CHAPTER 111: GIVE THEM SOMETHING WORTH TALKING ABOUT

I could still feel the heat in my cheeks when Mrs. Jennings’ tray hit the floor.

Dumplings rolled in every direction.

I turned to Dominic, his smirked faded immediately.

My stomach dropped. Oh my god. I’d been caught... not just holding hands or leaning too close, but full-on nasty in a hospital room where anyone could’ve walked in.

And, of course, it had to be Mrs. Jennings.

The woman who’d been nothing but kind to me since I started hanging around here.

I scrambled to the floor, trying to gather the dumplings beside her without stepping on them. My fingers felt clumsy.

"They’re still good," she said with a laugh, scooping them back into the container. "There’s a three second rule... or is it five?"

I kept my eyes on the floor, avoiding her gaze. "Sorry," I mumbled, sliding one dumpling into the tray. "We... uh... shouldn’t have been doing that here."

From behind me, Dominic cleared his throat. "I should head home."

Just like that, he stepped forward and pulled me into a hug right there in the hallway.

"Evening, ma’am," he said to Mrs. Jennings, giving her one of those his charming smiles.

Mrs. Jennings’ eyes softened immediately. "Evening, Son. Good to see you, dear." She smiled between us, and I just knew she’d clocked the whole thing.

The little bubble we’d been in wasn’t as invisible as I thought anymore.

When Dominic finally walked off, Mrs. Jennings caught my hand before I could leave.

"He’s a good one," she said.

I tried not to smile. "You think so?"

"I know so. Don’t throw that away just because you’re scared someone might see."

My throat tightened. "We’re still figuring things out," I muttered, staring awkwardly at my nails.

She tilted her head. "Life’s short. People are going to judge you no matter what... might as well give them something worth talking about."

I held back a laugh, glancing at the door Dominic had disappeared through. "Thank you Mrs Jennings. For....for saying that."

She set the tray down on a side table, her expression softened. "Good. Just remember, relationships aren’t just holding hands and sweet words. You get someone in your corner. Someone to share life’s little joys and disasters with."

"And?" I prompted, because I could tell she wasn’t finished.

"The other side of it. They see the messy parts of you. And if you’re not careful, you start hiding those parts instead of facing them. Love’s about being seen.... even on the bad days. If you can’t be yourself around him, it’s not worth it."

I nodded, trying to soak that in.

Then she smiled again, teasing this time. "Also.... I see why you were so distracted. That boy is handsome."

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Mrs. Jennings..."

She just laughed and patted my shoulder. "Don’t let him get away. But also..." Her voice softened again. "...don’t lose yourself trying to keep him."

I smiled, still hiding behind my hands, because she wasn’t wrong .....about any of it.

That night, I kept replaying Mrs. Jennings’ words in my head. They were softer than they should have been, considering she’d just caught me and Dominic in the hospital room. But somehow, she didn’t make me feel bad about it.

The Next Morning

For the first time since... well, since everything, I wasn’t dragging my feet to school. My stomach wasn’t in knots. My hands weren’t sweaty. I wasn’t bracing myself for whispers in the hallway or eyes darting away from me like I was contagious.

I was going back to school without feeling awkward.

No one was accusing me anymore. No one was bullying me anymore.

No anxious glance over my shoulder. It felt... weird, but in the good kind of weird.

Of course, there was still the little detail that Principal Han had made it mandatory for me to start seeing the school therapist. Sigh.

But that wasn’t the only thing on my list today.

I needed to talk to Mr. Blake.

He still owed me an explanation about that tattoo stuff, and now there was yesterday’s phone call too.

I’d thought about telling Dominic last night, but after Mrs. Jennings caught us, and the whole dumpling scene, I decided it was a sign... maybe I should wait afterall.

Maybe I shouldn’t tell him. Not yet. Not until I know for sure what secret that caller thinks I’m supposed to expose.

So, I kept it to myself. For now.

As I made my way into the hallway, I caught a few glances from people I used to avoid making eye contact with. Only this time, no one glared. No one whispered.

When I walked into the classroom, June was already at her desk, a steaming paper cup of coffee in her hands. She looked up instantly.

"How’s your mom doing?" she asked, tilting her head like the answer mattered more than whatever she was about to say next.

"She’s... hanging in there," I said, sliding into my seat. "But she’s strong."

June gave me a smile. "Phew! I’m relieved."

I glanced at Marcus’s empty seat beside her. "Where’s Marcus?"

"Late today," she said, sipping her coffee. "Probably overslept again after binge reading his comics all night."

"Classic Marcus." I laughed.

I checked my phone.....8:40 a.m. First class didn’t start until 9:00. Twenty minutes.

My fingers tapped against the desk. Plenty of time.

"I’ll be back," I said, already standing.

June frowned. "Ughhh, I’ll be alone again."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You’ll survive."

I made my way out of the classroom and down the hall toward the teacher’s lounge, rehearsing in my head how I was even going to bring up the tattoo thing without sounding like a complete stalker.

But when I opened the lounge door, the room was empty except for a teacher making coffee.

"Hello ma’am, uh... is Mr. Blake in?" I asked the first teacher I saw.

She shook her head. "Not here. Try Room 204."

"Thanks," I nodded.

Room204.

I walked slower now, my palms were already damp.

I stopped outside the door, I could already hear muffled voices from inside.

Knock, knock.

The sound seemed too loud in the quiet hallway.

This is it.

My heart kicked up, like it wasn’t sure if I was about to get in trouble or get answers.