A Beautiful, Terrible Love by Lucky 97 (books for 9th graders txt) 📖

okay?" I asked anxiously.
"I'm fine." She swung her legs off the bed and stood up easily. She froze for a minute, pondering, then asked. "What just happened? Why am I here?"
"You fainted," I told her gently.
"Well, I SEE that," I see Eve's sarcasm is back. We walked out of the room, I effusively thanking both ladies, Eve dazed a little, confusion easily seen.
"You stood up to Akemi and Ayako," I said, and she brightened.
"I know," she smiled, "wasn't that great?" I could see a little bit of forced happiness, the tension rippling through her a dead giveaway.
I decided to tease her. "Do you remember what you said before you fainted?"
"What?" blankness entered her porcelain features.
"So you don't." Disappointment entered me.
"I remember walking out of Mrs. Reyes classroom, and then nothing."
"Okay, I guess." Why did she have to forget those crucial words she spoke? That's no fair. Why do things have to work out this way?
I grabbed her hand, and turned her towards me, completely serious. "I just want you to know that I will protect you."
She said nothing, but the hint of a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. Without letting go of my hand, she walked with me towards our next class, no students to be seen.
I felt like this was one of Eve's warm moments, her unguarded self. This Eve was full of love, caring, and humor. This Eve was the one I liked so much. And I believe she liked me also, unless her eyes were lying to me.
I wish this happiness could continue forever.

