The Reputation Trap

0.9

Ramona's POV

5 days later...

Ross has been avoiding me lately. A lot. He won't talk to me. At all. If I see him in the hallways and wave to him, he'll look at me and then quickly look away. There's something obviously wrong. Terribly wrong.

So I invited Rydel over.

"What's up?" Rydel said as I open the door. I was so anxious to talk to her that I quickly pulled her inside, without closing the door. I dragged her upstairs to my room and shut the door. I plopped her on my bed and I sit in my desk chair.

"Ramona. What happened?" Rydel asked. I sighed. I had to tell her. The truth. I needed to get it off my chest.

"...Rydel. Please don't get mad at me when I say this." I said. She raised an eyebrow and leaned in.

"Alright." She said with a cheery voice. I bit my lip and sigh.

"I like Ross". There was an absolute silence. Rydel sat there, on my bed, like a complete statue.

"A-Are you sure?" She asked, breaking the silence. I hesitate and say, "I'm sure". She leans back a bit and crosses her legs.

"And I don't know what to do. He's been ignoring me this whole week! And I don't know why!" I explained. Rydel nodded.

"Yeah, I've been noticing that too. And I thought you two we're best friends!" Rydel said. I froze. She said "Best Friends". My eyes get real wide and I froze completely. She doesn't know.

"Ramona?" Rydel asked. I felt a lump in my throat. I swallow, trying to get the lump out but It wouldn't go away.

"Well. We're not, and we can't. I can't be friends with any of you." I replied. She tilted her head in confusion.

"What are you talking about? We are friends!" Rydel said, smiling a bit. I shook my head and watched her smile turn into a frown.

"Rydel, my mom and I basically move every year or every 2 months! I haven't had a real friend since I was 9 years old!".

Ross' POV

I didn't know what to do. At all. I was terrified. So terrified that I couldn't even look at Ramona or talk to her! But, I had a plan.

I wanted to tell Ramona that I had to do this to her and that I would pretend to bully her. And that I would never ACTUALLY hurt her. I want her to pretend to be hurt. This would be our little secret that Damian doesn't know - that I actually told her this and that she's okay that I'm doing this to her for a special reason. Money.

I walked over to Ramona's house and I was planning to tell her the plan. The door was wide open. Something was up. I quietly walk inside and tiptoed upstairs. Ramona's door was shut and I could hear voices. I lean in a bit to listen.

"What are you talking about? We are friends!" A voice said.

"Rydel, my mom and I basically move every year or every 2 months! I haven't had a real friend since I was 9 years old!" A familiar voice said. It was Ramona and Rydel talking. What is Ramona talking about?

"So, you're saying we can't be friends?" Rydel asked. I heard a sigh from Ramona.

"Maybe. I don't know! Listen, every time I make a friend, the next week or so, I move! So what's the point of having best friends, boyfriends or anything when you just leave them!" Ramona yelled. Something in my chest hurt when Ramona said that. And I didn't know why.

"So you're just gonna leave us? All of us? Me, Riker, Rocky, Ryland, Ratliff and Ross?" Rydel shot back.

"Yes! I'm leaving ALL of you! This is why I don't make friends! Because I leave them even if they cared about me, loved me or anything!" Ramona yelled back. Something inside of me made me wanna go punch something. I felt... Hurt?

"But we need you, Ramona! You made us all happy again! You made ROSS happy again! He was all mad, sad, depressed and everything! Then when you came, he lit up like a light bulb. He cares about you! He fought a guy for you! He got a bit defensive when Rocky called YOU his girl when really you weren't! He stayed with you when you didn't wanna go bowling with us! He also let you sleep in his bed! You also made me feel happy when you came too! I finally had a girl to depend on! I need you, Ramona! Ross needs you too!" Rydel said. There was a complete silence and I felt tears streaming down my face. I didn't know why. I heard Ramona sob a bit, which I guess... Broke my heart.

"I'm sorry. But I'm leaving you and Ross. And there's really nothing to do about it." Ramona softly said. I finally knew what was happening to me. I was heart broken. And I finally knew that... I did need Ramona. She makes me feel alive, happy. Without her, I would loose my mind. But she's leaving me. Just like how Sapphire left me. I finally find someone that I care about and them they're gonna leave me. I felt so incredibly mad - at Ramona. I curse under my breath and quietly tiptoe downstairs. I walk out her front door, slamming the door so hard that a flower vase inside shattered to the ground. I wipe away my tears streaming down my face and run to the gas station. I buy a couple of beers and sit outside the store. I open the beer and drink it. I had to get everything off my mind. I kept on drinking and drinking until I didn't know what I was worrying about.

Ramona's POV

Rydel and I started crying. Profusely. (hey look one of my vocab words for school 😂 omg)

Then, we heard the front door slam and something shatter. Rydel and I stop sobbing and quickly head downstairs to see what happened. A broken flower vase was on the floor. Rydel and I look at each other and hug.

"I'm so sorry, Rydel. I just don't want the others to know." I whisper. We pull away and she smiles a bit.

"It's okay. I understand. And I promise that I won't tell anybody." She responded. We hug again, for a long time. I lost a friend. And then soon, I'll loose all of my friends.

I think I shed a few tears while writing this chapter 😭. But don't worry, im okay :).

I feel sooooo bad for Rydel and Ross. Ross is the one who is really hurt. Awww poor baby 😔

-stephanie