THE OTHER WOMAN !

( chapter five )

                SYDNEY BARELY GOT TWO HOURS of sleep last night. All she could think of was Ethan almost kissing her. And when she did, a warm and fuzzy feeling would swarm in her stomach. 

She'd allow her mind to drift off to the idea of what would have happened had her parents gotten home just two minutes later. But what confused Sydney the most were her feelings. She'd sworn she hated Ethan, even more so after what he said to her in that closet. 

      "Sydney, listen to your father." Her mother demanded, wiping the side of her mouth with her napkin. 

Sydney looked up, traced out of her thoughts and almost her full attention spared to her father. "Hmm?" 

       "We're having a business meeting over dinner here with the campaign team on Friday evening, and I'm sure they'd love to see you." He smiled, squeezing his wife's hand over the table. 

Sydney always had hated when she'd been forced to attend her father's business meetings. Frankly, they were boring and typically useless. She set the fork back down next to her plate and pulled a tight-lipped smile. "Fine." 

The couple shared a look of disbelief. "Really? That's it? No fight?" 

Sydney wasn't necessarily going to obey that easily, she had other plans in mind. "Can Ethan come?"

The question didn't only surprise Sydney's parents, it surprised her. The most. However, a plan came to mind and she'd known just how to piss her father off. By bringing the boy he hates most to his most beloved dinner. 

       "You're still seeing that boy? I thought we told you to stay away from him. He'll... mess with your future." 

The girl rolled her eyes. "My future is going to Columbia with Ben because you went there." 

        "Exactly." he nodded, shoving bits of a pancake into his mouth. "See, Ben is a good influence. Why don't you invite him over?" 

Sydney's mother hummed with delight. "Mm, yes! We haven't seen him in a while." 

         "I am not inviting Ben to dinner." 

Mr. Gilmore rested his elbow on the table and held a hand up. "I think we just want you at dinner." 

Sydney sighed, grabbing her backpack off the ground and standing from her chair. "Fine. I'll see you later." 

          ETHAN DIDN'T SHOW UP TO FIRST period. So, she was left to gather information for the project that was due tomorrow. And as much as Sydney didn't want to be, she was looking forward to seeing Ethan. Even if it would have been the most awkward interaction they've had yet.

       "Why are you so glum?" Mr. Shapiro's voice startled her. She blinked and he was leaning against her desk. "Is it because your partner is making you do all the work?" 

Sydney chuckled. "Yeah. What an asshole." 

He held up a finger. "Ah, I won't say that word but yes." 

Sydney smiled, surprisingly appreciative of the teacher's attempt to lighten the mood. 

       "I can give you a day's extension. You won't have to present until Friday." 

       "Thanks, Mr. Shapiro." 

He smiled with a nod, motioning a silent you're welcome. 

Sydney continued skimming through her notes and Mr. Shapiro returned to the front of the classroom. 

        "Hey Sydney," Devi called from in front of her. Sydney sighed, already dreading the future conversation the two would have. "do you know where Ethan is?"

Sydney's eyes widened. Shit. "Why would I know where Ethan is?" 

She shrugged. "He said he was at your house last night."

Now, Sydney was confused. "What? Why did he tell you that?" 

        "You two were assigned partners on this project, right?" 

Right. Yes. That's what happened last night. Studying. Sydney nodded, relief filling her body. "Right, but I don't know where he is." 

          "By the way, Mr. Shapiro, that was really messed up of you to not let me be partners with my boyfriend." 

Boyfriend. Sydney almost kissed someone's boyfriend. As if it wasn't messy enough, she'd now been the other woman.

         "I know you two almost kissed, you slut."  

Sydney's throat went dry and she felt her jaw go slack. "What?" 

         "Oh, I didn't say anything." 

Maybe she really was sleep deprived if she'd been imagining Devi to be calling her a slut. Sydney let out yet another sigh as she grabbed her bag and walked toward the door. "Lady problems." 

Thankfully, the hallway was empty. She turned to the left of the classroom and put her head in her hands. 

Sydney hadn't understood how she'd gotten herself in a position where she was the one who did the cheating. Technically, she didn't. But, she also knew Ethan and Devi would get together eventually. 

She ran a hand through her hair and turned on her heel, wanting nothing but to splash her face with cold water. She was exhausted and needed something to wake her up. 

However, at the end of the hall was Ethan. Of all people, Ethan was standing there, watching her breakdown internally. 

          "Miss Gilmore, what are you doing out here?" Ms. Thompson asked her from her doorway. 

Sydney swallowed. "I was just getting back to class." 

         "Not too fast, we have to talk about College. Come in." 

a/n

it's another double update day 😇🙌