On My Own Time

Chapter 34

The next morning I woke up tired but still tried to stay positive. Caden was especially nice, pouring me cereal and making my mother eggs with bacon. He even accepted the smoothie my mother made for him. He left when his friends came and I left with Max and Hector. We were happy, laughing as we talked about the memories at the camping trip. Max even began to joke about Sara even though she wasn't here. Though it caught my attention because Max would never have joked about her before. His jokes weren't mean but were rather silly and funny. Hector was also very talkative this morning, a wide smile on his face and laughing. I couldn't help but forget that bad feeling I got last night and instead began to feel so happy. I had amazing friends, an amazing boyfriend, and now Caden and I were beginning to be friends. I couldn't help but to look at the pictures we took at the trip but my smile grew the largest due to the picture Victor sent me. It was of us kissing on the hill of the first big hike. We both seemed happy and I was simply remembering that happiness.

When we got to the school most of the parking was empty which was weird but we ignored it. Max joked that it was just a lazy Monday to people might have skipped. When we entered the school most students weren't around and we began to wonder if there really was school today. It was weird because the few students that were around were staring at us and some even whispered. When we got closer to my locker, that's when we found out where all the students were. They all crowded around the lockers where mine was located and we were confused. There were pictures taped to the wall and before I could pull one off to look at it Caden and Victor saw us. They were quick to reach us and I couldn't help but to notice the looks of worry they had.

"Let's skip school," Victor said, grabbing my arm and began to pull me towards the front doors.

"What? What's going on?" I asked.

"Caden, what's wrong?" Max asked as well, trying to move towards the pictures but Caden kept blocking him by moving in front of him.

"There's no time to explain-"

"Diego! Is it true?" I heard Sara yell, interrupting Victor and holding up a picture, a look of disgust on her face.

"Shut up!" Caden quickly yelled at her, a look of guilt taking over his features and roughly grabbing the paper, crumbling it up and tossing it.

I looked at Victor and he too looked guilty. He looked down at me, a look of panic covering his entire face. That uneasy feeling came back and it slowly began to sink in what was happening. I knew what was happening.

They knew.

Everyone turned to look at me and it was as clear as glass.

They knew.

"What did you do?" I asked in a whisper, feeling the panic well up in me as I looked at Victor and Caden.

They both moved towards me but that just made me panic even more. One look towards Sara and I felt disgusted. She was glaring at me, her arms crossed and that accusing look of disgust haunting me. She was disgusted with me. She actually was disgusted with me.

"Let us explain," Caden pleaded.

I ripped my hand away from Victor who stepped foward but I took steps back. Max, who had made his way through the crowd, ripped off a paper from my locker and his eyes widened. Oh God. He knew. Everyone knew.