For some reason after my conversation with Andrew I couldn't shake the feeling that I was about to break down. The tears kept building in my eyes and it was only a matter of time before they finally spilled over. I decided it was best if I went home before the flood gates opened, because when they did, I didn't know when they were going to close again. I took out my phone and texted my mom.
Hey Mom, you busy?
I stood in the empty hallway with my back pressed against the lockers. I leaned my head back and let out a shaky breath when my phone buzzed.
Not too busy for my favorite child. What's up?
I smiled at her text before replying.
Bad day. Can you come get me?
My legs felt weak after I pressed send and I felt myself slide down the lockers until my butt hit the floor. I tried so hard to stay strong. I hadn't felt this vulnerable since my 'friends' at my old school made me the center of a prank at one of the great parties they convinced me to go to. That was one night I avoided talking about. In fact I usually pretended it never happened. But right then, images of that night were flashing through my mind and I fought harder to hold back the tears.
It was a cold night in February and I was having a horrible time, like I always do at parties when Brianna, the leader of my group of 'friends' beckoned me outside.
These were the people I sat with at lunch and in class. I was surprised that I was actually invited tonight. It was rare for Brianna to acknowledge me long enough to even invite me to a party and whenever she did I was usually ignored pretty much the entire night.
I followed her until we were with a group of people near the pool. She said they were going to play truth or dare but they needed one more girl to make it even.
I should have known from there that something was off because with me there, it made six girls, but there were at least ten guys. Nothing even about that. But I didn't question it, I was just happy to have been included. I wish I had questioned it.
One of the guys offered me a soda and I took it since it was a closed can. They resumed their game and I took the tab on the can and pulled. Now if I had been more observant, I would have noticed their excited stares as I went to open the can, but I didn't. I mean, why should I suspect anything? These people were supposed to be my friends, right? So stupid me opened the can, only to be sprayed by the fizzed up soda shooting out of it.
I quickly turned my face the other way and held the can away from my body, but it did nothing, I was already soaked. Then the laughter came. I slowly turned to the group to see most of them with their phones out, recording the incident. It didn't stop there though, one of the guys walked up to me with a smirk and took the can from my hand and putting it on a table next to us.
"Nice shirt," he said casually, "White's a nice color on you."
The rest of the guys laughed harder as my eyes widened in realization. I looked down to find my thin white shirt completely see-through, my black bra on open display. My eyes started to fill with tears and I took a step back from them.
"Awe, now don't cry little Natalie, let me help you. You shouldn't wear wet clothes on a cold night like this." The guy said. I didn't even bother correcting him on my name, all I wanted was to go home.
I started to shake my head, shivering, when suddenly he and two other guys jumped in front of me. They circled me and on of the guys picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.
"Let's clean you up, Nat!" I heard one of them yell. The tears were blurring my vision and I started yelling at him to put me down.
Then one second I was in the air, falling. The next second freezing cold water was surrounding my whole body. They threw me into the pool. In the shock of the cold I couldn't move my limbs. My eyes opened and I looked to the surface. I could faintly see the group staring after me, their phones still out recording the whole thing and I closed my eyes to keep from seeing them. I guess I was down there for a while because soon I heard shouting. It was weird hearing it through the water. Muffled yells and screams. Suddenly I was pulled harshly from the water and my lungs filled with air. My body was violently shivering as they sat me on a pool chair and I felt a towel wrap around my shoulders.
"What the hell was that Natalia? You said you knew how to swim!" I looked up to find Brianna staring at me with hard, angry eyes.
"I d-do" My voice shook.
"Well obviously you don't! You almost just fucking died! I bet you did that on purpose. Just trying to get more attention. God, you're pathetic." She sneered.
I should have felt pain, but I was numb. On the inside and outside. I stood up and wrapped the towel tighter around me and walked out of the party. No one followed me. I as lucky that the host only lived about fifteen minutes away from me. I got home late so my parents were asleep. I snuck up to my room, took a warm bath, and never once talked about what happened that night.
I shook my head, trying to get rid of the images. I looked around and sighed in relief when I was still sat in the hallway. And even more relief came when I found the hallway still empty. I looked at my phone to find that my mom had still not replied. I was confused as to why she was taking so long. A sudden wave of fear went through me. Maybe she was too busy to come get me. I don't think I could handle being here the rest of the day. My phone buzzed again and I anxiously looked at my phone. It was my mom.
I'm outside
I smiled and stood up. I brushed myself off and took a deep breath before making my way outside.
"I'm so sorry baby girl, but things will get better. This kind of thing doesn't last forever, you know that." I laid in my bed with my mom sat on the edge stroking my hair and consoling me.
I had just explained my whole week to her and she was comforting me and giving advise. My mom was definitely the best women in the world.
I nodded and let out a breath. "It's just, I thought it'd be different this time. I thought I found friends that I could trust." I sniffed.
She smiled sadly at me. "Trust is a funny thing sweetie. It's hard to gain and easy to lose. But these friends, they're good. I have never seen you happier than you have been here. No friendship is perfect, and teenagers make mistakes. But then you learn from them. You just need to give your friends a chance to learn from this. It's things like this that make friendships stronger."
I smiled at her. "Thanks mom."
