𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 ✔️

Chapter Nine

P.E was horrible. I should've known that the bullying would've only gotten worse when tennis rackets and hard tennis balls were involved.

Alessia only made it worse for herself by feeling jealous every time the real Olivia Clark swung her racket and hit a tennis ball that was incoming from Dylan. They had paired up for the games.

I didn't get it. Did Alessia hate me or envy me? And what's the reason for both? I wasn't exactly popular, or pretty, or have all the guys around me. I was just like her...which is why I'll never understand why she gets bullied and I don't. Dark hair, same build, okay, different eye colours—but there was nothing stellar. I don't get it, and I never will.

I helped pack up the gym equipment, so that I wouldn't look so weird loitering around outside the P.E office to get Alessia's bags. The P.E teacher and I made small conversation as we packed up; it seems that Alessia and the P.E teacher spend a lot of time together. I couldn't help but feel that leaving her bags in the office wasn't something that Alessia had just started doing last week.

I jumped when someone else joined us, "that's all the cones, Miss," the person said, and the voice made a chill run down my spine.

Because the person who spoke was me—the real Olivia Clark.

"Thank you, Olivia." The teacher said, taking the cones from Olivia and smiling at her.

"No problem," she said, "I'll see you next Tuesday." With that, she turned and left.

The teacher didn't say anything else after that, and I soon had my bags back in my hands.

In the cubicle, I changed with much relief. Although, I now only had three minutes to get to R.E, in which we were being given a keyword test.

When I was dressed, I sprinted out of the sports hall and across the school grounds to my class, slowing and trying to act casual as I reached the corridor. When I walked in, everyone was just getting seated, so sought out Alessia's seat.

I had R.S with Alessia when I was Olivia Clark, so I knew that she sat at the back of the class somewhere.

"Alessia, fifth row, next to Renton, I'm sure you can't have forgotten it after two terms in Year 11."

I cringed as everyone laughed. Mr Laughton had always been known for being harsh. As Olivia Clark, I had worked my way into being someone he didn't hate as much, of course by putting in the work and getting good grades. But I didn't know how he felt about Alessia.

Still flushing, I took my seat next to Mark Renton, ignoring him as he sniggered at me before shifting his chair over slightly.

When Mr Laughton gave out the keyword list, though, I couldn't help but feel a little excited to put my A* grade knowledge on paper—which I had gotten on results day for RS.

I had the keywords done five minutes before the end, and five minutes before most people. But when I looked up, the real Olivia Clark was already finished, her answers face down and her pen lying on top.

Where I was feeling wistful, Alessia was suddenly feeling angry. She had put effort into this. Yet, I still beat her. Every single time, and at everything.

I put a lid on Alessia's emotions and simply checked over the keywords before burying them under my arm to keep them safe until it was time to give them in.