The Rejection.

Unexpectedly Yours: When Timing Turns...❣️

Deborah...

I look him in the eyes unsure of what to do now that I came clean to him. Amy heart pounds heavily behind my ribs so loud that I think he might hear it. He looks at me and the look in his eyes says everything. He's going to reject me. Suddenly, he stands up and picks up his things. I just watch him.

" You...you should head back. I'll go ahead"

With that he storms off. Didn't wait for a reply. My eyes refuse to move front he spot he just disappeared to. I sigh and stand up. Was I...too blunt? Did I do something wrong? My mind beats me like a child with numerous questions? I head back to my dorm. Trying to fall asleep but couldn't. What's he thinking?

I finally fall asleep with my thoughts.

The following days haven't really been eventful or exciting like it used to be. Nathan avoids me like the plague. Even Jeffery wouldn't talk to me. At lunch, I finally see the group that's been distant lately and thought I'd approach them later. I quietly eat my food. My friends watch me eat silently. One nudge me.

" Deb. Are you okay?"

Lindsey asks me. One of the prettiest girls in my class. Thinking she'd never befriend me.

" You've been distracted lately. I've noticed"

Gabriela, butt I call her Gabby. A talented mind compared to me. I'm average in all that.

I shake my head.

" I'm okay. No need to worry."

I say with a forced smile. It does nothing to hide my stormy emotions.

" We've known you long enough to see you're having a problem"

"Come on tell us."

I look between them,, but I couldn't bring myself to come clean yet.

" Seriously, I'm good. Let me deal with it first then tell you guys about later. Deal?"

They look at each other than back at me now.

" Okay. Just know we're here for you"

" Thanks"

I press my lips into a thin line. My eyes shift to his table and catch him staring straight at me. My heart skips a beat,, but I don't hold that gaze. It's a bit too much for me. I finish eating and we leave the cafeteria.

Nathan...

These days my mind plays Debbie's confession like a broken record,, but I can't seem to understand why it keeps doing that. I feel powerless against it. Sitting in the cafeteria, I watch her for a long time. Her shoulders tensed, her demeanor hollower than usual. When our eyes meet, I think it lost its sparkles. She hurries to leave avoiding my gaze. I watch her leave with her friends. I think its for the best. Besides, I'm the one who left without a word that day. Normally shed feel...hurt when opening up like that.

Ugh. I should apologize to her. But how do I tell her I'm scared of such vulnerabilities? I've never made myself be in such a state,, and I'm not sure if be able to handle it well enough.

" Coach is back in town. He says practice after school"

Leroy reports, snapping me out of my thoughts. Then I notice Jeffrey's staring at me.

" What?"

I ask.

" You've barely even touched your food. What's on your mind?"

He asks. His face serious with concern. I shake my head.

" Nothing. Just...been thinking of how my life turned out on a different rail."

" Woah, man. You're too quiet to be thinking about how your life's going to turn out. I think it's more than that. A girl maybe?"

Leroy's buts in jokingly.

"Stop it"

I say lightly with a ghost of a smile.

"Who is it? Is it Debbie?"

Oriel gasps and the table coos me teasingly.

" Bro, I really think you should get to know her better. She's really something. I mean if I had a chance, I'd take it!"

Those words make me lose it instantly.

" I said, stop it. Or do I need to say it again? And trust me you wouldn't like it"

I threaten,, and he holds his hands up in defense.

" Sorry, man. It was just a joke"

I shake my head and stand up, ready to leave.

" Joke's on you. Tell Coach I'm calling in sick today."

With that, I walk away from the cafeteria.

The next day...

Roll call...

I look around the place, scanning each face of every student in search of her. We've been at this for a long time,,,, and it's eating me alive. When I finally see her, Shee's happily conversing with Jeffery and Oriel. A muscle in my jaw ticks. Whatever is the matter with me? It's not me. I feel like a completely different person. I watch them intently for a moment longer than intended before looking away.

Sure it's over a long time ago, he said. I replay Jeffrey's words in my head over and over again,, but I do nothing. I keep my composure. Furthermore, I can't let them see me lose control like this. I snort and lean against the railing of the assembly ground.

Deborah...

" Seriously?! Don't tell me your Mom did that?"

I ask I'm disbelief.

" She sure did. Then Dad tried so hard to wash it off the kitchen counter. Hilarious!"

We both laugh so hard I hold my stomach. I suddenly look over his shoulder and see Nathan walking away from the assembly ground.

" What's the matter?"

When he sees I'm silent, he turns and looks at where I'm focused. He turns back to me.

" I'd it about, Nathan?"

