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Chapter 334: SS2 01: Rewind to Ten or so Years Ago

Hallways during lunch time at Cornelia High were mostly deserted. Most students either hung out in the cafeteria or outside on the school grounds. While the rest enjoyed their meals or quality time with friends, a junior student named Everlee Hart stood on the staircase.

Her stomach rumbled and asked for foodexcept it would have to wait as the boy in front of her continued his speech. She stared at his forehead, listening intently. It was the only thing she could give him.

Eve nearly lit up when he finished but she controlled herself. A sheepish expression displayed on her face. "Matthew, I'm flattered but I would have to"

"Don't say it!" Matthew cut in. He raised a hand to her face. 

She raised her eyebrows.

"But"

"I already know the answer," Matthew insisted. He dropped his hand and averted his gaze. His chest rose and fell visibly. "It would only hurt more to hear it. Thank you for your time. I'll be going now."

He disappeared before Eve could even blink.

"Um" she caught herself saying.

Andie popped out of the hallway and climbed down to the stairs. "Is he gone?"

Eve glanced her way, pointing over her shoulder. "He ran away."

Both girls peeked down the stairs. People who passed by saw them look. They broke eye contact and descended the rest of the way. Eve sighed when they reached the lower floor. 

"That was much more dramatic than I thought."

Andie shrugged, pretending she hadn't heard the confession. "He's in the theater club, right?"

Eve frowned. "Oh, yeah." 

They entered the cafeteria. It buzzed with activity and conversations. Andie headed for the food line. Eve followed behind her. They stayed close together, a distance away from those in front of them.

"Matthew Collins. Cute, smart, a tad bit dramatic" Andie started muttering. She sneaked a peek behind her and saw an uninterested Eve. "So what's wrong with him? He's not an annoying pest?"

Eve glared in her direction as she grabbed an apple. Andie's stormy blue eyes sparkled. The suspicion she felt rose higher. "Now, why would I want an annoying pest?"

"I don't know. Why did you like Noah?"

Nudging her best friend to move forward, Eve exited the line and headed for their table. "Only you think he's an annoying pest. I remember a lot of people liked him."

"You mean the teachers?" Andie snorted. They sat on one bench while Rose ate her food across from them. "I don't really count them because they only liked how he turned in his homework on time. That's not enough to be likeable."

Rose swallowed her mouthful of pizza. "Who don't we like?"

Andie tied her hair back and picked a fry off her plate. "Noah."

"Hm." Rose pressed her lips together. "That name again. Did someone confess to Eve?"

"Matthew Collins."

"Ohmygawd, he finally did it?!" She exclaimed, covering her mouth. Her head whirled from left to right in search of Matthew. His group of friends sat at their usual table but he was absent. He had low self-esteem compared to his club members. 

The rejection must have hit him hard.

Eve narrowed her brown eyes. "And what do you mean by that?"

Rose arched an eyebrow, refusing to believe that Eve didn't know about it. Then, she looked at Andie who nodded her head as if she knew what Rose was thinking. The latter blew out a long breath. That meant Eve really didn't know about it.

"Everyone in the theater club knows he likes you," Rose finally revealed. 

"Great." Eve flinched. "Now, they'll know I rejected him."

"I'd avoid their clubroom at all times."

Eve propped an elbow on the table and wiped a hand on her face. A deep sigh flowed out of her nose. "Can we please change the topic?"

"Alright then." Andie grabbed another fry and said, "What about Mark from Chemistry class?"

'This is going to be a long day,' Eve lamented. 

.

.

.

"1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3" Madame Isabelle counted. Apart from her, four girls filled the room, wearing tights and pointe shoes. They all faced the mirror as their instructor clapped her hands in time with the beat. "Keep your backs straight. Check your shoulders. Don't dilly dally. This is not a leisure walk in the park. Focus."

Eve and Rose were positioned beside each other. Their arms interlocked along with the other girls, forming a straight line. They moved their legs and feet in synchronization. It demanded teamwork, trust and confidence. 

Fail at one and everyone would crumble to the ground.

