trip we would be going on in a few days.

Five minutes slowly passed by when a piece of paper hit the back of my head.

I didn’t turn around knowing already who it was, no sooner, my cellphone vibrated, I looked carefully to ensure Mrs. Wayne’s attention wasn’t in my direction before clicking at it.

"Come sit next to me " The message spelled out and I rolled my eyes.

Did he actually expect me to do that? I chewed at the cover of my pen, refusing to turn around. He was throwing a tantrum like a child.

Another message came in. One that I recognized all too well.

A picture.

Of his um...I’m sure you know what in my mouth.

I whirled around to face him, finding that infuriating smirk spread across his face.

"I knew that would get your attention," he said, just loud enough for me to hear.

"Why do you still have that?!" I hissed, frantically deleting the image and angling my phone away from Raya’s curious neck craning.

"For memories. And whenever I need to help myself out," he said with a teasing glint in his eyes that made me flush even brighter. I just hoped Raya was too innocent to understand that statement.

I was about to curse at him when I noticed Mrs. Wayne’s sharp gaze focusing in our direction. The words died in my throat.

It would be embarrassing to be called out a second time.

**