I nod. JT sighs. He places his hand on my shoulder.

" I'll talk to him"

"About what?"

He laughs softly.

" I'm no fool, Deb. I see the spark, the tension between You two. You've been avoiding each other for the entire week. Think I can't tell?"

I remain silent at his accurate guess.

" Well, I don't know either. I don't want to talk about it at all. When I'm ready, I'll let you know"

" Okay. I'm here. Always. I got practice later. Do you want to come watch me play?"

Thinking about it, can be a good chance for me to talk to him. Let's stop this madness.

" Sure"

Later that day...

I walk into the already filled basketball court. I bend down slightly moving towards the front row of seats where mine was reserved. JT instantly notices me and waves. I watch them for a while before talking to my friends by me.

We laugh from how Gabby says JT's cute and slim as a wall. I nudge her.

" Stop it"

" What? It's true. And he's definitely my type"

We coo at her words giggling like monsters. We all stand up and cheer when our team wins. Jeffery jogs over.

" Hello, ladies"

He greets us and Gabby goes all wobbly. We laugh at her clumsiness.

" How'd we do?"

" You guys were amazing! It's been a while since I saw you play."

I hold out a bottle of water to him and wipe his face with the towel I kept for him.

" How'd Nathan become captain so fast when he's only a transfer student?"

I ask and he remains silent for a while.

" Why didn't you take the position?"

"Nah, I'm good. Besides,, he's got more potential than I am when it comes down to being leader. I respect that."

I nod at his words and continue dabbing the sweat from his face. I notice from the corner of my eye as girls surround Nathan. All with bottles of water in their hands. I frown slightly.

" Is he always being treated like that?"

" Who are we talking about?"

I point with my head.

" Nathan"

He turns around.

" Of course. He's tHe school's heart throb. Who wouldn't want him as a boyfriend?"

" TSK. I don't."

Jeffery looks at me and laughs.

" Oh please. Cut it out and get your ass over there. I ain't going to talk to you if you two continue acting like this. I got my eyes on you"

With that he walks over to Gabby and Lindsey.

" You mind having lunch with me?"

I look back at Nathan. He's seated on a waiting bench and some of his teammates watch the scene with playfulness in their eyes. I breathe in, pick up a bottle and stride forward. No way you're avoiding me now, Nathan.

Oriel notices me walk over and whistles catching everyone's attention.

" Debbie, how are you doing?"

He asks playfully. He's a good guy though his playfulness hurts a lot. He and his crew laugh among themselves. Nathan catches a glimpse of me and straighten up. The other girls watch me. One folds her arms and looks at him with disgust. I don't even give her a second glance.

I hold the bottled water to him.

" Here, Nate."

I say,, and his shoulders tensed up. His eyes dart back to his mates who urge him to take the bottle. The others pout and angrily walk out of there. It's left the two of us and his audience of a team. He take s the container and looks up at me.

His mates walk up to us.

" Finally, they're alone together"

They tease. I shake my head irrItated slightly.

" So why're you so far apart?"

Oriel walks over and pushes onto his lap like I weighed nothing. I gasp instinctively holding him for support. He laughs and walk away with the others. I was too shocked to even throw a fit. His strong arms are holding me. His dark eyes stares at me from behind his brown curls. We stay like that for what seemed to be an eternity.

" Are you okay?"

His voice makes me stand up in a flash.

" Err, I'm fine. I'm sorry about that."

He just leans back saying nothing, only looking at me. Does he enjoy my anxiety that much?

" It's fine, Deborah."

He says. But why Deborah? Why not Debbie or Deb like the others? What's going on here?! I stutter.

" Umm...about What I said the last time-"

I begin pulling the hem of my shirt. His eyes study my every move attentively. It makes me so numb I can't feel my feet.

" I truly mean It. I'm into you and I really want for us to be together."

I bIte my lip at my own words. Still cursing at myself. I raise my eyes to his face which still watches me.

" Deborah, listen. I can't do this right now. Let me put this straight. I'm not interested in this relationship stuff. It's simply not my thing"

He says so casually my heart hurts. I watch him stand up with his things.

" Why not?"

I ask my voice trembling.

" I like your courage. But that's not my cue. It's better you stop chasing me because I won't be able to return those feelings. It should end here."

With that, he turns and walks away. Tears well up in my eyes as I watch his retreating back till he disappears behind the doors. I slump down onto the waiting bench. My shoulders trembles from the overwhelming emotions. Why did he have to say it so coldly like it meant nothing? I guess we're never meant to be. what was I thinking in the first place? We're just not fated.

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