Chapter 8:

Chapter 8:

Lorin:

“Lorin! Honey, you’re home early…” My mom said as I threw my bags on the floor and closed the door.

I took the last trip back to Hong Kong Island and arrived home just as it turned 11 pm. My mom had a questioning look on her face, I saw out of the corner of my eyes and I couldn’t bear look at her. I didn’t want to tell her of what happened. It was all a mistake.

A stupid mistake.

“I didn’t feel well so I came home early. I-I’ll tell you about my trip tomorrow.” I said faking a yawn.
“Okay honey…” she said looking at me a few more seconds before returning to her reading her magazine. Sam came up to greet me and I held out my hand, which he licked. Then I made my way back into my room. I closed and locked the door and with an aching heart, I sank onto my bed. Filling with tears and unable to stop myself, I cried.

The phone beside me rang and I picked it up before anyone.
“Hello?” came a familiar voice on the other line. “Lorin, please, if you’re there…talk to me.” It was Marcus. That…Je-I couldn’t say it. No matter how my heart ached remembering what happened only hours ago, I couldn’t bring myself to hate him. I hoped to much that he’ll love me and I made a mistake.

“Marcus.” I said my voice different. It was flat and I knew I was going to cry harder any minute soon. I had to do what was best. I was going to leave him alone and he can live happily ever after with the girl he loves.

“Lorin! Thank go-” he started but he stopped short when I said his name again.
“Marcus…I get it. I’m happy for you all right? I wish you well with the girl you love. Good luck. I-I’ll cancel the marriage as soon as possible. Goodbye.” With that I hung up and the phone rang again but I pulled the cord.

I stared at the phone.
The tears slowly came and I cried…I cried myself to sleep knowing that I would never

be happy again.

“Goodbye Marcus.” I said.

Marcus:

“She won’t talk to me!” I said with frustration. “I can’t contact her. She has it all misunderstood!”
“I think…” Annie said. “You should give her some time.”
“Yes. I’ll try to talk to her.” Alexander offered.
I sank down on the sofa and gave a low growl. I was angry and I couldn’t handle it. I knew that it’s bad to take on revenge but it wouldn’t hurt to do a small one. When I was in the bedroom, alone, I quickly dialed a certain number that I stole from the net.

“Yeah, hi. This is Marcus Brown,” I said into the receiver. “I’d like to do a schedule a meeting…I have a very juicy tip about Ted Roans that you might like to hear.”

“Okay” the female voice said. “Tomorrow at Atlantic Coffee, 3 pm sharp.”
“No probs,” I said and hung up. Tomorrow was going to be a very, very interesting day.

Right after I went home earlier than Alexander and Annie, I was off again, this time to meet a very important person in my revenge. I saw a pretty young woman with blond hair and brown eyes with spectacles. I think she was in her 20s. She was looking out the window and on her lap, was a notebook. I fixed myself before entering the coffee shop, then acting cool, I went forward to her.
“Claris Raymond?” I asked. She looked at me and nodded.
“And you are Marcus Brown, right?” she asked.
“Yeah.” I said sitting down and ordering a drink.
“So…” she said. “Should we start?”
“Of course.” I said. “Ted Roans, a superstar and famous with all the girls. That’s why nobody actually thinks he’s a huge jerk.”
“Really?” she said, interest showing in her eyes as she starts to scribble something down.
“Yea, I should know.” I said and I told her the story how Ted went to the school and all, cutting off after telling her about finding out that Lorin was the girl he was playing with. I stopped briefly as a waiter came with my mocha.
“So…he was playing behind Christalle’s back? That’s a huge shock! Christalle is such a nice girl!” Claris said.
“And the girl he was going to hurt was the girl I love so I had to stop him. That day, I cornered him by the lockers. I told him to stop and he did.”
Well, that wasn’t the whole story…

This was~

I cornered him by the lockers, furious.
“Lay off Lorin” I said to him.
He sneered at me and said, “Make me”
“Maybe I will…” I said, defiantly. “Maybe I could talk to a dear reporter friend of mine and tell the whole country or maybe the WHOLE WORLD how much of an ass you are. I have proof and I overheard you that day in the bar.”
That did it and he couldn’t say anymore.
“Fine, I’ll cancel the date, just don’t tell anyone.” He said.
I smirked at him and started to walk away.
“Hey,” I heard him say and I turned back to face him. “Mark my words…I’ll get back on you.” Then he left.

“So that’s it?” Claris said. “He just cancelled the date just like that?”
“Yes and no.” I told her. “He made some reprisal. You see, when I was going to confess to that girl, he ruined everything. That’s why I’m telling all these to you.”
“So it’s in a matter of payback?” Claris asked, scribbling madly on her notebook.
“Well, not entirely. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.” I said, finishing off my drink.
“This is very interesting and I’m sure it will make the first page tomorrow and, Ted Roans will go down before you can say, bite me.”
I nodded, satisfied.

Then I looked at my watch.
“I have to go.” I said. I noticed that the day had run by so darn fast that tomorrow was the Winter Formal. Seriously. I had to get my tux ready before tomorrow and I have to tell Lorin of what I really feel. After that, I’ll have a very nice semester break with Lorin, if she forgives me. If not…I’ll see what I can do if that happens.

I stood up and Claris stood up with me. We shook hands.
“Thank you very much, Marcus.” She told me.
“No problem.” I said. “It’s going to make the first page tomorrow right?”
“Not only tomorrow…it’ll be in today’s news, too.” She said.
I smiled.
“Perfect…” I said.

