Chapter 17

Olivia's life had been going surprisingly well for the past month. After the incident with Jenna discovering Drake's true identity, the entire school was aware of it, and fortunately, people accepted his true identity. In fact, Olivia was now able to pull Drake's leg openly. Surely girls were pretty disappointed to learn that Drake is gay and happily committed to his fiancé. Yes, Jiggy said yes when he proposed to him. Sia still couldn't get over the fact that their English professor wasn't straight, which she couldn't blame her for, because it was difficult for her to accept as well. But in the end, everyone was happy except one.

Stella.

James has been gone for four years. She still refuses to accept the truth. How can she? Even after all these years, she loves him. He was the one, and she knew it. She was unable to move on even after four years. She knew James would want her to be happy, but how could she be? God snatched him away from her before they could even begin their story.

Stella was usually calm and collected. She could control her emotions, but Jenna triggered her memory. This caused her to snap and realize she was alone. James had been her best friend. A true friend who noticed her in the crowd. He always made her feel special. She never accepted the fact that he had died because she knew he was still with her somewhere in her heart. Close to her.

Stella was doing nothing but looking at her photo with James that was pinned in her locker when Jenna appeared out of nowhere and forced her to face reality but only with the cruel word that caused her to rush to the restroom and cry her heart out.

Olivia, Caleb, and Mason were waiting for Sia in the parking lot. Sia was apparently assigned to a math professor due to poor performance on in-class tests. Olivia was about to call her when Zack dashed towards her.

“Are you okay, Zack?” She asked, concerned.

“Olivia, you need to come with me. Stella is crying. She has locked herself in the bathroom and is refusing to leave.” He told her. She could see that he was panting heavily as a result of all the running.

“Let’s go.” Olivia and Zack dashed through the school to the girls’ restroom, completely disregarding Caleb and Mason.

She entered the washroom, looking for the right door to bang. She motioned for Zack to enter because there was no one else in the room.

“Stella, please come out. It’s us, Olivia and Zack.” She shouted.

“Please go.” Stella sniffed.

“Please, Stella, come out. This is not the way to handle the situation.” Zack tried to persuade her to come out, but she refused.

“Stella, come on. Stop hiding and come out and tell us what’s wrong. You are not going to share anything with us?” Olivia spoke softly but loud enough for her to hear.

This made Stella immediately come out of the small room and hug Olivia.

“It’s hard, Livy. It is so much harder. Why did he have to leave? Why?” She was sobbing uncontrollably.

“I know Stella. I ask myself the same thing every single day.” Olivia was trying hard not to cry.

“Stella, we all know it’s difficult. None of us have come to terms with the fact that he is no longer with us.” Zack gently rubbed Stella’s back.

“I was handling it my way, but Jenna had to come...” Olivia interrupted Stella.

“What in the world did that bitch do?” She growled.

“She told me he is dead. I know that he is, but why did she have to say it out loud?” She began to cry once more.

“He is not dead, and I refuse to accept it. He will come to us one day and tell us it was all a joke, and we will kick and hit him hard for causing us so much pain.” Olivia said. She truly believed what she said because she cannot accept that James had left her. Left them all.

“Yes, and we will show him that we can be happy without him, so he feels the same pain we did when he left us.” Zack embraced both of the girls.

Those three were very different people, but James was the glue that held them together. A mutual link between the three of them.

Sia and Mason were hurt by Olivia abandoning them here, where Zack, Stella, and Olivia were drowsing in the memory of James. Even Caleb was disappointed by Livy’s decision to ditch them. Those four had planned to watch a movie, but now only three of them were present. Sia was more upset by Olivia’s sudden disappearance, but only because she was looking forward to seeing her best friend.

“So, there might be some problems. When Zack arrived, Olivia appeared very concerned. Even he was in a state of panic.” Mason attempted to console her.

“He is right. But there is something about Olivia. It seems that she is hiding something. She can be reserved at times and carefree at others.” Caleb stated this.

“Caleb, she wasn’t always like this. Olivia used to be an extrovert with a carefree attitude. She enjoyed interacting with others.” Sia informed him.

“But what changed?” He asked in confusion.

“This is not our story to tell, Caleb. This is a taboo subject for her.” Mason tried to explain.

“But it appears that everyone, except me, knows why she is acting this way. And I have a feeling her behaviour isn't the result of her parents, but of something else.”

“Give her some time, Caleb, and she will tell you, but don't go and ask her about this. Olivia will snap. We have been trying to dig out some of her past three years' past events, but she always gets angry and changes the subject. We have already lost her once, and we don't want to lose her again. Just be careful around her.” Mason advised him.

Caleb understood that. But, for the time being, he couldn't figure out why Zack, of all people, turned to Olivia when Stella was crying. Zack and Stella each had their own group of friends. So what is it that binds those three together? He'd never seen Olivia speak to those two, other than a brief acknowledgement in class, the corridors, or the canteen.

Caleb is an excellent observer and good at reading people, but Olivia made him doubt his abilities at times. Damn this mystery. He wasn't going to be able to sleep until he figured out what was going on with her.