Envy

"So? What's wrong with that?", Alexa asked Stacy who was hysterical.

"Alex, that means you get to see him every time you have meetings or gatherings for the publication", she replied.

Alexa did not want to think that her best friend was getting jealous at her for being able to see Kyle often. But Stacy wasn't actually trying to hide how she really felt.

She decided to continue walking and catch up on their first subject while Stacy followed far behind, murmuring while she walked. It was a very rough start for the week. But Alexa wasn't going to let her day get ruined any further.

"Alexandria Beatrice Monteverde", the teacher said upon the entrance of two very tardy students.

"Good morning, Mrs. Castillo", Alexa replied as she stood in front of her teacher and the whole class.

Stacy just rolled her eyes and proceeded to her seat. Alexa was about to follow when their teacher called her by her family name sternly. This made her heart skip a beat. She was never scolded by any teacher in her entire life.

Alexa slowly turned around to face her professor. Gulping, she bowed her head and waited for the uncompromising words to come out of her teacher's mouth. She was most disappointed in herself and everybody could tell.

"For the first time in history, your attendance isn't as perfect as they always were", Mrs. Castillo exclaimed.

"I apologize for being late in your class, ma'am", Alexa responded.

"Are you finally giving in on your friend's influences?", their teacher asked.

Stacy sneered. Alexa didn't lift up her gaze upon her teacher. She hated it when people attack her best friend. With clenched fists, she apologized again. After that, Alexa was told to take her seat and the discussion commenced.

Alexa's seat was next to Stacy's. But they didn't talk nor look at each other for the whole duration of their first subject. Everybody else who was seated near Alexa asked unrelentingly about what had happened. She just ignored all of them and focused on the lecture because she knew that they weren't really concerned about her and just wanted to gossip.

As soon as the ever so strict Mrs. Castillo walked out of the room, half of the class (which was mostly girls) crowded around Alexa. They asked why she was late for the very first time. She did not want to reply but she knew that they wouldn't leave her alone if she didn't.

"I was just unlucky on my way to school", Alexa said, bowing her head to avoid eye contact.

"Was Stacy unlucky too?", a girl asked.

"Come on, Ji. She's always late", another replied.

Stacy heard this and stood up too fast for anyone to notice, but Alexa saw her best friend leave and was about to follow her. However, the next subject teacher just entered the room as soon as Alexa stood up from her seat.

"Is there any problem, Miss Monteverde?", the teacher asked.

"May I use the restroom?", she lied.

She was granted permission, so she rushed out of the classroom. Alexa roamed around the corridors, hoping to find her best friend lurking somewhere. Just as soon as she made a right towards the way to the school gymnasium, she saw Stacy talking to somebody.

"Stacy!", she called out, making her turn around.

"Alex, what are you doing here?", she asked, looking worried and nervous.

Alexa explained that she had to lie to their teacher just so she could follow her. As she was talking, she happened to glance at the person Stacy was talking to earlier. Alexa stopped when she realized that she just ruined Stacy's conversation with her crush.

"Oh, Alexa, hey! You remember me? From the mall?", Kyle exclaimed.

"Ye-yeah. I'm sorry for interrupting", Alexa replied and slowly backed away.

But Kyle prevented her from going away. He held out his hand and reached for Alexa's arm. She immediately turned to look at Stacy who was already walking away from the both of them. Alexa removed Kyle's hand on her arm and went after Stacy.

"Stacy, wait!", she shouted through the hallway.

Kyle grabbed her and they both hid behind the end of the lockers. He covered Alexa's mouth with his big hand and peeked carefully from where they were hiding. She realized that she just screamed in the hallway while classes were ongoing.

"He's gone. We were just a step closer to detention there", Kyle said with a grin.

"Th-thank you, Kyle. Look, I have to go after Stacy", Alexa responded.

"Wait! I was actually asking her if she could tell you that all the new staff members for the school publication were summoned to the conference hall", he exclaimed.

"How did you know that we were friends?", Alexa was confused and curious.

"You're popular in the campus", Kyle replied with a chuckle. "Besides, I saw you talking to her at the mall"

After a couple of minutes, Alexa realized that Kyle was still very close to her. She straightened up and moved away from him. Feeling really awkward, she told him that she would be at the gym in a moment after she'd followed where her best friend went.

"Okay", he said and then turned to walk away.

She saw Stacy take a left earlier which directed to the school cafeteria. As soon as Alexa stepped into the room, mustard continuously stained her uniform. She screamed as she was being shot at by that yellow, gooey substance while trying to block it with her hands.

When she realized that it already stopped coming, Alexa looked up to see Stacy holding a mustard container. Stacy dropped the container and stared ferociously at Alexa. She didn't understand why Stacy did this to her and for what good reason.

"Why the hell would you do this?!", Alexa burst out crying.

"You think you can have it all, don't you? Just because you're popular and nice and all that shit!", Stacy shouted. "Let me show you that you're nothing but a nerd. You're only known because of your parents. Nobody really cares about you, so stop acting like some freaking celebrity!"

"What are you talking about? What did I do to you?", Alexa crouched on the floor, all messy and sloshy.

"That's for being so selfish", Stacy said before leaving the cafeteria.