Lorin

I woke up, my head aching a little bit. The phone was ringing and I looked at the clock.
1pm. Mom wasn’t home…darn.

“H-hello?” I answered.
“LORIN!” I heard Alex said, more cheerful than a humming bird. I also heard Annie in the background saying hello. “I can’t believe you! Leaving us like that and oversleeping in the most important day for all us!! Stand up and get ready!”
I was puzzled. “What? What important day?” I asked.
“Winter Formal, you mannequin.” I knew he meant dummy but he only wanted to be more polite. “The dress?”
“Oh…” I said. “Well I’m sorry guys but I don’t think I can go.”
“What do you mean you can’t go?” Annie asked, snatching the phone from Alex and I heard Alex protesting in the background. “Girl, you can’t do that!”
“I can and I will…I’m sorry guys but I can’t handle not having a date and seeing Ted there too.” I said.
“No way, we won’t accept that!” they said.
“Well I’m really sorry…I don’t want to talk to Mar- that guy either.” I said. “Sorry guys I have to go…my mom’s calling me see ya.” I said and I hung up, ignoring the protest they were giving. I sighed and fell back on my bed again.

Then to my surprise, my bedroom door bursed open and standing there were Alex and Annie. I gapped at them.

“You can’t get rid of us that easily.” Alex said. Then he turned to Annie. “Annie, if she doesn’t want to move, we’ll make her. Ready?”
Annie nodded and the next thing I knew, Annie has my arms and Alex has my legs and they were really dragging me outside my bedroom.
“Okay, Okay!” I said to them. “I’ll go!”

The finally released me, with smug smiles in their faces. So I had no choice but to go with them…

I got ready and I let them drag me to the mall.

“So…how did you get in?” I asked them as we looked at the dress racks.
“Your mom called Alex and asked if we could do something to cheer you. She knew something was wrong. So she left the key for us and there.” Annie said, picking out a white spaghetti dress then shook her head and put it back again. I numbly looked at the dresses.
“Why did you leave so suddenly?” Alex asked.

“I-I didn’t know what to do…I acted like a fool.” I gave a hallow laugh. “Can you believe it? Marcus loving me? Never in a million years.”
They looked at each other.

“But…he really does.” Annie said softly.
I looked at her.

“That night in the party, that poem was for you…” Annie said.
“But I saw the girl” I protested.
“That girl was Marcus’ ex who he didn’t want to see. Ted Roans told her to make you see that Marcus doesn’t love you because he knew Marcus loved you.” Alex said.

I looked at my hand, which was on a dress, unable to say anything.
“I don’t think I can go back Annie, Alex.” I said with a sigh. “It just hurts too much and I really need space.”
Annie and Alex gave me a comforting hug and I smiled at them.

“But you are going to the Winter Formal right?” they asked me, managing the best puppy faces they could manage. I smiled again. I couldn’t believe that I had such great friends that stand by me, always.

I looked at them and they were still expecting my answer. I can’t stay around being depressed and glum…
“You know what…Maybe I will.” I said.
Alex wrapped an arm around me while Annie cheered.

“That’s the spirit!” Alex said. I smiled again.

“Hey, awesome dress.” Annie said suddenly. I looked at her, wondering what she was talking about and she pointed at the dress my hand was on. I took it from the rack and looked at it. It was a emerald dress decorated with sequins at the body and the dress flowed like water. It also had a shawl with it. I kind of like it too.
Alex checked the price and nodded.
“It matches your eyes.” Alex commented.
“Try it on!” Annie urged, taking the dress and pushing me towards the changing room.
“Okay!” I said, laughing for the first time on how Annie looked liked an eager kid.
I put on the dress, fixed the shawl on me and walked outside. Annie and Alex both stared, speechless.

“What? Do I look that horrible? Oh maybe we can choose-” I said, looking sadly at the dress but Annie cut me.
“NO!” she said. “Y-You look gorgeous! It’s just that…I didn’t recognize you since…you just look…”
“So…amazing.” Alex finished for her as they kept on staring at me.

“Oh…so that’s a yes to the dress then?” I laughed, turning a little hot in the face and they both nodded.
I changed back and held the dress while I helped Annie to find a dress for her while Alex tried to find the right Tux for him in another section.

“I can’t find a good dress…I mean, all these look lovely but I just don’t have the feeling…know what I mean?” she said and I looked around. Then I spotted a simple little black dress in another dress rack and I quickly showed it to Annie. She gasped with glee.
“Lorin, this is it!” she said, hugging the dress. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome” I said and we both went to look for Alex.





Marcus:

“Aunt, Uncle, Dave! I’m home!” I shouted. There was no reply and I hung the tuxedo in my wardrobe.
I went into the kitchen and I read the note they left me.

“Going out huh?” I said to myself. “Oh well.”
I went into the living room and switched on the T.V. Then I flipped the channel to something interesting. Then I came to the news.

“Finally,” The newscaster said. “A shocking report about Ted Roans. Apparently, he was found to have been two-timing his girlfriend, Christalle Maxton, the daughter of the famous music producer, Raymond Maxton. Christalle had cut off their relationship and Mr. Maxton was furious with Ted Roans. According to Ted’s ex-Manager, all of the music producers are now refusing him. Is this a downfall for the famous Ted Roans?”

I switched the T.V off, smirking.

“He deserved it.” I said to nobody.

Then I went off to get ready for sleep. If only I knew what I did was wrong…and it was going cause so much things. If only I knew, I wouldn’t have done it.