Web of Lies

Chapter 6 | Spiraling Setup

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Mature content warning for this chapter:

Bullying, humiliation and sexual references

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             Wednesday rolled about and something wasn't right. As Cate walked through the hallways of high school, Elise seemed nowhere to be found. Cate tried to rationalize why she hadn't appeared yet to harass her, but due to her paranoid state, she ended up subconsciously walking to class slower than usual (giving her a tardy at the beginning of math class).

             When the lunch bell rang, Cate made her way through the lunch line by herself. It seemed Jayson hadn't made it to the cafeteria yet. Nevertheless, Cate picked up a tray and was then served the most revolting soup she had smelled. She turned to look for her friends, but immediately noticed something that caught her off guard: Jack was sitting at a different table than usual. Furthermore, this table was directly next to Charlotte's. Something was very wrong.

             With wobbly knees, Cate slowly dragged herself towards the table that Jack chose to sit at. Her mind began to race. Her legs felt like they were sinking. As if the ground itself was quicksand, the more she moved, the harder the following step would be.

              She tried to avert her gaze from the table of fear, but Cate couldn't help but wonder if Charlotte was looking at her. She let the temptation win, but only for the slightest and most regretted second of Cate's life.

              Staring back at her, making perfect eye contact, was the hot pink eyes of Charlotte Mainer.

             Cate practically trembled as she looked away. She had to walk past them momentarily, but now Charlotte knew Cate was looking at her. The situation only sickened until everything suddenly went in slow motion.

             SHHLP!

             Cate fell to the suddenly slippery floor, in a puddle of water. Her vision blurred as she tried to stand back up, but she couldn't find her footing. Laughter began to fill the room as the drenched Cate began to panic. She frantically looked around for help only to find a smile from Elise as she mouthed three words:

              'I warned you.'

              The voices of laughter increased with every new student to realize what had happened. Despite still being on the floor, she felt the eyes of hundreds staring and snickering at her. She couldn't believe what had happened.

             Ashamed and defeated, Cate stood up. Suddenly she had an awful realization: no one was laughing at her. Instead, they were pointing and cackling at someone behind her.

              Cate turned slowly. Mortified at the scene before her, she covered her mouth with her hands.

             Cate's lunch tray of soup had perfectly covered every inch of Charlotte's white blouse.

             The angry blonde did not even open her eyes. She sat in the same position as she had when the soup first made impact. Her tight eyelids twitched with intolerance towards the situation, yet she took no sudden action to get herself out.

             Students began to gossip loudly and send comments towards the two girls.

             "I can see her bra~!"

             "Who would have thought that a girl could get Ms. Mainer wet!"

             "Fight!"