All Is Fair

Chapter 18

As the speeches wrapped up, the energy in the room shifted, and the dance floor came alive with music and laughter. Everyone was swept up in the rhythm, but I found myself sitting quietly, lost in my thoughts. I watched my friends twirl and sway, their faces lit up with joy, while I felt more like a wallflower.

I also keep noticing how intensely Grayson was looking at Tarine enjoying herself. There is still some unsolved mystery between them.

Just as I was starting to feel out of place, I noticed Oliver making his way toward me.

He was known as the school's weird boy, with his quiet nature and dark presence. He is your typical nerdy book with the bad boy potential, but there was something genuine about him that I appreciated.

“Hey, Annika!” he said, a smile spreading across his face. “You look like you could use a dance partner. What do you say?”

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I wanted to join the chaos of the dance floor. “Are you sure? I mean, I’m not really in the dancing mood,” I replied, trying to hide my uncertainty.

“Come on! It’ll be fun!” he insisted.

“Besides, I promise not to step on your toes too much. I’ve been practicing my moves.” He did an exaggerated shimmy, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

With a sigh, I relented. “Okay, fine. Let’s do this.” He extended his hand, and I took it, feeling a rush of unexpected excitement as we joined the throng of dancers.

As we danced, I found myself laughing and enjoying the moment, the worries of the evening fading away.

Oliver had a way of making everything feel light and carefree, and I was grateful for his presence. But then, my heart dropped when I caught sight of Reese. He was walking off the dance floor, his expression dark and angry.

A wave of concern washed over me, and I felt a sudden urge to follow him.

“Excuse me, Oliver,” I said, pulling away from the dance. “I need to check on something.” I hurried after Reese, my mind racing with questions about what had just happened.

As I stepped into the empty hallway, the music from the dance faded into the background. My heart raced, and I was anxious about what I might find. Then, I heard it—Reese's father, his voice echoing off the walls, filled with anger.

“Reese! What were you thinking? You can’t just walk away like that!” he yelled, his tone sharp and unforgiving.

I paused, unsure if I should intervene or just listen. I could see Reese standing with his back to me, his shoulders tense. He looked like he was trying to hold back his emotions, but it was clear that his father’s words were cutting deep.

“Dad, just leave me alone!” Reese shot back, his voice strained. “You don’t understand what I’m going through!”

"I don't fucking understand and I am trying to Reese! I am trying! I know I am not the best but you can't keep doing this! You mom is worried about you!"his dad yells.

"Oh so now you care about her! You didn't care when she was having mental breakdowns every single day while you spent hours in the whore's legs...."he yells but his dad cuts him off.

"You don't know the full story so shut up boy! You'll back there an apologize to your mother!Now!"he hisses

"No! Now leave me alone dad!" He yell

The tension in the air was palpable, and I felt a wave of sympathy for Reese. This wasn’t just about the dance; it was about something much deeper. I took a deep breath, knowing I had to step in.

“Reese!” I called out gently, hoping to diffuse the situation. “Is everything okay?”

Both of them turned to look at me, and I could see the surprise in Reese’s eyes. I knew this was a delicate moment, but I wanted to be there for him, no matter what was happening.

Suddenly his eyes turn cold so does his father's. He posture stiffens, "this is bullshit" his thick accent mutters and he walks past me, leaving me and Reese alone.

I stood in the hallway , my heart pounding in my chest,  I watched him spin around, his eyes blazing with anger, a chill ran down my spine.

"What the fuck are you doing here Annika?!"he yells angrily.

“Reese, I just wanted to make sure you were okay!” I exclaimed, my voice trembling. I took a step forward, desperate to bridge the gap between us.

But his response hit me like a slap. “You don’t get it! Just leave me alone!” His words were sharp, cutting through my intentions like a knife. My heart sank; I had only wanted to help.

The hurt in his eyes was unmistakable, but so was the wall he was building.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I struggled to find the right words. “I’m just trying to be here for you, Reese. You don’t have to go through this alone.” But he turned away, retreating back into the grand hall, leaving me feeling more like an intruder than a friend.

"I don't need your help Annika. You can't fix everyone. Get that into your thick skull,not everyone needs your help. Hell fuck,you aren't even my friend! Stay the fuck away from me and mind your own fucking business" he yells angry,veins popping on his neck.

Each words was like a stab to my chest. An open wound.

Suddenly, the door swung open wider, and Myla stepped in with an air of authority. My heart raced as I took in the scene—Myla’s eyes flickered between us, filled with concern and something else—protectiveness.

“Reese, not again,” Myla said, her voice steady yet filled with urgency. She moved toward him, her presence commanding as she reached out to him. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”she says,

She pulls him into a hug and he immediately hug her back, breathing in her scent and then I see him visibly relax.

I felt a pang of jealousy mixed with fear. I wanted to scream, to tell Myla that I was only trying to help, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I stood frozen, watching as Myla wrapped her arms around Reese, guiding him away from me.

“Stay away from him,” Myla warned, her tone leaving no room for argument. The words felt like a dagger, piercing through the fragile hope I had held onto.

As they exited, my heart sank deeper. I felt abandoned, like a lifeboat left adrift while the storm raged on. I wanted to reach out, to tell Reese that I cared, that I wanted to be there for him, but now it felt like a door had slammed shut, locking me out of his world.

Alone in the silence of the hallway, I leaned against the wall, my breath shaky. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, and I felt tears escape, trailing down my cheeks. I wanted to scream, to let my frustration and sadness out, but instead, I stood there, a silent witness to the distance growing between me and the person I cared about most.