It Could Happen...Someday

From Bad to Worse... to Interesting.

Macyn.

I take a deep breath.

Okay, you can do this, I tell myself, Nobody will remember anyways...

My shaky hand clutches my shoulder strap as if squeezing it hard enough will cause everything to be normal again.

My legs are so wobbly I feel I could collapse at any moment.

A hand gently touches my shoulder, but I still manage to jump slightly.

"Hey, Mace. It's gonna be fine. Okay?"

I shift my gaze to see Brinley, her face set deeply with concern and understanding.

I clear my throat," Yeah, I know. I just... I'll be fine."

I give her a weak smile and straighten my back, but I still keep my head down as I push past the front doors. Brin and Bens follow quickly behind me. I can hear the two of them whispering.

"So, what's up with her, Brin? Why is she so nervous?"

"Dude, just don't worry about it."

"But what hap-"

"She has her reasons okay? Now just drop it!"

A smirk plays across my lips as I mentally commend Brinley for defending me.

We reach the hallway where our lockers are located... And I stop.

Everyone turns to look at me. Their stares boring holes all over my body.

Oh boy... 

"They didn't forget."

I didn't realize I had whispered my last thought out loud until I felt Brinley loop her arm through mine.

"It's nothing I'm sure. Come on, me and Bens will walk with you to your locker."

I nod and force my legs to move down the hall, avoiding all the eyes lining the hallway.

"Do you want me to walk you to first period?"

I focus on the dial of my locker and quickly open it to slip my backpack inside.

"No that's okay Bens, It's just a study hall anyways. I think I can manage."

Benson tries to protest but I shut my locker and meneuver around him too quickly for him to speak.

As I make a bee-line for the door that leads to the stair well, I look down at the floor the entire time while mentally coaching myself with deep breathing exercises.

Despite my efforts to keep calm and ignore my surroundings my cheeks still manage to burn a rosy color.

I hear a few people snickering and whispering on either side of me, though I can't understand what they're saying.

Finally the door is in view! I quickly push against it and head down the steps to the ground floor pulling open another door.

I look down both ends of the main hall before walking down to the band/choir room.

My pace quickens with excitement as I reach the end of the hall to my destination. This particular room in my school was a safe haven for me. I could escape here just about any time of the day to hide from the world outside of music.

This was my true home.

Nothing else mattered once I step past the doorway, I can be exactly who I want to be and there's no one else around to judge me except to give constructive criticism to better my abilities.