Finding Solace

Chapter 6

Callum

In the span of just a few hours, I went from being downright depressed and moping to reaching the highlight of my happiness. Only Jillian had the ability to make my emotions skyrocket like this. I can't believe I finally got to talk to her normally and even bantering with her. Her different expressions were so cute. When she was angry, embarrassed, then the hint of her smile I caught... it's too bad I didn't get to see that properly. But then she blushed and that one just killed me. It was not just about her looks, though. She's fun to be around and seemed to have a gentle and caring personality. I've totally fallen for her now. Nothing else could explain the feelings swirling in my chest. Even now I had a stupid grin plastered to my face as I walked down the hallway towards our classroom together with Jillian. My friends were following us some short distance away, having wisely decided to let us be on our own.

"I'm sleepy." She muttered.

"Again?" I said incredulously. "But you just slept for several hours this morning."

"Yes, but I didn't get to sleep in this chemistry class so now I'm tired." She said in a lazy tone. Then she outright stopped walking, looking at me with a grave expression. "I can't do this after all. If I don't get some sleep soon I'll faint."

I laughed at her dramatization. "I don't think you'll faint because of that."

"Yes I will!" She said in a serious tone. Then she started heading in the opposite direction just as my friends caught up to us. "I'll skip the rest of the classes to catch some rest."

I was about to go after her but then I froze in place. She gave me a blinding smile and waved at me. "Thanks for everything today! See you later!" She called and quickly disappeared down the corridor.

I just stood there for some time, my heart still reeling from finally getting to see her smile.

"I'm in love." I murmured.

"Me too." Jake muttered stupidly.

My head shot in his direction. He was also still staring at the spot where Jillian had disappeared. In fact, all of them were.

I advanced menacingly towards Jake, grabbing him by the collar. "What did you say?" I said ominously.

He raised his arms up in surrender. "Whoa, man, calm down! It was a joke! I was only messing around."

Everyone burst out laughing at his panicked tone.

"You'd better." I said.

"s**t! You messed up my shirt." Jake complained while fussing with his clothing.

"Oh come on." Henry said, messing up his hair as well. "It's no biggie. You always look like a mess anyway."

"What did you say? And how dare you mess up my hair!" He cried while combing his hands through his hair. "You're the one who always looks sloppy with that bed hair of yours!"

"What? How dare you call this bed hair!" Henry shouted back. "It's the fashion! I spend a lot of time styling it everyday and girls love it! At least it's better than your straight black, boring hair." He said snidely.

"Hey! I got lots of compliments for my hair and the way it feels smooth and silky to the touch. Girls definitely like this better!" Jake retorted.

"Hmph! To be enthusing about the smoothness of your hair...What are you? A girl?" Henry scoffed.

"You..." Jake said menacingly. They were standing face to face now, each one seething.

"You guys are really gonna go at it in the middle of the hallway?" Blake shouted at them in a disbelieving tone.

"Oh shut up, you old spoilsport!" Henry said irritatingly. "This is an important matter!"

Blake narrowed his eyes ominously. "Did you really just call me old." His tone was every bit as scary as his expression. He then smacked them both on top of their heads, shouting. "Who gives damn about who's hairstyle is better? We're gonna be late for class so let's get moving!"

Blake can be really frightening when he gets mad so they both complied reluctantly. They still refused to give it up though.

"Maybe if Callum gives us his opinion..." Jake began saying as we were walking.

"Oh don't even start with me." I snapped, cutting him off. "I'm not into guys so I don't give a damn either."

He pursed his lips but didn't press further.

"Anyway, that matter aside." Henry grinned while placing an arm around my shoulders. "Congratulations on finally being able to talk to your crush. I'm so proud of you." He said in an emotional voice, making a show of wiping tears from his eyes.

"Very funny." I deadpanned.

"On top of that, you guys seem to have gotten pretty close in such a short time." Blake added enthusiastically.

"Really?" Jake said excitedly. "I didn't get to witness everything so do tell me more about it."

"Oh you should have seen them!" Henry said jokingly. "They were both acting like lovesick fools."

They all burst out laughing.

"So you're gonna have fun at my expense now?" I said trying to make my tone irritated but I couldn't help the smile tugging at my lips. I was in too good a mood to get upset at their bantering.

"I'm surprised, though, at this 180 degree turn of events." Blake said with a frown.

"She told me that she's been avoiding me all this time because she feared my intention was to use her to get back at her brother. Apparently a lot of his other enemies tried to do that in the past." I said solemnly

"I see." Blake said, pondering. "This makes sense. No wonder she was so reticent. We should have guessed this sooner instead of drawing all sorts of far-fetched conclusions."

"Poor girl." Jake said compassionately. "It must not be easy for her, with a brother who likes to stir trouble like hers."