Madame Isabelle sighed from the doorway. "Start from the beginning. Remember. You'll be performing this live. There's no rewind button if you mess up. Everyone would see it."

Rose suppressed her groan. They hadn't stopped for over 2 hours, practicing the same move over and over. She let go of the others and stretched for a while. Their joint hands limited movement. It almost stiffened her arms permanently.

On the other hand, Eve did a quick recall of the steps and executed them as the group compressed again. They repeated from the start like they had been told. Heading towards the right, heading back to the left, their hands never let go. 

They practiced the same move three more times before sweet words reached their ears.

"Better." Madame Isabelle nodded. "But don't frown during the performance, Eve."

"Thank god," Rose exasperated and broke away from the group first.

Eve closed her eyes, realizing she had been too focused on the mirror. The tricky movement had her constantly on edge. Her eyes watched her legs just to be sure they stayed in sync with the others. She would need to work on that.

Madame Isabelle glanced at her pocket watch. "Alright, girls. Time to stretch."

"Are lessons done yet?" Andie peeked from the door a few minutes later. She smiled at Madame Isabelle. "You look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you, Madame Isabelle."

The latter gave her a playful glare but stepped aside. "Save your flirts for your boyfriend."

Andie shrugged, her smile unwavering. "Only stating facts."

"They're done for the day. You may kidnap your friends."

"I knew I always liked you for a reason."

She walked into the studio where the other girls were busy packing up their things. They had already changed out of their leotards. She waved at the two girls then approached Eve and Rose who stayed further in the room.

"How was practice?" Andie asked.

Rose checked for Madame Isabelle but didn't find her instructor. Her shoulders relaxed in relief. Rising to her feet, she shrugged her backpack on and said, "Brutal. What else?"

Eve also did the same. "I think it was alright."

"Of course you do. You're a model student," Rose remarked. She led the way out and turned to Andie. The latter still wore her club uniform. "How was cheer practice?"

"Oh, you know. We stomped, flipped, tossed someone. Nothing really new." Andie snorted. They exited the building and she hopped down the front stairs, landing on the sidewalk with a big jump. "We should go somewhere though. It's Friday!"

"You guys can go. I have to get home," Eve said. Her head turned towards the direction of her residence. It was an apartment on a newer side of town. A businessman had built one while she was a kid and they lived there ever since.

"What? Why?" Andie pouted.

Eve shifted her attention back on her best friend. She gave Andie a sympathetic smile. "Yeah, I'm worried about mom. It's her ninth month."

Rose scrunched her eyebrows. "Is Aunt Evangeline going to labor?"

"Well, I don't think so yet but dad won't be home until late."

The group became quiet. Andie heard about a new cafe that sounded like a good place during her cheer practice. She had wanted to go as soon as possible and with people not Jarrett. They could have their date another time. Her first visit should be dedicated to her girls instead.

"Let's just hang out at Eve's," Rose suggested. "It should be fine. The important part is we're together, right?"

Andie gave her a look. She just had to go there. There wasn't a way for Andie to refute. Then, Andie looked at the bright side. "Aunt Evangeline does cook really well and I'm hungry."

Eve chuckled and wrapped her arms around both girls. With them around, she'd definitely be calmer. "I'll text her on the way so you have food when we get there."

"This is why I love you."

"Gee, thanks."

Evangeline Spinster hummed as she cooked in the kitchen. She had tied her scarlet hair up into a loose bun. One hand on a spatula, her free hand rubbed her round belly. Twins! She couldn't be more blessed. 

It was only a matter of time before she could hold them in her arms.

"Mom, we're here!" She heard from the front door.

"I'm in the kitchen!"

"Anything that happened today, girls?" Evangeline joked as soon as the teenagers walked in. They sat around the dining table. The kitchen had no partition so the dining table acted like a kitchen island whenever possible.

"Nothing much," Rose began to say. "I did hear about this boy confessing to Eve though."

"Rose!"

She raised her hands in surrender, a mischievous grin on her face. "I just heard it. Doesn't always mean it actually happened."

"Yeah, Eve," Andie cut in. She folded her arms over the table. "What's that about?"

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