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Glaring in his direction as he closed the door, I had five minutes to covermy stained red cheeks and bloodshot eyes. Like that was going to happen.

***

Dread welled in my stomach as I walked down the stairs behind Chad, sending daggers into the back of his head.

My eyes were still bloodshot. My cheeks were slightly paler now, but that only made things worse. Because now my red, tear-stained eyes, stood out more.

I had just thrown on a sweaterand was sloping around in my trackies, not caring about what I was wearing.

“Hey, Chad,” Dan greeted my brother as we walked into the hall. “Oh, hey, Chloe.” Dan now saw me where I stood out slightly behind Chad’s back.

“Hi, Dan,” I muttered, letting my eyes float to the ground.

“Good to see you, Dan.” Chad shook his hand “How you been?”

“Yeah, good Chad. Yourself?”

“Yeah, all good. I better get this meeting started. I’ll catch up with you soon.” Chad gestured his hand towards me. “You coming with me or—”

“I’ll sit with Dan.”

Chad arched an eyebrow. “Ditching me are you?”

“Sitting at the back of the hall sounds better than sitting on the stage.” I moved around Dan and took an empty seat next to him. “Go on.” I gestured my hand for Chad to keep going.

“You sure—” Chad frowned.

“I’ll be alright. Go.” I shot him a weak smile and sat down in the empty chair.

Chad nodded his head and began to walk through the hall to the front. Dan sat down next to me.

“You alright, Chloe? You look like you’ve been crying.” Dan turned in his seat and eyed me with concern on his face.

“Yep. Fine.”

“You’re lying.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’ll be fine.” I played with the sleeves of my sweater. “I watched The Notebook. That’s all.”

Dan shot me a small smile, still frowning. I knew he only half believed me. He turned in his seat and took in the room. People were filing in everywhere and the hall was filling up quickly.

“Oh, how are you doing, Mr. Clark?”

My head snapped in Dan’s direction as he greeted Xavier. Of course Dan would greet him. I cursed him silently in my head.

“Daniel, how are you?” Xavier said calmly, I glanced up at him and noticed his weak frown in my direction. “And Chloe, how are you?”

“Well, I’m gold,” Dan replied happily and turned his head to me. “And Chloe, she’ll be alright.” Dan patted my thigh. I noticed Xavier glare at his hand on my thigh.

“Good to hear you are both well,” Xavier said coolly and then looked at me, meeting my eyes. “I hope things improve for you soon, Chloe.”

I shrugged my shoulders and pulled my eyes away from him. He could go now.

“I will see you two in class. I’d better go find a seat,” Xavier said to us.

I wanted to scream in relief. It was painful being around him.

“You can sit with us, Mr. C.” Dan stood up. “Move down, Chloe.” Dan waved his hand for me to move down a seat.