FULL NOVELXO Chapter 27
Jocelyn was totally killing it in class today; her interaction with the students was outstanding.
When the bell rang signaling the end of class, Jocelyn wrapped things up. Normally, she's not one to let her classes run over.
"Jocelyn, you feeling okay?" the class monitor came over, looking a little worried.
Jocelyn just smiled at her and answered, "Yes, I'm good."
"But your eyes are all red."
Feeling a bit sheepish, Jocelyn admitted, "Oh, I got face wash in my eyes this morning. Don't worry, I'm fine."
The kids' concern really boosted her mood. Heading back to her office, she found a bouquet of roses on her desk.
"Jocelyn, I saw these with the security guy on my way in and he said someone left them for you, so I brought them up," another teacher explained. "Oh, thanks."
Jocelyn glanced at the twenty-odd roses, no note, no clue who they were from.
She never would've guessed Melvin, since he'd never given her so much as a single bloom.
"Got an admirer, huh?" Ursula waltzed in after her class and teased upon seeing Jocelyn lost in thought with the flowers. "Couldn't they at least leave a name?"
Jocelyn just shrugged with a helpless grin, "No idea who sent them."
"Whoever sent it will definitely send flowers again. You'll figure it out," Ursula said as she took a seat. "By the way, it's my birthday today. No class tonight, so grace me with your presence for dinner, will ya? Don't bother with a gift. Just bring the fun."
Another teacher chimed in, laughing, "You say that, but who'd show up empty-handed?"
"I'm serious. We're all about the good times, not the formalities," Ursula asked Jocelyn, "You got class tonight?"
Jocelyn checked her schedule and answered, "Nope."
"Then you gotta come," Ursula said. "I'll drop the address in the chat. Everyone who's free should show up. It's a buffet, so as long as you're not too late, there's grub."
Jocelyn settled in, occasionally glancing at the roses.
She really couldn't guess who sent them.
But she took a pic and tweeted it anyway. [First time getting red roses and they're from a mystery sender.]
Daisy quickly replied. [Someone's finally chasing after you, huh?]
Calvin followed up on Daisy. [My daughter's a sweetheart. The guy's got good taste.]
Jocelyn cracked a smile.
Then Quinta popped up. [Eh? Isn't it him?]
Jocelyn's smile stiffened a bit as she dryly replied to Quinta. [Cut it out. It's over.]
Quinta immediately messaged her. [What's 'over'? You guys split? Why?]
After a moment, Jocelyn clutched her phone and typed back. [Got tired of it.]
Quinta sent a thumbs-up, then added. [Out with the old, in with the new. Enjoy life.] Jocelyn smiled again.
Her Twitter was blowing up with 21 new messages, but she didn't check them.
She opened her textbook to prep for the afternoon class.
...
After freshening up, Ursula took her and a couple of colleagues to the buffet. Soon after, more teachers and some of Ursula's friends joined.
Jocelyn and the others got Ursula a three-layer cake, which she playfully blamed them for wasting money on, but still donned a crown and made a wish when the candles were lit. When asked about her wish, she hoped for her class to top the finals and for her subject to lead the ranks.
Everyone teased her for being so wicked, leaving no room for the others to shine.
They had a blast, eating, drinking, and chatting. Jocelyn was in high spirits too.
When life's fulfilling, you don't have time to dwell on the crummy stuff.
Like her laughter now, which was genuinely joyous.
Three hours later, they finally left the restaurant.
Everyone was as merry leaving as they were arriving. Simple emotions often hold more sincerity and anticipation.
Ursula, who had a few drinks, called a driver. She initially wanted to drop Jocelyn off, but it was out of the way, so Jocelyn declined and called her own ride. After Ursula left, Jocelyn waited for her Uber.
A sleek silver Porsche pulled up in front of her, window rolled down, and Melvin, looking grim, told Jocelyn to get in.
Jocelyn had spotted his car nearby earlier but pretended not to notice.
Even now, she glanced over nonchalantly as any passerby would and kept waiting.
Her ride arrived soon after and stopped behind Melvin's Porsche.
Jocelyn walked straight to it, got into the backseat.
The driver signaled and drove around the Porsche.
Jocelyn passed by Melvin without raising an eyelid, eyes fixed forward, completely ignoring his presence.
The car stopped at her apartment complex, and she got out.
Melvin's car followed and he jumped out, grabbing Jocelyn's arm.
Jocelyn turned coldly, "What are you doing? Let go!"
Melvin furrowed his brows tightly. "I sent you the flowers."
Jocelyn was a bit taken aback but didn't show it. "So what?"
"I didn't do what you're mad about," Melvin tried calling her, but she wouldn't pick up, nor respond to his texts. If it weren't for Preston, he wouldn't have found her.
This woman sure knew how to throw a tantrum.
He never liked to coddle anyone, but with yesterday's mess, he felt wronged. Like being accused and sentenced without a crime, he needed to clear his name. "Here or at your place?" Melvin asked.
Jocelyn didn't want him to find any loopholes. "Just say it here."
"Fine." Melvin took out his phone, played a video with NSFW visuals and loud, unsavory sounds that were especially loud in the still of the night outside the complex. Jocelyn's face flushed with embarrassment and anger. She quickly reached to shut off his phone and asked, "What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" Melvin kept a straight face and asked back, "Don't you think the voice sounds familiar?"
Familiar my foot!
She'd never watched that kind of video!
"What are you trying to pull?" Jocelyn was beyond done with him.
Melvin said, "The audio you heard last night? It's straight from this video. I'm squeaky clean, so don't go slinging mud at me. Plus, messing around isn't my cup of tea."
Jocelyn was gritting her teeth, stared him down while he kept his cool, and took a deep breath. "But isn't it a fact that some chick spent the night at your place?"
"I didn't invite her," Melvin shot back, "And it wasn't just the two of us there. You can check with Preston, for real."
Right then, Jocelyn's emotions were still riding high. It wasn't like she had any particular thoughts; it was just that his unexpected move earlier had left her feeling all kinds of embarrassed, and the jerk didn't even raise an eyelid.
"You don't need to explain anything to me. I mean, we're clearly not cut from the same cloth," Jocelyn knew what was up. She had never spent a night at Melvin's place, nor had she ever cozied up with his pals for a meal like Willow had.
To put it nicely, he was stashing his chick in a love nest.
To put it bluntly, he never even thought about letting her into his world.
Not a good fit, Jocelyn guessed.
She took a deep, harsh breath and flashed him a faux sincere smile. "Let's break up. No hard feelings, and let's not make this any messier."