RIELE'S POV.
I'm somewhat of a household name in my town, and it's not always for the best reasons. My name, Riele Evans, tends to evoke a mixed bag of reactions… some good, some not so good. Nevertheless, it's a name that lingers in everyone's mind.
There's hardly an event or gathering that I'm not invited to. That's just the kind of presence I have.
And just like every day in school, lunch hour rolls around at school, and it's time to catch up with friends. Today, the conversation takes an unexpected turn.
"We were discussing something before we were interrupted," Ashley remarked, prompting my attention as we settled into our seats, lunch trays in hand.
"What were you saying about my boyfriend?" she inquired, her tone edged with concern.
"You might not want to hear it, Ash," Liz interjected, casting a glance in my direction before setting her lunch down on the table.
I met her gaze as she sat across from me.
"And to add," Karen chimed in, diverting my attention to her as she kept her eyes on Ashley, "What's there left to ask? Riele already spelled it out. Your boyfriend either cheated or is cheating on you."
Ashley's breath caught, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. "I… I can't believe this. How did you find out?" she stammered, turning to me for answers.
I met her gaze evenly.
"That's not exactly a genius question, Ash," Liz remarked, drawing my irritation as I turned to face her.
"You don't have to play mediator, Liz," I replied, my annoyance palpable.
She let out a scoff, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Well, it's not rocket science, Riele. Everything with you seems to be crystal clear, isn't it?"
I rolled my eyes, brushing off her remark, and shifted my focus to Ashley. "The how isn't really important right now. What matters is what we do with the information."
"Is there any tangible evidence to support this claim?" Karen inquired, her expression a mix of skepticism and concern.
I met her gaze squarely. "I stumbled upon it. There wasn't much else I could do."
"Then, perhaps it's all just a fabrication," Liz suggested, raising an eyebrow in my direction.
I furrowed my brows in disbelief. "Why would I lie about something like this?"
"Let's not forget your less-than-subtle dislike for Ashley's boyfriend and your apparent efforts to keep them apart," Liz countered, her words laced with accusation.
My eyes remained fixed on Liz as she made her point. She always had a way of challenging me, always ready to play devil's advocate by countering my words.
Making her my friend sometimes it's unclear to me.
I had hoped by now they would fully accept me for who I am, but it seems like all they do is pass judgment.
They make me at times feel like a faulty car. A broken-down car left on the side of the road without seeking out what needs to be fixed.
It's not like I'm in need of fixing, but it would be nice if they cared enough to at least consider addressing the issues they constantly criticize.
Instead of offering assistance or trying to understand, they simply complain.
I shifted my attention back to Ashley, offering her a sympathetic look. "If you wanna find out the truth, go right ahead. Feel free to investigate, but my advice is, don't confront him. Confrontation might only lead to deception."
Ashley let out a heavy sigh, her distress palpable. You could tell how terribly worried, and nervous she was. You could tell how betrayed she felt.
"Excuse me, may I join you?" A familiar voice interrupted, prompting me to divert my gaze from Ashley to the source of the interruption.
Who else if it's not ''Crazy"? I frowned at her, knowing she would never cease her intrusion.
"Sit where?" Karen questioned, her tone tinged with irritation.
"Here, with you guys," Crazy replied confidently.
"No," I interjected firmly.
"What?" Crazy exclaimed, acting surprised by my blunt refusal.
"I don't want you here. Find somewhere else to sit," I rudely stated.
"But I have the right to sit wherever I please without needing permission," she argued.
I furrowed my brows at her. In my eyes was a sad, brooding amusement, as of a man who had been long confronted, and tantalized by a riddle whose answer seemed always on the verge of escaping him, prodding him irresistibly to seek its solution.
I suppose the key to solving this puzzle is to outsmart her. I'll give her credit, she's intelligent, but whatever game she's playing, it won't work on me. She may be clever, but I'm fearless.
My expression then changed, taking on the intensity of a hunter eyeing its prey. The incessant pestering from Crazy was beginning to gnaw at me, and I couldn't tolerate it any longer. I'm gonna have to find a way to put this crazy girl in her rightful place, far away from my path.
"If you have any sense left in you, and you don't want things to get really really bad, Crazy, I suggest you disappear from my sight," I warned, my tone laced with menace.
"But...."
"Next time you wanna play smart, look at who is listening. Now scram," I cut her off sharply.
I observed her jaw clenching in frustration, prompting me to cock my head at her with an incredulous expression, indicating 'who the hell are you getting angry at?'
She lowered her head in abashment, and slowly walked away to another table.
"That's more like it," I muttered under my breath, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having dealt with the nuisance.
"Isn't it time you stopped treating her like that?" Liz probed, her gaze scrutinizing me.
"When she decides to stop pestering me," I retorted matter-of-factly.
"You know, she just wants to be your friend," Ashley chimed in, her voice carrying a note of empathy.
"But I have no interest in being her friend," I asserted firmly.
"Well, you're fortunate, Riele. Despite everything you've put her through, despite making her a subject of mockery in school, she still has a wild wish to be your friend." Karen remarked solemnly.