Chapter Twenty Five

"you took your day off yesterday or what?" Liam challenged me after our usual morning lessons the next day.

"Andra was a bit down. I had to be with her."I saw his countenance change. I had to change the topic. "Did you guys have meetings yesterday?"

The I saw Damien join us. I could not look good into his face. His expression was bland and when he talked, it was like nothing ever happened.

"We have just two weeks left. Let's go work on the song. Remember there's another."

"Can I have a break, I need to see someone?"Liam asked.

"Andra's probably asleep. You can't see her now. "I said and then blamed myself for being too forward. I just read his mind.

"Oh well."He groaned.

"Shall we?"Damien led the way to the music room.

"What can we do with fifty dollars? "Damien began.

"Nothing. Obviously. That money can buy my socks"Liam said.

"That's why it's a test. Think!"

"Well, let me think." Liam arched his brow. "It would be useful in a bet shop! Yeah, That's it! Let's place a bet!"

We hissed.

"I'm serious. That's the only..."

"What are the other groups doing?"Damien interrupted.

"Selling, business, maybe. We're allowed to go out at Evenings."I answered. "Fifty dollars can do something."

"Be reasonable for once Paige!"Liam exclaimed. "We have barely two weeks. We can't start a damn business now."

"Liam, That was inappropriate. I was just being optimistic about the whole thing."I retorted.

"Well, we have to do something, whichever way. But placing a bet, is a no-go"

"Go on and tell us what to do. Boss!"

"Unfortunately, I can't think of anything else."Damien snorted.

We were quiet for a while, all thinking, except me. Maybe.

I had other things in my head.

"Hey! I've got an idea." It was Liam again. He's fast growing into a clown. Maybe he was, I just didn't notice earlier.

"We'll buy fancy candles, that's all we need. They'll pay to make a wish. It's fun we'll get money, in ten fold too."He cackled.

"You! How's that ever possible?"Damien asked, just the question I wanted to ask him.

"Just live it to me. Gush! I'm picturing it in my head right now. It's the best season, best time to make a wish!"

"Who would pay to make a wish with a damn plastic candle?"I asked.

"Humans baby, humans!"He sneered. "I'll do this myself. All we need is a color platform. I'll stay at the basketball field. It would work. You know Damien, I have the skills. Everyone would believe me. Trust me."

"Fine then. Since we can't think of anything else. Though it sounds like a waste of time to me. We have no choice do we?"

Liam grabbed the fifty dollars bill on the table.

"I'm off. Gush! It would be fuuuuun!"

It's obvious he wasn't concerned about the marks but "fun".

I was left alone with Damien and surprising he didn't mention anything about "the other day". He was the normal class president I knew, a part of that broke my heart. He's just going to forget me. That hurts. I made it happen though. The list of things I wrote to my dad that I needed arrived that day. Jude Kam got me a new guitar and I had to return the one Damien had given to me. Our song, I hate to believe that I wrote it. I, Paige, what can I do?

*

Days went on, Liam's idea was a jack! Students rushed his wish candles, like it was everywhere in the school. Who would have thought his dumb brain could be so lucrative? We made a lot of money, about six times our capital. Though the business slowed down with time but we've made our profits before it did. Liam spent more time with Andra. I knew what their closeness meant but on the other hand I felt sorry for Andra. She might get her heart broken, that won't be fair. We're leaving in a week, what would become of her when we leave. I couldn't say if Liam had plans of coming back to her after we graduate, I wished I could ask him myself. Andra hates to hear the topic.

Damien on the other hand kept his distance, for that whole week I felt like hell. I wanted him to leave so badly yet I wished he didn't so quickly. Well, the drugs he gave to me were just perfect. They ease my tension for a while, even Andra who lives with me doesn't notice when I have attacks. And I found out ways to prevent it. I took care of my health more than ever, like I've never done that. I cared about my self for once, I was already feeling a little self worth. Damien, that's one big thing he's taught me. 

The day before our video shoot, I was ironing my clothes when Andra decided to speak out her mind. 

"What's up with you and Damien, Paige? I haven't seen him here in a while."

"I don't know."I groaned. A part of me wanted to burst out crying on her shoulders. She said she was going to support me. A dull-head like me. I do not regret asking him to leave, because I'll be back to my real world soon and this fairy tale would just be a blurry part of my memory.

"Have you... apologized to him?"

"For what?"

"You're so impossible Paige!"She shrieked. Gush! Why is she so concerned now? "Is that how you choose to end it all?"

"End what?"I snorted. "Look Andra, there was never anything between us. He was just my teacher. Just too clingy. Have you forgotten so soon that he's also the class president, my team leader and he was here because of our project?"

"That true. You're really good at finding excuses, aren't you?"She paused. "When was the last time you talked with him?"

"Yesterday!"I laughed.

She frown. "You know what I'm talking about. I'm not saying your rehearsals."

"Isn't that enough? The rehearsals, that's enough talk, isn't it?"

Andra sighed. "Liam says his friend is miserable."

"That's not true."

"He stays in all day and blames himself."

My pupils dilated, I tried hard to hold on to that strong armor I've placed over my heart.

"I don't care. It's not my fault that he is..."