Looking for a way to apologize

"If life were predictable, it would cease to be life, and be without flavor"—Eleanor Roosevelt

✧ KELSEY ✧

"Baby, wake up!" my mum's voice rang out, way too chipper for someone who threatened to send me to military school just last night.

"Go away, Mum," I grumbled, pulling the quilt over my head like it could shield me from her, from reality… from everything.

"Come on, wake up! You'll be late for school."

"Go away, all of you! I hate y'all! I don't wanna see your faces again!" I snapped as the memories of last night stabbed through my mind.

And what did she do? She laughed.

"Alright, take your time," she said through a chuckle. "But make sure you're down for breakfast in thirty minutes."

Great. Classic Mum. Says 'take your time'—then sets a damn timer.

I groaned and peeled myself from the bed like it was the hardest thing in the world. And it might as well have been, considering what lay ahead today.

There was only one thing on my mind the moment I woke up—no, scratch that—the only thing on my mind the entire morning:

How in the actual hell am I going to apologize to Angelus?

The thought alone made my stomach turn.

It wasn't fear—no. I wasn't scared of him. I hated him. And that's the problem. Apologizing to someone I despise… it just felt wrong. Like my pride was being publicly executed.

Still, I didn't really have a choice. Not unless I was ready to kiss my bank account goodbye and spend the next three months grounded, only to be shipped off to some military jungle afterward.

I wasn't that reckless.

I got dressed, descended the stairs, and headed straight for the front door. I didn't even glance at Mum or Max, who were already seated at the dining table, enjoying breakfast like nothing was happening. Like everything was fine.

Angelus wasn't with them.

Interesting.

Maybe he's angry with them now. That'd be fun to watch.

"Kelsey, aren't you eating breakfast?" Mum called after me.

I didn't even bother answering. Just popped in my earpiece and walked out like royalty ignoring the peasants.

Truth was, I couldn't eat. Not this morning. My stomach was twisted in knots from stress, resentment, and the sick feeling of watching all my ego, my status, my carefully polished pride… crack under pressure.

Apologizing to him was going to be the most humiliating thing I've ever done.

And thinking about it only made me angrier.

I climbed into the car, slumped against the seat, and Salvador started the engine as two options played in my head like bad music on repeat. I could slip him a note—something short and pathetic like "I'm sorry"—or just mumble it to him quickly and be done with it.

No eye contact, no dignity lost. Minimal damage.

But something felt off.

"Salvy, aren't we waiting for Angelus?" I asked, trying to sound casual. I couldn't afford to miss the chance.

"No, princess," he replied. "He went out with Michael earlier this morning. Michael said I shouldn't wait for him."

Seriously?

"Ugh!" I let out a frustrated groan, smacking the headrest in front of me.

Of course he went out with Michael.

Of course, they're out doing God-knows-what while I'm stuck here scrambling to preserve what's left of my pride.

Why does everyone care about him so much now?

What happened to all the attention? The affection? The constant fussing over me?

It's like the moment he showed up, I stopped mattering.

And I hated him even more for it.

"Aww, you're missing him already," Salvador teased, dragging me back to reality.

What? Ew.

He actually thought I groaned because I missed Angelus? That was revolting.

"You know," he continued, totally ignoring the disgust written all over my face, "when I saw you two together yesterday, I just knew you were perfect for each other. Both cute and—"

"That's enough, Salvador!" I snapped. "Don't ever say that again."

I shoved my earplugs in before he could say anything else, because I knew he would. He always does.

-------------------------

"Hey girls, I need your help," I said the moment I spotted Cherry and Sofia near the hallway entrance.

"What's up, Kel? And… where's Angelus?" Cherry asked, already looking around like he was supposed to be glued to me or something.

"Yeah, where is he?" Sofia echoed. She glanced around, then smirked. "You guys are fighting so hard now you're even taking different cars? Cute."

Cute? Please.

"It's like when my parents fight," Sofia continued, giggling. "They'll stop talking and start texting each other—even when they're in the same room."

"When my parents fight," Cherry started, "well… actually, I don't think I've ever seen them fight before."

"That's because you're too dumb to notice it," I muttered under my breath.

"Or maybe," Cherry said sweetly, ignoring me, "they really understand each other."