Chapter 10
Eve

"I just want you to know that I will protect you," Dex said, his voice serious and full of caring. He didn't know, and I wasn't about to let him, how much that meant to me. I pretended not to care, to not be affected by his words. I tried to keep an expression that hid the turmoil beneath the facade.
The unseen tears of happiness I was crying.
I remembered every word I spoke to him before I fainted. However, it was not something we needed to talk about. What I said was THERE. I wasn't taking back anything, or adding to my embarrassing words. I wanted Dex to be by my side so badly for so long, with every fiber of my being, and everything was finally alright. He was standing by me, comforting me.
I loved him.
But how do I know I won't be rejected? Hurt beyond belief? I was just like one of his fans. When I asked him to not leave me, he didn't reply, only stared at me. Maybe he just saw me for what I was, just a girl who can sing and will make him millions of dollars. Maybe he's just being polite, trying to connect a little with me so our songs will be better.
The uncertainty was ripping me apart, leaving almost nothing left.
But I couldn't worry about this. I had to bottle up my emotions and save it for a later date. Dex was an extremely good face reader, so I had to not feel any sadness, or he will find out the truth. Sooner or later, I would say the three words that would either doom me or bring me to eternal happiness.
But why would Dex ever return my colossal feelings for me? He was a superstar, for one thing, with plenty of admirers and many beautiful ladies at his beck and call. He could always pick one of them for a one night stand. He had all the money he could ever want, also. He had popularity, faith in God, and a musical voice that amazed everyone.
He didn't completely know me either. We met about a month ago, for about three minutes, then after that we've been together for about eighteen hours. He didn't know anything about my obsession, my passions, or my heart.
He also was a playboy. I must take account of his many escapades with beautiful women, the countless broken hearts, and the endless tears. He has had a wild life so far, and a wilder life to come.
He might not want me in it.
I meandered along the school corridors, previously told Mr. Locke I felt faint. I was milking this fainting thing for all it was worth. However, I was really just walking around, trying to come to a decision.
Would I tell Dex that I love him?
No, definitely not. I couldn't. I had to content myself with being his friend. Being friends was better than being strangers, right?
I know now how Peter felt, this awful torture, nervousness overtaking me at his presence, this feeling of absolute... shame. Like I was putting up a pretense, a desperate facade to hide him from the truth, the truth that could shut me out of Dex's inner circle forever.
I walked to the door of the classroom, imagining Dex, sitting in the middle of the cluster of desks. His radiance shining, the students amazed by his bright light, his presence undeniable. My unattainable love.
I tried to rack my brains for anything that made him different from someone like Peter or another hot guy. Practically nothing, honestly, both guys with incredible features and special talents. But, strangely, no matter how accomplished Peter was, Dex always had that little "extra." That little bit, an indescribable "presence", was the thing that attracted girls like moths to the light. I didn't want to think anymore about Dex. He was depressing me too much.
I weakly opened the classroom door, all eyes suddenly flying to me. I felt like a spectacle, a monkey in a cage. I felt my nervousness returning, insecurity kicking in, and familiar pangs of sorrow felt in the pit of my stomach. Akemi and Ayako were fueling it, their identical smiles ripping through my gut, terror invoking.
Also, there was Peter.
Sitting high and mighty in the front desk, he elegantly fingered his Ticonderoga pencil, his poise magnificent. A piece of his brown hair hanged over his eyes, his expression of pure relaxation. As he swiveled his head to see me, I looked away, only to meet the eyes of Dex.
Green as emeralds, his gaze didn't feel uncomfortable or forbidding, but sweet and concerned. He seemed to see right through me, into my soul, even, unveiling my secrets until there was nothing to hide.
Well, he wasn't going to discover THIS secret of mine.
I carefully guarded my soul and met his stare evenly, offering a timid smile his way. Out of the corner of my eyes, I spotted Peter staring at me in amazement, as well as the rest of the class. Why were they baffled?
I realized that I had never truly smiled since seventh grade.
It was so clear to me now, Peter begging me, I refusing, the memories returning to me rapidly. My last real smile, I could still remember, was in the few minutes before Peter delivered the dooming question, caused by a joke uttered by Peter himself...
I quickly dropped my smile and headed to my seat, not willing to start any rumors. I could just imagine them... whispers about Eve's love, why she refused to go out with Peter, details the public never should've uncovered. The ugly truth.
Once I thought about it, this class, World History, was the only class I had with Akemi, Ayako, Peter, and Dex all together. After that, Peter was in none of my other classes, Akemi was in one, and Ayako was in two. Dex was in all of mine, which, by the way, made me deliriously happy.
So this class was going to be very... interesting during the year.
I listened to Mr. Locke drone on, trying to engross myself in his lecture, but my thoughts kept drifting away, to Peter, Dex, back to Peter, Akemi, Ayako...
"Now, I will let you get partners to compare notes with," Mr. Locke said, his voice grainy and gruff. "I know this is hard stuff, so I'm giving you all time in class to get it all in your head before the quiz tomorrow." He trooped to his desk. "So you all better use this time well!"
I just sat still in the desk, knowing what would come next. There was an odd number in this class, so everyone would get a partner but me, then Akemi and Ayako would get me in their group to make a threesome. A torturous threesome. It's happened several times before, Mr. Locke thinking us three were the best of friends, never suspecting the truth.
Not moving, I awaited my dreaded fate.
A light, airy touch shook me out of my trance, "Eve?"
Too nice to be Ayako or Akemi. I twisted around in my seat to see Dex peering at me. Relief flooded through me. I had forgotten about Dex.
"Would you like to be my partner?" he asked. Was that... a touch of NERVOUSNESS, a slight quiver to his voice? I never knew such a confident rockstar could have that quality to his tone.
"Of course," I grinned, smiles-real ones-coming more easily to me now. I wasn't going to be in the torturous threesome this time.
I slid out of the chair, following him to a secluded part of the room, between two rows of desks. I could feel the burning stares of Akemi and Ayako, and the appraising glances of the others. Somehow, I was not bothered by their gazes, the previous insecurity receding. Everyone else seemed to just fade away, their forms blurring, my senses only alerted to Dex. I could feel the extreme softness of his sweater as I touched his arm, smell the alluring cologne, hear the multitude of musical notes come together to create Dex's enchanting voice.
And right now, it was all for me. He wasn't looking at anyone else, only gazing at me, his eyes gentle and caring. His voice only reached my ears, hands only touching mine. He WAS mine. For now.
"So..." he smiled, "what do you not understand about World War 1?"
"What?" I shook myself out of my trance, confused.
"That's what Mr. Locke was talking about in his lecture," Dex's hands skimmed over my arm playfully, causing me to have goosebumps, my heartbeat shooting up like a rocket. I was immediately distracted.
"Really?" I murmured, not really thinking, consumed with Dex... his smell, his voice, his touch, his everything.
"Just have my notes," Dex placed a piece of paper in my hand. His perfect calligraphy, a mixture of cursive and print, was easy to read, displaying the information in a logical way.
I stared at it in amazement. "This is YOUR handwriting?"
"Yeah," he shrugged. "I have to have good handwriting for autographs."
"And why are you giving these to ME?"
"Because you have no notes. And I know this already."
"How?" Stupid question, I know, but at the time it made sense.
"I have a tutor for when I'm on tour and stuff," he smiled knowingly. "She’s awesome."
I felt a little nag in my stomach, then immediately a sense of shame. Why would I be jealous of a tutor?
"Cool," I lamely replied. Dex seemed to notice my change of expression, and laughed.
"Jealous?" he grinned playfully, seemingly like a schoolboy.
"No!" I said defensively. I was growing beet red, desperately trying to somehow hide my blushing cheeks from Dex's sight.
By this time Dex was in tears from laughing.
I soon joined him in uncontrollable laughter, giggles taking both of us over. I felt really comfortable with him, like we were best friends.
Just like with Peter.
We laughed the whole period away, discussing the most random things, I having more fun than I have ever had at school...