CHAPTER 35

'What in the world just happened?'

The still flustered Rachel was left to her own thoughts. Now trying to remember all that had happened, she blushed hard.

'What was i planning to do again?' She had forgotten that she had planned to go head to Veronica's place, but now her memory had been wiped off.

'Lemme just go to my car and think.' She looked left and right hoping no one had seen her the way she was.

Making her way to her car, she kept on repeating the scenes of what had happened in her head. She located her car in the garage and got in immediately. She tried to relax herself by breathing in and out. Having regained control of her emotions, she decided to think.

RING! RING! RING!

Her phone had started to ring all of the sudden, she managed to take it out of the bag and she immediately checked who the caller was.

'Oh shit! I was planning to head to Veronica's.' She facepalmed. Without wasting any more time, she picked the call.

"Hey, what's up." She spoke immediately.

"I assumed you would come over, Guess i was wrong. Do you have other plans?"

Came Veronica's voice from the phone. She sounded a little disappointed.

"No! I am coming over, just that something kept...me waiting." Rachel's voice trailed off thinking about what happened.

Veronica found her friend's voice a bit weird, thinking she got distracted by something.

"Helloooo...what kept you waiting?" Veronica yelled over the phone trying to bring Rachel's attention back to her.

"Umm..." not like Rachel didn't want to tell Veronica about it, she just couldn't explain it properly since she herself was too flustered to understand.

"Okay forget it, just come over quick." Veronica said knowing it'll be better to see her friend physically so she could explain.

"Yeah yeah." Then Rachel hung up and drove out of the school.

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"So what's been going on in school these days?"

In hearing that question, Alice felt like she could break down any moment.

"I..." she couldn't even say anything cause no matter how much would have loved to hide her pain from Oliver, she just couldn't. Her voice got choked up and before she knew it she broke down, he didn't have the strength to build up any walls.

Oliver looked at her and he immediately knew what had happened. He had come across this situation many times before, and each time he did he felt his heart tear apart. Seeing her cry had hurt him a lot, but he was also mad, and he knew who was responsible for this, she just had to...

He stepped forward and let her rest her head on his flat tommy, he placed his left hand on her shoulder and the other on her head petting it. He felt her tears dampen his shirt and all he could do was remain silent cause that's all she needed, comfort and silence.

They remained like that for about 15 minutes, Oliver didn't feel tired not was he uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, I was here to check up on you and it was me who..."

Oliver didn't let her finish, she didn't need to apologize for anything. He was happy she came and let her feelings out, instead of keeping them in. He knew how harsh Veronica could be with her words and how Alice felt they must fit her situation.

"Shhhh. You don't need to apologize, okay?"

Alice was happy she had him, he never complained about how weak she was or her background, he never made her feel inferior and he was always ready to console her.

"Veronica really likes you, you know?"

Alice didn't feel jealous at all, she didn't have any reason to be in fact. Neither did she say it out of spite. She just wanted Oliver to be aware.

"I know. But it's of no use to me." Oliver said his last sentence coldly.

"I wasn't bothered today. Veronica didn't show up in school today."

"How could she?" Oliver replied knowingly.

"Do you know something?" She asked.

"Why'd you think so?" He replied with another question.

" Well...it seems to me like you know why she wasn't in school today. It's a bit unusual."

Oliver hesitated for a moment before he spoke, there wasn't a reason to hide It anyways.

" I think i know why. You seem interested."

"Not interested, i am simply curious."

"Understandable." He laughed.

"Now would you tell me what you know?"

"Chill okay. I think she wasn't in school today because of a hangover. Oh wait...did Rachel show up?" He seemed to remember that Rachel was in the video too but wasn't drunk.

"A hangover? Yeah Rachel was in school, why'd you ask?" Alice was now more curious than before. Oliver wasn't just gonna spill the beans, she mentally facepalmed.

"I saw a video which I am sure was made yesterday and in that video, Veronica was unconscious and that must be from having drank a lot of alcohol."

Alice was about to ask more questions again but Oliver spoke;

"Let me finish." He facepalmed.

"Rachel and Mark were dragging her out from what i assume to be a club."

"A club? How did she even get in? I thought one couldn't get in if they weren't 18?" Alice wasn't so exposed to all these, she was too innocent and wasn't so knowledgeable about trickery.

Oliver decided to explain it all to her calmly. He loved and cherished every time they spent together. Who wouldn't value the time spent with a loved one. He would have preferred if they left the topic, but she just seemed to cute he could resist.

He told her how Rachel and Veronica were dressed in the video and when she didn't seem to understand how much make up could change ones appearance, he decided to show her the video. Clearly after watching the video she seemed to understand what he was saying.

Now that everything was clear and she understood why Veronica didn't show up in school today, Oliver didn't have to talk about the topic anymore. He then proceeded to ask about how she was doing at home and how her mom was. Then they decided to go downstairs to the living room. While they were walking down the stairs, Alice proceeded to ask about Mrs.Evelyn. Oliver explained that she wasn't around for now, he didn't know why, that was between her and his mom.

"Why'd you ask?"

"Nothing important though. Miss Clara is just a bit weird." She answered thinking about the time she opened the door for her.

"Did anything happen?" He asked the moment he noticed her facial expression.

"If i think about it, then nothing. I just felt a bit weird when she spoke to me this afternoon." She explained. Oliver silently made a mental note to ask Clara about it later, funny to him how this girl's complaint or discomfort bothered him. If he had the ability, he would take her away from this world and everything that seemed to bother her. But that was just his imagination and there was many more in store. He also wished he could find out the whereabouts of her father and beat that man to a pulp. If he hadn't left nothing would be like this for Alice. A father is always important in a daughter's life , but that man decided to abandon her for another woman.

"What's wrong with you?"

Her voice brought him out of his thoughts and he looked at her. Alice had noticed how his facial expressions were changing and it seemed very abnormal.

"Why were you making faces?" She asked again.

"I was? I didn't realize." He answered.

"Hey don't start acting all weird with me okay? If something's wrong you can always share it with me. Even though I won't be able to change anything, at least we'll share the burden. And besides! I share everything with you, so don't hide anything from me, okay?"