"Are you out of your mind? Stop this foolishness and let's go!" "No, Jackie. I'm staying." Jackie's body tensed, her eyes locked onto Cassie, desperately searching for any sign of what was transpiring within her cousin's mind. The words hung heavy in the air, and Jackie felt her chest tighten as she struggled to comprehend the situation unfolding before her. "What on earth are you saying, Cassie?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief and a tinge of desperation. The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, but in that moment, all sound seemed to fade away, leaving only the weight of everyone's eyes on Jackie. She felt a surge of uncertainty, her thoughts racing as she tried to unravel the mystery behind Cassie's words. As murmurs rippled through the cafeteria, Jackie noticed the stunned expressions on the faces of her classmates. However, it was Jake and Tommy whose reactions were most pronounced. Their eyes widened with disbelief, their expressions mirroring the shock
"I'm really sorry for the unnecessary commotion my cousin caused, Caleb," Cassie murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at him, hoping that Jackie hadn't ruined anything between them. She couldn't afford to have Caleb distance himself from her. It was crucial for her plans that she stayed on his good side, if she wanted things to work out the way she intended. "It seems there's been a misunderstanding on her part, and for that, I apologize on her behalf," Cassie said, her voice trembling slightly. She struggled to maintain her composure. She could feel the tension in the air, each second stretching painfully as she worried about the damage done. Her eyes darted to Caleb's face, searching for any sign of forgiveness or understanding. The entire cafeteria seemed to hold its breath, stunned by the unexpected turn of events. Tommy and Jake exchanged bewildered looks, unable to believe what they were hearing. The other students, who had been sure that Jackie wo
Jake leaned in close to Tommy, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I bet you ten bucks she won't do it," he whispered, unable to contain his amusement at the absurdity of the situation. Tommy chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're on," he replied, equally entertained by the spectacle before them. "But I have a feeling this is far from over," Tommy mused, curiosity evident in his voice. "Jackie cares too much about her image to apologize to someone she considers beneath her." He paused for a moment, observing Jackie with clenched fists and eyes filled with conflicting emotions as she stared at Cassie. "But then again, Cassie is the one person Jackie truly cares for..." His voice trailed off, his gaze still fixed on the unfolding drama, intrigued to see how it would all play out. Cassie stared at her cousin, her eyes narrowed with impatience. Her right foot tapped rhythmically against the white tiled floor of the cafeteria, each tap echoing her growing frustration. She sneere
Although Jackie had apologized to Caleb on the surface, a simmering anger bubbled underneath. She shot a sharp glance at Tommy, her frustration evident. "Cassie and I came all the way from our dorms and waited for an hour for you guys to show up," she said, her voice tinged with bitterness. "And now you want to treat us to a meal in this shabby college cafeteria? Seriously?" Cassie shifted uncomfortably beside her, sensing the tension rise again. "Jackie, it's OK, I don't mind..." she began, but Jackie held up her hand, cutting him off. "No, Cassie, I did what you asked. Now let me say what I need to say." Cassie glanced at Caleb, trying to gauge his reaction, searching his face for any sign of anger or irritation. Tommy's face fell slightly, and he closed his eyes momentarily. He knew it was too good to be true. His girlfriend always wanted the last word, unable to let things go without having the final say. The weight of Jackie's words hung heavily in the air. He glanc
"I said I don't care. If she wants to go to The Oasis, let's go there," he said, his expression void of any emotion, though a flicker of anger flashed in his eyes. Jake and Tommy stared at Caleb, disbelief etched across their faces as they tried to comprehend why he was agreeing to such an absurd idea. Caleb, however, wasn't swayed by Jackie's taunts or her insinuations about his inability to afford such a place. Tommy shot a glare in Jackie's direction before turning to Caleb. "You don't have to do this, buddy. We're perfectly fine eating here," he said earnestly, his concern clear in his voice. Jake nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's no big deal." He then shot a pointed look at Jackie. "Those who don't want to eat here can go." Turning back to Tommy, he muttered under his breath, "You need to get a dog lead for your woman—oops, I mean bitch lead. She's too much. How do you put up with her?" Tommy ignored Jake's comment, though a slight frown creased his forehead. He loo
As they strolled towards The Oasis, Cassie's bubbly chatter filled the air, her voice like a persistent stream of excitement. Caleb glanced her way intermittently, offering only curt responses, his mind elsewhere. Despite Cassie's undeniable allure, Caleb's thoughts remained fixated on Sophia, his fiancée. Cassie, undeterred by Caleb's distant demeanor, continued her attempts to engage him. "Hey, Caleb, did you see that new movie that just came out- The Vikings?" she asked, her tone eager. Caleb managed a brief shake of his head, his thoughts drifting to Sophia. He wondered if Amanda had told Sophia about seeing him at the hotel with Emily. How would Sophia react? Would she be upset? Would she even care? Lost in his thoughts, Caleb barely registered Cassie's next question about their plans for the weekend. He knew he needed to address the situation with Sophia, to understand why she had visited his apartment at such an odd hour. Despite Cassie's persistence, Caleb's focus remai
"Unbelievable!" Tracy's hissed under her breath, as she watched Caleb and Cassie, her thoughts consumed by a toxic mix of disbelief, envy, and wounded pride. She had expected Caleb to be devastated by their breakup, believing herself to be of far greater value than he seemed to realize. Yet here he was, not a hint of sorrow in his demeanor, but rather moving on with his life as if she had never mattered. The realization irked her to no end. To Tracy, Caleb's apparent ease in finding happiness with another woman felt like a direct insult to her worth. She had expected him to mourn the loss of their relationship, to pine for her in her absence. But instead, he had swiftly moved on, leaving her to grapple with the sting of rejection and the unsettling notion that perhaps she hadn't meant as much to him as she had believed. As she continued to watch Caleb and Cassie, Tracy's resentment simmered beneath the surface, fueling her glare with a bitter mix of jealousy and wounded pri
Kenneth noticed Tracy's eyes blazing with anger as she prepared to confront Caleb. Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand, yanking her back into her chair. His grip tightened as he scanned the room, making sure no one was paying too much attention to them. Leaning in close, his voice low and urgent, he whispered fiercely, "What the hell were you about to do?" He could see the fury in her eyes, but he needed to keep her from causing a scene. Tracy yanked Kenneth's hand off her arm, sitting back down with a huff. Her eyes were still blazing with anger as she leaned in closer, her voice a fierce whisper. "What do you think I was doing? I was going to expose him as the thief," she hissed, her voice laced with venom and a touch of mania. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips curled into a malicious grin as she continued, "I wanted to catch him off guard, right here, in front of everyone. Can you imagine the look on his face when he's exposed? It'll be priceless...." looking back st cale