Chapter 36 #2
Stan immediately tensed next to me, and I braced myself for another argument. But instead, Scottie stayed calm. She glanced between us, then broke into a grin. “You’re matching.”
I nodded quickly and smiled back at her.
“Of course they’re matching. They’re boyfriend and girlfriend,” Stan said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“What?” Scottie’s eyes widened as she stared at me, trying to piece it together. “Are you serious? Since when?”
[About a week,] I signed. My heart started beating faster just thinking about the night we made it official.
“Oh my god. Guys!” She wrapped an arm around Ashby’s side before pulling me into a tight hug. “I knew it. I knew since we were kids that this would happen. I’ve just been patiently waiting for this day.”
I hugged her back and looked up at Ashby, who was smiling down at us. He looked pleased. Now our closest friends knew we were together, and I didn’t really care about anyone else at school. The people I was afraid to tell were our family, but that was for another time.
“I want a hug too,” Stan said, his eyes fixed on Scottie.
I pulled back and gave them some space, watching Scottie turn to Stan with a playful expression. “You’ll get your hug when we’re on a date.”
“Oh, come on,” Stan cried. “That’s so not fair.”
“Actually, pretty damn fair if you ask me,” Ashby said.
“We barely even have time for a date,” Stan argued. “I go to the gym one night, and the other night you’re at soccer practice. We barely have time to go out.”
“If you truly wanted to go out with me, and eventually call me your girlfriend, you’d make time,” Scottie said calmly. “Besides, we hang out on weekends all the time. Could’ve made one of those times a date.”
“She’s right about that, too,” Ashby added, clearly trying to rile him up. And it was working.
Stan groaned and ran his hands over his face. “I’m honestly trying my best here,” he said, looking back at Scottie. “Okay. Saturday. Since we’ll probably hang out anyway. Do you want to go on a date then?”
“No.”
Ashby laughed, and I grinned. I didn’t want the bell to ring because this was incredibly entertaining.
While we watched them, Ashby reached for my hand and gently curled his fingers around mine.
It felt secretive enough but not hidden.
I smiled up at him, then turned my attention back to Scottie and Stan.
“Why not?” Stan asked, looking confused and annoyed at the same time.
“Because I have a soccer game on Saturday,” Scottie said. “And I actually wanted you guys to come.”
“Sure, we’ll come,” Ashby said easily, and I nodded along.
I loved going to her games.
“Um, hello?” Stan said. “I’m trying to get this girl to go on a date with me. You’re not helping.”
Scottie’s grin widened. She let it drag out for another second before finally freeing him from the torture. “You may take me on a date after my game.”
Stan’s eyes went wide. He threw his fists into the air, celebrating as if he’d just won another MMA fight. “Let’s fucking go! You hear that, dude? I’m going on a date with the hottest girl on this planet!”
Ashby laughed. “Congrats, buddy. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Oh, I won’t,” Stan said quickly, looking back at Scottie with a grin that reached both his ears. “I swear, I’ll make this the best date.”
The bell finally rang, and with Scottie and Stan already heading down the hall, Ashby led me to my classroom. “I’ll see you later,” he told me.
[Okay. See you later.] I looked around before adding, [I love you.]
He smiled and lifted his own hands. [I love you too, sweet girl.]
With that, I turned and quickly went to sit at my desk before my knees gave in.
I went to the bathroom before the next period, but, unfortunately, Hailie and Aspen decided to do the same. I did my business, then went to wash my hands, hoping to get out without them saying a word.
I had no such luck. As I finished drying my hands and turned toward the door, Hailie shoved me hard, making me stumble sideways. My hip slammed against the edge of the sink. I managed to stay upright, but the pain that shot through me made it hard to keep my balance.
“Did you really think you could get away with what you did to us at the mall?” Hailie’s eyes were filled with rage.
I never fully understood how someone so young and beautiful could carry so much hate.
She had makeup on again, but I’ve always thought it looked pretty on her.
However, I was sure that underneath it all, she was just as beautiful.
There was no time to think about it. She kept going, throwing words at me that were meant to hurt.
“And you really think wearing the same sweater as Ashby will make him like you more? Please. You’re literally the weirdest girl at this school. And you keep disrespecting us by not speaking.”
Aspen stood right behind her with her arms crossed over her chest. She looked at me with the same disgust, but there was something else in her eyes. Something that didn’t match the way she held herself.
“And you’re doing it again,” Hailie squealed. “You know you’ll have to talk eventually. You’re nothing special.”
I furrowed my brows and avoided her gaze. The way she looked at me with so much rage hurt more than the words themselves.
“Go on, attention-whore. Apologize to us.”
I didn’t know what for. I had never done anything to hurt them. I had never said anything mean. Obviously.
I crossed one arm over my stomach and held the other close, trying to protect myself. Even if I used my hands, they wouldn’t understand. It would only make them angrier.
“She won’t,” Aspen said with a sigh. “We’re wasting time here.”
But Hailie shook her head. “It’s never a waste to teach others some manners.”
She stepped closer and reached for me. I tried to pull away, but she pinched my skin through my sweater. Pain bloomed instantly, and she didn’t let go. I could already feel my skin bruising under her grip.
“Apologize,” she said again, anger flashing in her eyes. “Go on, mute.”
I clicked my tongue and turned away until she finally released me.
But the moment she did, she shoved me again—harder this time.
I fell, unable to catch myself. I hit the floor on my butt, and the back of my head slammed into one of the stall doors.
The pain was so harsh that my ears rang, and my vision blurred.
I forced my eyes open, terrified of passing out.
I already got a taste of what she could do to me, and I didn’t want to risk getting hurt more while I was unconscious.
It was a sickening thought, but knowing Hailie, I knew she’d even go that far.
I scrambled to my feet and grabbed the door handle to steady myself.
Seconds later, another sharp pain struck when Hailie slapped the side of my head with her palm.
“Are you stupid or something? Just apologize. It’s one simple word.”
My body was shaking now, and my lips trembled. I didn’t want to cry. Not in front of them. But it was hard not to when I was being shoved and hurt like this.
[Please stop.]
“We don’t speak your stupid language, bitch.”
She swung again, her fist landing hard against my temple.
Tears streamed down my face now, and my chest felt so tight I could barely breathe.
[Please. Please.]
“Hailie, let’s just go,” Aspen pleaded, which somehow didn’t surprise me. She had looked uncomfortable standing there, watching Hailie bully me. But she still hadn’t stopped her.
“Tsk.” Hailie’s hands were clenched into fists at her sides, ready to swing again at any given moment.
I stared at her hands, terrified she would use them to hurt me again. But she didn’t. She didn’t move either. And I knew I couldn’t stay there.
I wiped my cheeks with my fingers. Gathering all the strength and courage I had left, I rushed past them and out of the bathroom.
The pain was unbearable. My head throbbed as I walked, and I reached back to touch it, checking for blood.
When my fingers came away clean, I let out a sharp breath.
Then I forced myself back into class, desperate to forget that any of it had ever happened.