New Girl

I'd love to watch you fail!

Y/N's POV:

Somehow I did not enjoy seeing Sophia so soft-spoken and vulnerable. One might think that I did because of our history, but no, I did not like it at all. It's weird in the worst way to see someone that's usually strong-willed and independent be so down. So maybe that's why I do as she said and go back to school the next day. I don't see it as yielding to Sophia's commands, but as a way to prevent me from ever seeing Sophia like that again. And as a way to defy the rumors that have no doubt been started and spread by now and show everyone that Sophia can't get me down. But I walk.

There's no way in hell I'm getting back into that car with Sophia. Yes, it was Sophia who wanted me to come back and who offered peace, but no, that does not mean that I will just forget and forgive. Too much has happened.

I might have been willing to ignore her past bullying while we were on the way to a tentative, maybe even friendly truce, but now that I've found out about the true extent of her scheming, I remember it all too well. She really wants me to leave badly, huh? And I might even do it, now that I also know that every single relationship I've built here was fake.

I don't have it in me to admit how much I still hate the long walk to school and how I'd prefer the short drive in Sophia's car. But even if I did admit it, it wouldn't change the fact that I'm not going back to that deal. For now, I focus on ignoring the stares I get in every hallway I walk through.

I see Laura a few times today but she seems scared to approach me. I don't blame her, even I don't know how I would react if she did. But since she doesn't come close, I just ignore her. I can do this without her.

By the time school is over for the day, I'm exhausted. Who knew keeping up a mask of indifference would be so exhausting? I mean, I've done it before but this loss somehow cut even deeper.

Thanks to my exhaustion it comes as no surprise that I'm not at all ready to face a slightly unsure-looking Sophia who's blocking the way out of my classroom. And of fucking course I'm the last person to leave the room, so there's no one I might sneak out together with. 

"I thought you said you'd leave me alone." My voice is flat, the epitome of boredom.

"I ... yeah, I said that." Sophia's voice, however, is full of regret and trembling with emotion.

"So why don't you?"

"I mean it when I say I won't bully you anymore or harm you in any way, but ... I just ... I don't want to leave you alone entirely." Sophia meets my burning stare, but the usual steel fire in her eyes is completely gone; it's been replaced with something much softer. "I know that's probably very foolish of me."

I nod and cross my arms. "You're right, it is."

"But I'm willing to put effort into this." She motions between the two of us.

"I mean, you can try." My lips part into a grin. "I'd love to watch you fail!"

Sophia seems stunned enough that I use the chance to push past her and finally leave the school. If she drives past me while I'm walking home, I don't notice.