"Hmm… maybe that," Sofia nodded. "Though it's rare. Most couples aren't that perfect."

"It depends on the kind of people they are," Cherry replied thoughtfully.

"Yeah, right…"

I stood there, arms crossed, boiling. Did they forget who needed help here?

"Are you guys done talking?" I snapped, venom dripping from every word.

"Sorry," they both mumbled, finally focusing on me.

"So, what'd you need?" Sofia asked.

"My mum," I began, gritting my teeth, "threatened to freeze my account, ground me for three months, and send me to military school if I don't apologize to that dork by the end of the day."

Cherry gasped dramatically. "Whoa! That's insane!"

"Damn," Sofia said flatly, but not shocked. She looked like she saw it coming. "That's a little overboard though. Your mum's kinda harsh."

"She is," I said, nodding hard. "It's not like Angelus didn't do anything yesterday! He grabbed my throat—almost choked me to death! But apparently, none of that matters."

"They're all on his side?" Cherry asked, eyes wide.

"Of course," I growled. "To them, he's some prince that needs to be protected. They didn't care about what he did to me—only what I did to him."

I clenched my fists, every word stinging more than the last.

And the more I thought about it… the more I hated him.

"So, when and how will you apologize to him?" Cherry asked innocently.

I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they'd get stuck.

Seriously?

Sofia just sighed and placed a hand on Cherry's shoulder like she was disappointed in her whole existence.

"Ah, Cherry. When will you grow up?" she said, then turned to me. "You and I both know Kel ain't gonna do it."

Then she paused. "But you should." Her voice softened. "You should apologize to him, at least for telling Mason about his situation. That wasn't right. It's actually… kinda painful, when you really think about it. I wouldn't even blame him for reacting the way he did."

I spun on her. "I can't believe you're taking his side, Sofia!"

That betrayal cut deeper than it should have. First my family… now my best friend?

"Come on, Kel," Sofia pressed, "you know I'm right. Imagine being in his shoes—losing almost everyone you love… then someone turns around and uses that to bully you. How would that make you feel?"

"Do I look like him? Are my family dead?" I snapped. "No. They're alive. And right now, it feels like I don't even know you anymore."

"If you're not gonna help me, just say it," I said, storming toward my locker.

They followed, of course. They always did.

"And what, exactly, do you want us to do?" Sofia shot back, voice rising. "Apologize for you? Do you think he'd even accept it? Have you seen how he behaves? He barely talks to anyone. You really think you saying 'sorry' is gonna cut it just like that?"

"Well then, to hell with him!" I screamed, slamming my locker shut so hard it echoed down the hallway.

Heads turned. Students paused, watching like they were waiting for the next episode of a drama series.

I didn't care. Let them stare.

My anger boiled over, burning through my skin. I could feel it written all over my face—rage, betrayal, and the absolute humiliation of being treated like the bad guy when all I wanted was to be the center of their world like I used to be.

Let Mum send me to military school. Let her freeze my account.

I was not apologizing to that bitch. And I'd make sure, whatever it takes, that he leaves this house. This school. My life.

"Oh my God," Cherry suddenly inhaled and said. "I told you he's cute once he fixes himself up."

She was staring toward the hallway entrance.

"What?" I muttered, my heart already sinking.

Sofia turned to look too, her lips parting slightly in surprise.

Then everyone—everyone—in the hallway turned.

The air shifted.

Curiosity pulled at me. I didn't want to look. But I did.

There he was—that devil.

The one I hated more than anything right now—Angelus.

And just like that, the hallway turned into his runway. His entire appearance had flipped—his hair, once messy and ignored, was now styled. His clothes looked like something out of a catalog, clean and sharp, and even his shoes were different. He walked like he owned the floor, like every step was calculated.

Worse—he wasn't even alone.

Beside him was this girl. A new girl. Tall, stunning, confident. I hadn't seen her around before, which could only mean one thing: transfer.

And she was with him.

He's the one who flipped my world upside down. The reason my friends keep turning on me. The reason my own family threatened to send me away like I was the villain.

And now he's gliding in like some prince, with her beside him?

I saw red. I didn't even realize I'd started moving until I was halfway across the hallway, cutting through the gawking students like a blade through water. I was heading straight for him—heat rising in my face, fists clenched.