The New Girl

Mean Girl

Clara~

My day had gone well so far, and now River and James were walking me to lunch.  The Victoria girl hadn't talked to me much after class started and when she did, it was always about the boys.  

"Why is lunch so early? It isn't even eleven yet. " I grumbled. The boys shrugged and exchanged an odd look.

"Are you guys okay? " I asked awkwardly, making eye contact with both of them.

River scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "Uh, yeah. It's just that everyone is talking about you. Most of the guys are being pretty inapropriate." He was blushing a little when he said it. 

"Oh well, don't forget that you guys called me fresh meat and tried to cat call at me. " I mumbled. "Besides, they will stop eventually, it's just because I'm new." I looked at them and they looked shocked, maybe because I had called them out for their earlier behavior. 

"First of all, sorry about that. It was mostly Alex. Second, I don't think they will calm down for a while." James said with a little smile. 

I blushed and looked at the ground. "I'm gonna go get some lunch. See you guys at the table. " I mumbled and started to walk away from them when I was bumped into roughly, feeling a mixture of hot and cold substances drip down my body. I didn't realize what had happened until I saw the chocolate milk and mashed potatoes covering my clothes. 

"Oh my god. I am so sorry Clara!" Victoria said as her food slid down the front of my dress. I didn't want to make eye contact so I just looked at her perfectly curled bouncy blonde hair. 

"It's okay. " I choked out as I turned to run out. I felt a weight on my chest and moved towards to door quickly. A hand grabbed my wrist and I looked up to see River staring down at me clearly concerned. His blue eyes begged me to slow down and relax. I couldn't, I was going into fight or flight mode, and flight it was. 

I ripped myself from his grasp and ran out the door and towards the nearest bathroom. I couldn't breath and just needed to be alone. Why did I have to move here? I was happy at my old school. I hadn't had a anxiety attack in months, but I have felt it building since I found out I was moving here. This was provoked at least so I kind of saw it coming, I find these to be easier to cope with personally than when I have an attack that was unprovoked. 

I could hear him following me. I slammed the bathroom door shut and ran straight to the farthest stall. I had always been the type of person who would go straight to the last stall in a bathroom. 

The restroom door opened again and I heard footsteps approaching my stall. Please tell me River didn't follow me into the girls bathroom/

"Please come out Clara. It'll be okay. " River said calmly.

"Get out of here freak, this is the girls restroom. " I managed between sobs.

"I'm not leaving until you come out. "

"I barely know you. Why do you care? " I managed to get out. 

He walked into the stall next to mine and stood on the toilet so he could look down at me. I kept my head down and avoided looking at him. Sobs racked my body and I struggled to breath. 

"I care because I don't like to see people upset. I'm going to be worried until I know you are okay. "

"Well I'm going to be fine. Will you let me cry in peace now?" I mumbled at him. He grabbed the stall and hoisted himself over it and into my stall carefully. Why couldn't he have stayed out of the restroom? Obviously I wasn't trying to be in a bathroom stall alone with this dude I just met this morning. 

He looked down at my food covered dress and I could tell he was thinking about something. Suddenly, he wrapped his arms carefully around my shoulders and pulled me into him for a tight hug. 

"River! You are getting mashed potatoes and milk all over your shirt!" I couldn't believe he was hugging me. I felt my heart rate slow a little and I was able to take a few deep breaths. Was I already calming down? It normally takes longer than this. 

"I don't care. " He said as he pulled away and looked down at his clothes proudly. "Oh boy Victoria will be pissed now." I looked up at him and raised both my eyebrows. See what I mean? Can't just raise one. 

"You better not be using me to make her jealous or mad. She is clearly going to mess with me if you are."