Jealousy

Friday morning was gloomy. A thick fog hung over the small, quiet town. Caroline didn't like that weather. Never have. While some found it pleasant and soothing, for her it was a source of depression and loneliness. But after she got up and had a few sips of the big mug of coffee, she was fully awake and ready for the new day. She claimed that every single day brings new emotions and teaches us different things, whether we think that day was a good day or a bad day. There was always something positive in it. You just need to have eyes to see it! It just took her a little time in the morning to remember that as she wasn't a morning person. (Who was anyway?)

Caroline ate a piece of her mother's cheesy bread and took a sip of the coffee, which was no longer hot. She poured the rest into the sink (she never finished her coffee) and left the cup in the dishwasher. She then went upstairs, got dressed, put on her eyeliner as usual, and headed for school.

As it was foggy and the air was quite humid, Caroline put the sweatshirts hoodie on her head to protect her hair getting fuzzy. She didn't want to look like she had forgotten to use the hairbrush this morning.

On her way to school, Caroline met an old friend. The two had studied together in earlier classes.

'Hey, Caroline?' He waved into the distance. 'I barely recognized you. How are you?' He asked as approaching her.

'Hello Michael. Sorry, it's probably because of the hoodie.' She smiled, slightly embarrassed, and pulled the hood back. 'How are you? We haven't seen each other in a long time.'

'Yeah, well..you know, I was abroad for a while. Visiting a relative. What about you?' Michael asked curiously.

'Well, you know how it is. I don't have much to brag about at the moment.' She pursed her lips into a slight smile. 'It's getting harder at school, but I'm doing well. I guess it's the same with everyone in the last year.

'Maybe. I have no experience in this field.' Michael laughed.

'Yes, um.. I was surprised when you said you were abroad, but I did not want to be rude.' She paused for a couple of second and then asked. 'What happened with your education then?'

'I decided it was a waste of time. I have plans for the future and I will focus on them. I dropped out of school after tenth grade. Judge me if you want. You won't be the first, believe me.' Michael said, laughing sarcastically.

'No. I wouldn't do that. Everyone has the right to decide what is best for them.' Caroline said, though inwardly, she never understood how one could see education as a waste of time. But because she was a fairly broad-minded person, she has always put herself in people's shoes and found a logical explanation for their actions. Or at least she tried. And no matter how illogical they seemed to everyone else, she usually succeeded.

'It was nice seeing you, Carrie. Good luck and see you soon.'

'Me too, Michael. Good luck with whatever you are working on.'

They said their goodbyes and Caroline put the hood back on her head and continued her way. She looked at her watch. It was already 8am.

'Crap! I'm late.'

She had lost track of time, talking to Michael. She quickened her pace and entered the classroom at exactly 8:05am.

'Sorry I am late, Mrs. Evelyn.'

'It's fine, Caroline. As long as you bring your homework and are ready for the test, everything is fine.' The teacher muttered, visibly dissatisfied with the rest of the class so far.

'I think I am, Mrs. Evelyn. I'll do my best.'

She always did.

Everyone sat down and the teacher handed out small worksheets. Different equations on each one.

8:10am. Silence. All the students were focused on the exam.

An hour later, everyone was handing over their sheets. Caroline went out to take some fresh air before entering the next class. She went to the nearby store and got a bottle of water and a green apple.

Walking back to the school yard, she considered calling Anthony. It was already 9:10am and he should be leaving for work in a few minutes.

'Good morning, sleepyhead.' Caroline greeted cheerfully.

'It has been better.' Anthony scolded.

'Oh. Someone didn't sleep well?' Caroline asked jokingly.

'No, someone didn't. ' He answered sharply.

'Has anything happened?' She asked anxiously.

'No.'

'No'?

'Spit it out, why are you calling?'

'Seriously, what's wrong with you?'

'Nothing, I told you. Everything is perfectly fine. ' Anthony replied angrily.

'Is that why you are raising your voice? Because everything is perfectly fine?

'Anyway. Tell me what is going on with you?' He tried to change the subject. And failed. His voice calmer now. Slightly.

'Nothing is going on with me, but obviously you are the one with a problem. Talk to me. I may be able to help you. Do you have troubles with your parents?'

'Ha! You can help me, right? How? The way you helped the one with the red sweatshirt?

'Excuse me? What the hell are you talking about?'

'Oh! I see. You don't even remember him any more. Okay, let me refresh your memory then. This morning at 8am, right next to the "Singles" restaurant, just before your school.

'Eh? I met Michael. So? We were classmates before. We just exchanged a few words, that's it. Are you seriously going to make such a big deal about something like that?

'So you just share hugs and kisses with former classmates, right?' Caroline could feel his rage on the phone.

'What the hell?' Caroline almost screamed into the phone. 'Who told you these nonsense?'

'Someone I can trust. Richard. He saw you.'

'Someone you can trust? So you trust Richard, but you have a problem trusting me, uh? I think we have a serious problem, Anthony.

'Yes, that's right, we do have a problem.'

'When you calm down and think things through and decide who you can trust, call me. At this point, I have nothing more to tell you.'

Caroline hung up without even waiting for his reply. Her eyes filled with tears. For the first few minutes, she couldn't figure out exactly what was causing the tears.

Was it Anthony's attitude? Or his distrust? Or was it just the fact that this was their first serious fight they were facing and she didn't know how to deal with her feelings and emotions? Or were they out of anger? Disappointment?

Thousands of things went through her mind. They had been together for a long time, and yes, they had a few arguments, because of his jealousy but nothing as major as that had ever stood between them.

It was 9:30. Caroline was late again, and despite her great reluctance to attend the next class, she knew she had to.

For the first time, she didn't listen to what the teacher was saying. Her thoughts were elsewhere. Anthony.

The rest of the day passed extremely slow. She kept looking at her watch, hoping the bell would ring any minute. But it didn't. She seemed to be in this classroom for an eternity. She was checking her phone every five minutes, expecting to see Anthony's name in an explanatory text message, but that didn't happen either.

After an excruciating few hours, Caroline heard the bell ring, packed everything into her backpack, and left the room. This time she didn't even say goodbye to her teacher. Something that hadn't happened before. She couldn't wait to just get out of there and go home. She needed to be alone and gather her thoughts.

- - - - - - - -

Caroline spent the afternoon in her pyjamas in her room, pondering the situation she and Anthony were in. At dinner, she put no more than two or three bites in her mouth and locked herself in her room again, where she spent the rest of the evening surfing social media or watching her favourite series. She told herself that everything will be fine.

"All couples go through this Caroline, tighten up. People have so much bigger issues. It is not the end of the fucking world!"

Shortly after midnight, she calmed down and managed to fall asleep.