Chapter Twenty Four
The day started off normal enough- -or at least, as normal as things could be given the situation 1 found myself in. I arrived at school early, hoping to avoid unnecessary interactions with my persistent mates. I headed straight to my locker, already mentally bracing myself for the day ahead.
But when I opened it, I stopped in my tracks.
Inside, my locker had been transformed. Flowers–roses, lilies, and daisies–spilled out from the top shelf. Ribbons of different colors were looped around the edges, tied in careful bows. A small note sat at the center, tucked into the bouquet. I hesitated before pulling it out, my name written in elegant handwriting across the front.
The words inside were simple but heartfelt:
We’re sorry for everything. Please give us a chance. We’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.
It was signed by all four of them–Elijah, Isaiah, Alex, and Austin.,
I let out a frustrated sigh, shoving the flowers and ribbons back inside before slamming the door shut.
“They don’t give up, do they?” I muttered under my breath, gripping the strap of my bag tightly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught movement and turned to see them standing at the end of the hallway. Elijah leaned casually against the lockers, while Isaiah stood with his arms crossed. The twins were laughing about something, but their eyes kept darting in my direction.
They were watching me, waiting for my reaction.
I squared my shoulders and turned away, refusing to acknowledge them. I wouldn’t let myself be swayed by their gestures. Not yet. They had hurt me too deeply in the past, and I wasn’t about to make it easy for them.
Still, as I walked to class, I couldn’t ignore the strange feeling bubbling inside me. Was it anger? Confusion? Or something else entirely?
By the time lunch rolled around, I was desperate for some peace. Instead of heading to the cafeteria, I made my way to the school courtyard, hoping to find a quiet spot to sit and clear my head.
But, of course, peace wasn’t something I was allowed.
“Elijah,” I said flatly, spotting him as soon as I stepped outside.
He was leaning against the stone bench, holding something small in his hand. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and for a moment, I considered turning around and walking the other way.
But he was already stepping toward me, his expression earnest.
“I’m not here to bother you,” he said quickly, holding up his hands as if to prove his innocence. “I just… wanted to give you something.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What now?”
He held out his hand, revealing a delicate golden bracelet with a small charm in the shape of a wolf.
“It’s nothing fancy,” he said, his voice softer than usual. “I just thought you might like it.”
1/3
Chapter Twenty Four
I stared at the bracelet, the sunlight catching on the polished gold. For a moment, I didn’t know what to
“I don’t want it,” I said finally, brushing past him to sit on the bench
“Stormi, wait-
“I said no,” I snapped, crossing my arms as I stared straight ahead.
say.
Elijah didn’t argue. Instead, he placed the bracelet on the bench beside me, his movements slow and deliberate.
“I’m not trying to force anything,” he said quietly. “I just wanted to give you something to show how serious I am. About you. About
us.”
I refused to look at him, keeping my gaze fixed on the courtyard ahead. After a few moments, I heard him sigh and walk away,
I sat there for a long time, staring at the bracelet.
Part of me wanted to leave it there, to let it be a reminder that I wasn’t going to make this easy for them. But another part of me–a much softer, more vulnerable part–felt bad for how I had reacted.
With a reluctant sigh, I picked up the bracelet and slipped it into my pocket.“Thanks“, I said and walked off.
As I made my way to my next class, I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on Elijah’s face when I rejected his gift. He had seemed so genuine.
It was strange to think of them that way. For so long, they had been the source of my pain, the ones who made me feel small and insignificant. But now, they were trying to fix things.
And that was the problem.
I didn’t know how to feel about it. Part of me wanted to forgive them, to let myself believe that they were capable of change. But another part of me–the part that remembered all the times they had hurt me–wasn’t ready to let go of the past.
I took the bracelet out of my pocket, turning it over in my hand. The charm was simple but beautiful, its craftsmanship delicate and precise.
Don’t be weak, I told myself, closing my fingers around it. They don deserve forgiveness. Not yet.
But even as I told myself that, I couldn’t ignore the small flicker of hope that refused to be extinguished.
The rest of the day passed in a haze of conflicting emotions. I couldn’t stop thinking about the bracelet, about the flowers in my locker, about the way Elijah had looked at me in the courtyard.
By the time the bell for the final period rang, I was exhausted. I made my way to my locker, half–expecting to find another surprise waiting for me. But it was empty.
For the first time that day, I felt a small sense of relief. At least they hadn’t gone overboard.
