Implode [edited version]

o1 implosion

As unhappy as she was, she could say the blonde before her was enough to balance the negativity in her life. She was mildly confused by why Laurisse might have even bothered to be her friend, let alone stick with her for so long, and manage to pass through the crowd with greetings from all. She was of a radiance that allowed it, Exodus supposed.

Biting down softly on her lip, she returned her attention to the girl twirling before her, showing off the latest wear she'd bought over the summer. The shorts were patterned and tattered, short enough for the tassels of fabric to brush against her thighs. Her white cotton tee shirt barely reached down to her waist line, revealing the braided belt securing her shorts.

"So, how do I look," Laurisse questioned, twirling once more, "I even got a sweater to match it."

The lilt in her voice was clear, the soft British tang muddling her words. For a moment, all Exodus could hear was a rush of pessimistic thoughts in place of the question offered by her friend. They set themselves on replay for her to wallow in, the seconds now a slow blaze of envy. She watched Laurisse's lips move slowly, brows furrowing, and she wondered how perfect a person could be.

Soft pink lips continued to move with the formation of words, and pain flashed over her forehead before Exodus could realize what had happened. She was answered by the somewhat annoyed and mostly concerned expression of her companion, and she shrugged.

"Yeah, it looks great," she muttered, rubbing the spot radiating with a light dusting of pain.

Laurisse pouted, not at all pleased by the response she'd been given. Looping her arm around Exodus' slender frame, she sighed.

"Listen, babe, this is the last year we'll see this place," she began, and Exodus had only to roll her eyes, "These people will fade away and become the most insignificant portions of our miserable high school experience. I promise, you're gonna break a few hearts, give it your all, and be done with this whole nonsense before you know it."

Exodus rolled her eyes again, but smiled nonetheless. The thought of positivity being directed towards her was a welcome change, although this was usually the case when she was with Laurisse. The nature of the relationship between the two felt like a one-sided envy, but was of the kind that was almost as if Exodus idolized her. It was safe to say that she did, actually.

Hips bumping together as they moved down the hall, they drifted into a happy banter, the variety only found between the two of them.

It was only a matter of time before the two had to split, the schedules for the year keeping them apart for most of the day. Sighing, Exodus parted with her friend and peered into the classroom.

Lips pursed, she made her way towards the back. It was the one spot that she had deemed safe for her. Her pursuit of the spot was explainable, considering her first class involved the old crone Marvis and British Literature.

There was a wafting of vanilla in her nose, followed by strands of fiery red as a girl slid easily into the seat she was heading for. Her visage was kissed with freckles, and her blues eyes held nothing but a challenge. It was clear that the girl wouldn't be moving, thus forcing Exodus to move to the front.

Lunch was only slightly better than the periods before. It was the one time everyone was more concerned about the calories in their meal, and the free time to smoke up behind the gym. One could always tell which table belonged to which clique by the closed off way they sat, or the conversation that drifted by.

It was the kind of stereotypical high school thing that Exodus could say she'd never been a part of. She was the outcast of the outcast clique, too low for them even. She often wondered when someone else would take her place, but none of the freshman this year seemed to be of the right sort; if there was a right sort of the torment she was going through.

Brows furrowed, she proceeded down the long hall with her food, searching for an empty table. She didn't realize then that the aggression sent her way was worse than it'd ever been before. She could feel the glares ripping through her as she went, but the thoughts behind them were only left to her imagination. She'd assumed that carbs and food was more important than she was, that, she was placed on such a low standard, but apparently not.

There was one glare in particular that she felt that made her turn around. It was like the person had a lot more to hate her for than the others in the room, but also had a balanced amount of affection. It was a twisted sort of desire that she didn't quite understand, or really want to understand.

She turned slowly, everything slowing down with her. The glare was in place in the corner of her eyes, that place no one really wanted to look. Maybe it was why she'd never seen it before, never felt this hatred radiating over her. Her gaze landed on a stunning pair of eyes, a liquid gold that looked warm and inviting, but seared. The flash of affection she saw was only momentary, gone in a second.

It was gone in the same time that the eyes did.

//so, my New Year's gift! New edits of Implode!