chapter 5- no hatred

She beamed at the class, her smile dripping with satisfaction, and sashayed back to her seat. As she passed me, she mouthed, "He's totally my type."

I bit my tongue, refusing to engage in a futile argument. What was the point of jeopardizing our friendship over a man? If she wanted him, she could have him, I told myself. But the thought of my friend and sister pursuing someone I was interested in rankled me.

My mind wandered, lost in thoughts of Rebecca and Alejandro together, making my stomach turn. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was more invested in Alejandro than I cared to admit.

As lunchtime arrived, I couldn't help but notice the teachers fawning over Alejandro, their eyes lingering on him like desperate admirers. They seemed like clingy groupies, constantly vying for his attention. But Alejandro remained unfazed, his expression neutral as he made his way to the cafeteria and then disappeared upstairs to the rooftop.

My curiosity piqued, I followed him, wondering why he'd choose the rooftop over the teacher's lounge. As I approached the door, I heard muffled moans and curses, Alejandro's voice unmistakable. My eyes widened in shock as I realized he was with Mrs. Peterson, the guidance counselor's wife!

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Alejandro!" Mrs. Peterson groaned, her voice husky with desire. I felt a surge of anger and jealousy, my mind racing with the implications. How could he be so reckless, so disrespectful to Mr. Peterson and the school?

I recorded the incriminating evidence, my heart racing with a mix of emotions. Was I jealous of their passion, or enraged by their betrayal? Had I lost my mind, or was I just caught up in the drama of it all?

I rushed back downstairs, my phone clutched in my hand, feeling like I'd caught my boyfriend cheating. My chest tightened, suffocating me. I wasn't even dating Alejandro, yet I felt betrayed.

I burst into the classroom, where Rebecca and James waited with my tray. "Guys, you won't believe what I just found!" I exclaimed.

Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "Try us."

"Mrs. Peterson is having an affair with Mr. Sanchez!" I announced, my phone still clutched in my hand.

Rebecca's eyes widened. "No way!"

I handed her my phone, and she played the incriminating audio. James whistled softly. "Whoa, that's some serious dirt."

Rebecca grinned mischievously. "Now we have leverage against her."

James nodded solemnly. "And I can finally get my phone back, the one she stole."

Rebecca slid her phone across the table. "Jess, take a look at this."

My eyes widened in horror as I watched the footage of Mr. Peterson, beaten and tied up. "What the...?"

Rebecca filled me in on the rumors: Mrs. Peterson's alleged affair with a hitman, her attempts to frame Mr. Peterson for molestation and abuse, and her ultimate goal of inheriting his wealth.

"It's all working in her favor, surprisingly," Rebecca said. "People are buying into her lies left and right. But there's one person who knows the truth - the principal."

I raised an eyebrow. "How does he know all this?"

Rebecca leaned in. "The hitman she hired was the principal's son. He confessed everything, including Mrs. Peterson's true motives - she wants to be with him, and she's willing to do whatever it takes."

James added, "And get this, Jess - the principal's son revealed that Mrs. Peterson never loved Mr. Peterson. She was only after his money."

I shook my head in disbelief. "You're kidding me."

Rebecca continued, "And it gets even juicier. Mrs. Peterson has been getting cozy with all the male teachers, and has been seen with them multiple times. And if that wasn't enough, she's been befriending the female teachers and taking them on lavish trips around the city."

My eyes widened in shock. "She's playing both sides, isn't she?"

Everything is just going wild today the rest of the lunchtime passed by in the blur and so did the rest of our classes. It was time to go home and I didn't want anyone to see me going home with him in the driver's seat.

"Jess." His voice sounded so stern and lacked any cheerfulness.

"I'm going somewhere with Rebecca today."

"Where?"

"The mall."

"Be back by 8."

"Fine."

I walked away and met up with Rebecca.

"Not today?"

"Rebecca. No."

"Just look at him."

"No. We're leaving."

On our way to Rebecca's house Rebecca began to pour out her heart.

"You know, James, we talked today and he said he wanted me back. I don't know Jess after everything that happened, him cheating and going away on vacation and never telling me now he wants to rekindle what we had. And I might be a fool to be saying this but I really want him back Jess, I missed everything about him. You've seen how I went downhill after him. I just really missed him and I couldn't get over him. He was my first everything."

She pulled over on the side of the road and started crying. I couldn't help but feel bad for her. "Now he's going around saying he likes you, Jess,do you like James?"

"No." I responded.

"Good cause I'd hate it if you did. I just don't know what to do Jess I'm scared."

"Tonight? Isn't Mr. Hulk going to be home?"

"How'd you-"

"I pulled up to your house last night asking if you were home and he answered and said you're here. What kind of relationship are you two in? Some kind of professor to student?"

"No we're not in any relationship my dad told him to be my bodyguard."

"Your dad has an ulterior motive." She said chuckling. "I could use a drink tonight." She said looking over at me.

"Absolutely."

Couple minutes later we pulled up to Rebecca's mansion. The outside has a flower garden and a paved walkway. The house painted in matte black and white added a layer of simplicity to the house we walked up to the house and it reminded me of when we were young and we used to play in this flower garden. She opened the door and led me inside we sat down prepping each other for a fun night out. After we were done we head back outside into Rebecca's car and drove to the nearest club.

Club 26 was my favorite club for many reasons it's inviting sign at the outside the mascot beckoning you to come inside the blaring music and especially the vibes was always at 100% everything was good. Rebecca went to the dancefloor and started to twerk on this stranger who was behind her and he allowed it fixing himself behind her so she could be right on his crotch he performed his moves to by whining in sync with Rebecca's whining and bending her back. Rebecca was enjoying it all. She couldn't get enough. She got up and started dancing with him and laughing and I was happy for her. She was breaking it down meanwhile I sat on the bar stool ordering drinks whatever could stop me from thinking about Alejandro even for the slightest second would be great.