4 - Cross roads

Rose's steps echoed down the quiet hallway, each one mirroring the slow churn of thoughts in her mind. Contemplation lingered, shrouding her with uncertainty after what had transpired in her classroom. As she approached the detention room, she hesitated before pushing the door open.

Walking in, she was met with the stern gaze of a female teacher in charge. The teacher, clearly taken aback by the unfamiliar face, wasted no time in requesting, "Name, class, and reason?" Rose hesitated for a moment, then quietly revealed her identity, class, and reluctantly disclosed the reason for her presence " Rose Parker, class A...umm I yelled out at a teacher" she said feeling a twinge of embarrassment.

The teacher, with a hint of disappointment in her eyes, furrowed her brow. "Yell at me and I'll make sure you spend a month in detention....Go sit down," she instructed, gesturing towards an empty desk in the corner of the room.

Rose complied, feeling the weight of the teacher's disapproval settling on her shoulders as she navigated through the sea of judgmental glances from her fellow detainees.

Settling into her seat, Rose couldn't shake the embarrassment that clung to her like a shadow as this was her first time in detention. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension and the teacher's frown lingered, casting a pall over the detention room as Rose anxiously awaited to be released from her prison.

Rose sank further into the cold detention chair, contemplating the improbable turn of events. The guy who had carelessly spilled her coffee at the local cafe now stood as her new math teacher. Stephanie's excited chatter about the charismatic Mr. Damien echoed in her mind, Rose felt like crying.

She had tried to avoid anything that would bring her detention as it would affect her results but here she is....in detention,for the worse reason ever. She almost screamed out but held back as she remembered that she was still in detention. 

As the school bell chimed, she emerged from her contemplation only to find Stephanie waiting outside the detention room. Together, they walked to the cafeteria, an unspoken tension lingering between them. Stephanie couldn't help but prod for details.

"What happened in there? Why did you yell at Mr. Damien like that?" Stephanie's inquisitive tone matched her furrowed brow. "Have you seen him before?"

Rose nodded,still trying to piece together the puzzle. "I don't know, Steph. It's just strange, you know? The cafe guy , Mr. Damien – it's the same person."

Stephanie frowned deeply " Cafe guy? You didn't tell me anything about a Cafe guy " she stared at Rose for keeping juicy secrets like this from her. Rose sighed and recounted what had at occured at the cafe 

Stephanie gasped, her eyes widening with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. "Oh my god, Rose! This is like something out of a novel. You and the teacher – there's a connection! Maybe both of you will end up falling for each other!".

Rose's expression morphed from confusion to mild disbelief. "Steph, this isn't a romantic novel. It's just bizarre."

" Exactly.....!!!" She yelled out and students turned to look at her weirdly. She whispered sorry to then then turned to Rose " This is how it goes... you both hate each other at first then ends up falling inlove " .

Rose stared at Stephanie stupidly " He gave me detention Steph.... You know that's going to affect my results and my mom would freak out if she finds out". Stephanie chuckled "Well you kind of insulted him in front of the students, were you expecting him to just brush it off? The man has his ego bae but once you fell in love he'll change.. Trust me" She grinned. Rose simply rolled her eyes and ignored her.

As they walked into the cafeteria that was bustling with noise and activity as student chatter, they found a table and walked towards it while Stephanie continued her animated speculation about the possibility of a romantic connection. She painted vivid scenarios where Rose and Mr. Damien discovered an unspoken attraction, their lives entwined in a serendipitous dance.

By the time they sat down to eat, Stephanie was practically giddy with excitement. "Rose, you never know! This could be the beginning of a beautiful love story."

Rose chuckled, still skeptical but appreciating Stephanie's infectious enthusiasm. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Steph. It's just a weird coincidence, that's all.

"Well, well, look who's here. Heard you got yourself in trouble , Rose. Detention, huh?, that's new." A voice interrupts their discussion.

Both girls turn to see James approach them with Christine and their lackeys.

Stephanie rolled her eyes in disgust "Oh, look, it's James and his entourage. What do you want, James?" Rose kicked her leg from under the table, warning her not to create a scene but Stephanie ignored her.

Christine snickered ,her eyes glittering in malice "Oh, Steph, always so quick with a comeback," she mocked, her tone dripping with disdain. "It's a shame your wit doesn't match your fashion sense." Turning to Rose she continued "Rose,maybe if you actually paid attention in class instead of daydreaming about your ex, you wouldn't be in this mess."

Stephanie immediately went on defense mode,her patience wearing thin "I didn't realize that insecurity came in such stylish packaging and besides Christine" She continued "Just because James couldn't keep up doesn't mean you should take it out on Rose."

James felt angry seeing how his girlfriend was getting insulted,he decided to defend her in order to look cool "Really? It's not like she was all that great anyway. I mean, look at where she is now" he pointed out mockingly.

Rose couldn't bear it any longer, she stood up immediately her face red from anger "You know what, James? It's hilarious how you think you're superior just because you've got a new girlfriend. Newsflash: You're still the same insecure jerk you always were".

The cafeteria went quiet as students start to eveasdrop, James' face flushes with anger and he was a little flustered as Rose was never the type to snap back.

Christine too was taken aback by Rose's remark "What's that supposed to mean?"

Rose calmly replied "It means that you might have James now, but it doesn't change the fact that he's nothing without you trying to prop him up."

James' face red from embarrassment as his ego was getting bruised repeatedly "Whatever, Rose. You're just bitter." He said trying to recover .

Stephanie glared at James "And you're just a bully who can't handle being told the truth".

James' friends start to murmur among themselves, their laughter fading as they sense the shift in atmosphere. James' ego visibly deflates as he tries to muster a comeback.

"Yeah, whatever. Come on, let's go."

Mumbling James and Christine turned to leave, followed by their lackeys. The cafeteria buzzes back to life as students begin whispering about the confrontation.

Stephanie smiled and hooked her arm around her friend's shoulder "That was great. You really put him in his place."

Rose sitting back down sighed "Thanks. I just needed to stand up for myself"

The two friends exchange a supportive look, grateful for their solidarity.