"Of course, my darling child. Just remember, it's not the amount of mistakes that makes a friendship strong. It's taking the risk to stay and fix it." She leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Dad's getting home early tonight." She said with a cheeky smile and a wink.
I smiled genuinly and sat up. "Board games and pizza?"
She stood and put her hands on her hips. "Uh, duh!"
The next day I texted Cole that I wouldn't be needing a ride to school. He questioned me about it but I assured him that I was fine. And I actually was fine. My parents made me feel better right away. They were good at doing that. And my mom's advise helped a lot. She decided that night that she was driving me to school the next morning after we went out to breakfast.
I was sitting on the couch, waiting for my mom to finish getting ready. She was taking forever. A couple of minutes passed before she glided past me to the front door.
"Come on Natty! I don't have all day." She yelled, even though I was no more than two feet away from her.
I rolled my eyes. "Sorry mom, I didn't mean to keep you waiting. You know, since I take so long getting ready."
She slid her sunglasses on and pursed her lips. "I guess I'll let it slide this time."
I laughed and we walked out of the door together.
Breakfast with my mom was fun and enjoyable. And it was very entertaining watching the 25 year old waiter flirt with her. She even played alond for a while before breaking the news that she was married. He wasn't even fazed though. It was all pretty hilarious.
We pulled up to the school and I looked at the time.
"Lunch is going to start in five minutes." I said.
"Dang, did we really take that long to eat?" My mom asked.
"No, but you took that long to flirt." I teased.
"Well so what? It's demanding being this attractive. And according to that nice young waiter, I don't look a day over 23." She smiled proudly.
It was no secret that my mom looked young and beautiful, but 23 was pushing it.
"Okay mom, sure." I smiled and got out of the car.
"Have fun and learn stuff!" She yelled before I closed the door. I gave her a thumbs up before turning and walking towards the school. "And use protection and don't do drugs!" she yelled loudly then sped out of the parking lot. I blushed and looked around to make sure that there weren't any witnesses. When I was sure the coast was clear I made my way to the front doors. Just as I was walking down the hallway the bell rang for lunch to begin.
I changed directions and entered the cafeteria. I scanned the room until I found my table. I was happy to find Robyn, Chrissy, Katelyn, Calvin, and Zander already seated there. I watched as Trent made his way over to the table. I smiled as he took the seat between Robyn and Calvin.
I walked over to where they were sitting and sat down.
"Nat!" Chrissy exclaimed when I sat down next to her. She turned and hugged me tightly.
I laughed. "Woah Chrissy, calm down. It's only been like 24 hours."
"What the hell? You just disappeared!" She exclaimed.
The rest of the guys joined us as Chrissy continued scolding me. I locked eyes with Andrew and gave him a small smile, which he seemed very pleased by as he returned it. He took a seat across from me. I couldn't help but feel the tiniest amount of disappointment that he didn't sit next to me, but I quickly shook it off.
"Okay Chrissy, that's enough. Just let the girl explain why she was gone." Robyn cut in.
Then all eyes were on me.
I shrugged. "I just spent the day with my parents." I told them.
"What?" Katelyn asked.
"I spent the day with my parents?" I repeated.
"That's it?" Cole asked me and I nodded. "I thought something was wrong."
I caught Andrew's gaze and guilt washed over his face.
I turned my attention back to Cole and shook my head. "No, nothing's wrong." I said truthfully.
They seemed to accept my answer and moved on.
"So," Calvin started. He gestured to Robyn and Trent's interlocked fingers, "This, this is serious?"
Robyn smiled shyly. "Yeah." She leaned over to look at Calvin. "Why?"
He smiled and shook his head. "No reason. It just kind of came out of no where. I didn't expect your first boyfriend to be him." Calvin explained.
"Cal!" Robyn exclaimed. "He isn't my first boyfriend!"
"Whatever you say, Robyn." He said with a smirk.
We all watched the exchange with amused looks.
Trent cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable to be in the middle of the small argument.
"Well, I'm glad it did happen. Even if it was unexpected." He said with a charming smile. "Seriously Nat, I don't know how I could have done it without you."
"What do you mean?" Calvin asked Trent.
"I mean, pretty much the whole thing was her idea." Trent grinned widely at me. "I needed a girl's opinion and Nat was happy to help. Without her I don't know if I'd ever get the guts to do this." His cheeks turned pink slightly.
I grinned. "It was my pleasure." I gave a little fake bow.
Lunch passed too quickly and soon I was leaving for 5th period. I felt lighter, though, like a huge weight had been lifted off of my chest.
I just hoped this feeling would last.
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Okay so this chapter was supposed to be up yesterday! I'm so sorry guys but there were some technical difficulties. And by that I mean that the whole chapter got deleted and I had to re-write it. Yes, very frustrating events. But it's finally done! So here you go, just one day late! I will probably be updating more in the next two weeks because Winter Break!!!!!! Yay!
So same thing as usual, just please COMMENT and VOTE because I love it.
And if you have not already, please go check out the prologue for my newest Wattpad book The Swap. Chapter one is coming out very soon.
Lastly, this has not been edited so if you see any mistakes feel free to point them out and I will fix them. I love you, you perfect amazing and fantastic people.
Thank you for reading! Until next time...........
~Lori~