The Patron Saint of Monsters

Chapter Seven Part One

Rebecca was stubborn, she often made decisions for the people around her and tried to pressure and persuade them into doing whatever it was she thought that they should; even when she knew that it was not what was best for them. Attempting to do such a thing was the way that the majority of her conversations had begun, including the lunchtime discussion she was currently in.

“Rebecca, it’s only been a month. Four legit dates and some random times spent together. I am not going to fuck Ian yet!” Oleander argued.

“You should” Rebecca warned, “you wouldn’t want him straying would you?”

“If he strays over sex than he isn’t the kind of guy I want voiding my V card anyway.” Oleander replied.

“Prude.” Rebecca muttered.

“No, maybe I’m just not slag like you. You’re a real fucking cunt and you know that yours is the only thing you have going for you. So what that I can hold a guys attention without laying back and thinking of England.” Oleander spat out angrily.

Rebecca flinched as if she had been struck, before furrowing a brow and changing the subject, “Why do people even say that?”

Oleander just rolled her eyes and stood, gathering up her textbooks and notebooks slinging everything into her messenger back before storming off.

She entered the front office, walking passed a pretty office aiding senior named Yani that she recognized from a few parties, “Hey.” She nodded politely, “Are you okay?”

Oleander examined the girl who was wearing a Justin Bieber tee shirt, she wasn’t sure if the girl was an actual fan or if it was meant to be ironic. Oleander could feel the tears welling up behind her eyes, “Is my face all red and blotchy?” She asked, ignoring the question.

“Yeah, kinda.” The girl said with a frown.

“I’m not okay.” Oleander answered trying not to cry. “I just. I need to go home.”

“Want me to lie and tell nurse Judith that I found you in the bathroom purg- I mean puking?” She offered kindly.

“Yeah that would be good.” Oleander replied in a tear strained throat.

“Kay.” She nodded before running back “Nurse Judith, I found this girl in the bathroom! She’s sick.”

Nurse Judith was a sad older women who had moved to town shortly after her estranged drug addict daughter died somewhere in California. Apparently the death had shattered her already broken marriage. It had been the talk of the town when she arrived in New Devinshire, New Devinshire didn’t do divorce, nor did it do unfortunate and untimely deaths. Thinking of surprising deaths reminded Oleander of Trent, she vowed to have a talk with him when she got home. Once she calmed down.

Judith stuck her weary head out of her office doorway, “If the girl drove here just forge her a note and send her home. If she didn’t I’ll phone her family.” She whispered to Yani.

“You drive?” Yani called to Oleander.

Oleander just distractedly flashed the girl her car keys. Yani bent over the closest desk and wrote in lovely cursive “Sick. Sent home.” before stamping it with the stamp in the form of Judith’s signature. She went and handed her the note, “It’ll be okay.” she offered sounding hopeful in an odd way that suggested that she was still hoping to find the okay that everything would eventually be.

“Yeah.” Oleander agreed, “Sometimes friends are shitty and you just have to cry about it and maybe make new ones.”

Yani laughed darkly, “Yeah.” she agreed before bidding her goodbye.