After Ninety-Nine Challenges

I was feeling great after setting up a fancy dinner with Draven. I took my time packing up some chicken soup before heading to the hospital.

When I opened the hospital room door, I saw Janice Wheeler sitting next to Seth, feeding him grapes one by one. It was such a sweet scene, but it made me shiver.

Janice screamed like she had seen a monster when she saw me.

"Help! Seth, I'm scared!"

Seth wrapped his arms around her right away. "What's wrong? Janice, do you feel okay?"

Janice dabbed at her eyes. "I'm okay. It's just that seeing Nevaeh brought back some memories."

Seth looked like he suddenly remembered something too. He gave me an icy look and said, "Nevaeh, come in. Do you know you're supposed to knock?"

I felt a sneer inside me as I loosened my tight fists.

Back in school, she was the one who always picked on me, hit me, and spread lies about me. However, she somehow made it look like I was the bad guy.

I tried hard to keep down the fear and anger bubbling up inside me. "I'm sorry, Seth. I missed you so much that I forgot to knock."

Seth was still a bit mad. "What took you so long?"

My eyes started to tear up. "I heard that chicken soup tastes better if you let it cook a bit longer. That's why I'm late, Seth. Don't be mad, okay?"

Janice snuggled up to Seth, blinking her big, doe-like eyes. "Seth, did you know Nevaeh climbed a snowy mountain just to get snowmelt for you?

"Where's the snow water? I'd love to see it.

"Nevaeh, didn't you say you used snow water? Where is it?"

I did not say a word and just brought over the chicken soup. "It's in the soup. Ms. Wheeler. Do you want to try some?"

Janice looked at the soup in my hands with a frown. "Are you sure the snow water's safe? How do you know it's not poisonous or anything?"

I quickly said, "It's safe. Seth told me it's good for healing legs when you boil it. It's really helpful!"

Janice's eyes flickered with cruelty. She suddenly shook her hand, spilling the chicken soup all over the floor.

"Oops! Sorry, it was too hot. You're not mad at me, are you, Nevaeh?"

I did not answer and just looked at Seth. He looked annoyed at me and pushed me aside to grab Janice's hand and check on her.

"Janice, did you get burned?"

I felt so unfairly treated that my eyes filled with tears. "Seth, what's going on between you two?"

Seth did not even glance my way. "We've been friends since we were kids. What do you think our relationship is?"

He had just finished shouting when he noticed me on the ground. His voice softened. "Nevaeh, I just think of Janice as a sister. Don't get it wrong."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Seth's friends were outside, laughing and calling out, "Hey, Seth! Are you and Janice finished? Can we come in now?"

I pretended to be shocked. "Finished with what? Seth, what are they talking about?"

Seth's face turned red with embarrassment. He quickly said. "Nevaeh, don't mind them. They're just spouting nonsense!"

He shouted back at them, "Nevaeh's here too, so cut it out with the jokes."

Everything went quiet outside. Then, the door creaked open, and Seth's buddies piled in.

"Nevaeh, you know we were kidding, right?"

"Totally! We were just messing around."

Seth saw me still on the floor and asked gently, "Nevaeh, come here. Did you hurt yourself when you fell?"

I held back an eye roll and walked over quietly.

Seth took my hand, about to say something, but then he saw the huge ring on my finger.

His voice turned icy. "Nevaeh, who gave you that ring?"