"Yeah." I agreed. "She did appear quite burdened by that but she also seems to treasure her brother a lot so there's nothing I can say."

"Enough about the depressive talk." Henry interjected. "Now that you've breached that first gap, you have to go at her full force and woo her in. You'll have plenty of opportunities to be alone together now that you both have a detention."

"Yeah. And thanks for your intervention." I said sarcastically.

He tapped me on the shoulder. "No need to thank me, dude. That's what friends are for." Henry said with fake emotion. Then he made his tone more serious and added. "Seriously, though, you know you really appreciate this new arrangement."

He's right. This detention will really work in my favor. Heck, if Henry hadn't intervened I would have probably asked for it. I was really looking forward to this afternoon.

True to her words, Jillian didn't turn up to any of the afternoon classes. However, even after school ended and most students had evacuated the hallway, she was still nowhere in sight. I hoped she wasn't planning of ditching the detention class. Coming from her, though, it wouldn't be surprising. She and her are brother already pretty much idolized by all the teachers. Even if miss. Fowler was no big fan oh hers, just a few words to her buddy the principal would probably instantly get her off the hook. 

I went ahead to the lab in hopes that she would head there directly, but naturally, she was not there either. So much for looking forward to this. I entered the lab and noticed Miss. Fowler was already inside.

She frowned at me. "You're alone? What about Jillian?"

When I didn't answer right away she sneered. "Ditched you didn't she? That's just like her. Pushing the work onto others and having fun by herself. Don't worry, I'll make sure she's punished dearly for this."

"Maybe she's just late." I tried saying in her favor.

"What? You're still trying to cover up for her?" She scoffed. "You like that girl?"

She didn't bother waiting for an answer before continuing. "You should just forget about brats like her. She will just use you then dump you like trash." Muttering to herself she added. "Her and that wastrel brother of hers are the same."

Her brother? I didn't have time to process what she said before she was advancing on me with a suggestive look.

"Why don't you forget about that brat and let me teach you about real adult love?" She placed her hand on my chest while leaning way too close to me.

I couldn't help the feeling of revulsion which took possession of my senses. Was she really trying to make advances on one of her own students? The very notion left me incredulous. I glared at her, a retort on the tip of my tongue but then the door to the lab was slammed open. We both quickly put some distance between us and regarded the newcomer. It was Jillian and she appeared to be fuming.

"Sorry for interrupting." She said in a scathing tone.

All my hopes that she didn't witness my earlier interaction with the teacher were crushed with her words.

"You're late." Miss. Fowler snapped.

"Was there a time mentioned?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

"When I said after school, I meant you had to head straight here as soon as the bell rings. It's common sense." The teacher seethed.

Jillian just shrugged. "Well, I didn't know about that. Anyway I'm here now, aren't I? I'll get the job done, miss. Fowler so no need to worry."

"Besides." She added in an ominous voice. "I don't think you're in a position to lecture about proper conduct. Seeing as you were just flirting with one of your own students."

Great! Now she's totally misunderstood the situation. She did not even spare me a glance, keeping her gaze fixed on the teacher.

"Fine!" Miss. Fowler snapped. "Since you're so eager to start with your work, follow me." She walked towards the back of the room.

"What?" Jillian asked in confusion, looking at me. "It's not this room we have to clean?"

I shrugged just as Mrs. Fowler said. "There's not much to do here. You'll clean the storage room. And you'd better get the job done by the end of the week!"

She opened a door in the far corner of the room and I was shell-shocked by the sight which greeted me. The place appeared to have remained unused for years. Everything was covered with dust and spiderwebs.

Mrs. Fowler rambled on. "We've been looking for some proper rulebreakers to take care of this. I want you to clean this whole place and sort through the old stuff. If there's anything you need, ask the janitor. Well then, have fun!" She added sarcastically before marching off.

We both stood there for some time in stunned silence. Eventually, Jillian took a few hesitant steps inside and spun around, taking stock of her surroundings.

"Are you for real?" She muttered.  Then she crunched her face. "And that smell! I swear it must be toxic."

Indeed, when I entered the room further an revolting smell invaded my senses. As much as I wanted to spend some time alone with her, but this was just too much.

"Maybe we could find some way out of this?" I said. "This punishment is too severe for just coming late to class once. You're on good terms with the principal so maybe..."

"Ugh! Not the principal." She said with disdain. "I hate that leery perverted old man."

I frowned at her. "Why do you say perverted?" I felt my anger rising as I asked. "Did he make a move on you?"

"No, not really." She says. "It's just... Oh well, never mind." She turned her attention back to her surroundings, but then her gaze started to grow vacant. Like her mind had wandered somewhere else.