Not Set In Stone

Slowly Closing The Distance

Due to the violent beating that you received from J.C for raising your voice to him, and like you told Lizzie you would, you took a few days away from school to let your injuries heal to at least barely be noticeable more than usual. People have come to expect you to show up with bruises but never anything as severe as what J.C did so you kept away from school for a few days to heal up, also because you didn't care to see or listen to Tyrone mocking you over this.

It was surprisingly easy for you to get out of school for the week, you just called in sick with little opposition due to the fact you not being in would mean a little less trouble. It may not slide so easily elsewhere but your absence (even though it was just for a few days) meant there were no police waiting outside the gates before or after classes. It wasn't exactly something a school wanted to be known for; having a student who always had run-ins with the law and caused trouble wasn't flattering so you were given a week's absence without much issue.

There wasn't any opposition from your mother either, not like she ever really noticed if you went to school or not. Every morning you would find her passed out drunk on the sofa with the blanket you draped over her every night, it was an unanswered question of if she even used her bed with how often this was the case. But that aside; she never questioned why you weren't at school because you were never in, you would go somewhere to be alone.

However, though you weren't at school yourself, that doesn't mean you didn't know what was going on. Thanks to Lizzie, you were kept up to date on things surrounding Tyrone's behaviour thanks to the texts and calls you have been receiving from her. As it turns out, Tyrone has been taking credit for you not being in school, saying that he beat you up so hard that you ran away to nurse your broken pride. You couldn't say you were surprised by this but it still irritated you to know that people were actually believing the lies he spouted, making you want to just walk up to him and punch him but you couldn't.

It had been like this for the week and you were glad the weekend was ready to start the next day as it meant you could have two days of peace, maybe even having a talk with J.C about your situation with the gang. For the past week you had been avoiding any social interaction with people aside from the calls and texts with Lizzie to fill you in on things and having to make sure your mother was still breathing when you returned home, but other than that you would go somewhere to be alone.

It was the case right now as you were looking at your phone, back against a tree on the top of a small hill. This was the place you had come every time you needed space from home and anywhere else. It was a quiet place, somewhere to clear your head but also a place that left you to your thoughts. There was one thought that had been on your mind a lot lately; "why have things gone to shit lately?" You tried distracting yourself from these thoughts with whatever was on your phone but then a message popped up at the top.

"Nuisance" you read the contact's name to know it was Lizzie before looking at what she sent.

"Hey, Y/n, I just got home and a thought came to mind seeing we haven't really seen each other all week, only texting and talking on phone, so I was wondering if you'd want to come round to chat in person? I'm going to be cooking some food soon so if you want I can put a plate out for you".

You read the message before thinking for a moment. "She'll probably pester me, asking if I'm sure I don't want to go round or something" you thought, knowing well how Lizzie works by now and so sent a quick message back.

"Whatever" you texted which was your way of confirming the offer and Lizzie quickly replied that she was glad you accepted the offer, that she would get to work on the food for when you arrived. She texted you her address just in case you couldn't remember before the messages stopped there and you got to your feet, looking at the address before making your way to Lizzie's. You didn't notice that someone else had seen you as you headed there.