Insecure

Back to school

Isabelle POV

" Wake up! Wake up!" A weight makes an indent in the bed sheets. I slowly turn around, pulling the loose sheets with me. I come face to face with a girl dressed In a unicorn onesie. Gabby shakes me in the bed, alerting me to all my surroundings.

I'm laying on her bed in her overly decorated room. After Seth and I got back from the meadow, we decided it would be best If we didn't give his parents a heart attack. So I ended up staying at Gabby's house overnight. Which might be a negative the more I think about it.

I'm pretty sure Seth would have woke me up a little nicer. I groan and pull the unbelievably fluffy pillow over my head trying to drown out the sound. "Five more minutes." I hear Gabby scoff before falling on the bedsheets next to me. "Wow and I thought you a morning person." That makes me perk up. "From what? Me gracefully falling off your bed the last time I was hear?" I take the time to look at Gabby with a raised eyebrow.

She places her hand under her chin and gently strokes it, while thinking. "Good point, but you have to get up if you want to eat breakfast, before we go to school."

Shooting up from the bed, I look over at Gabby. I'd almost forgotten that I had to go back to school. I feel my stomach twist in knots, remembering the note Cassidy gave me. I have no idea why I kept it, but I brought it with me in my suitcase.

Every word flashes through my mind.

Dear Isabelle,
So you're in the hospital and if you're reading this now that means you're awake. What a pity. I was hoping you would stay asleep for a while longer. Anyways, I want to remind you that if you spend another second with Seth I will end you. The cliff might not have been able to do the job, but I certainly can.
Ps. Seth might be around you now because you're injured, but he'll leave you too. Like everyone else in you're life.

Love, Cassidy

I must have read the note a thousand times for it to be engraved on my brain. A nasoeus feeling settles in my stomach, making me instantly feel like crap. I fling the covers from over me and rush to the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. I make sure to lock it before hovering over the toilet

Shallow gasp escape my lips as I clutch my chest for dear life. I hear a small knock on the door. "Are you okay? What's going on in there?" I shut my eyes and try to calm myself down. " I'm fine. I just - need a minute. You can head downstairs. I'll be there in a second."

"Are you sure. You sound hurt. Is it from the accident?" Gabby's voice shakes with fear. I can tell she's becoming on edge. I force myself to my feet and open the door wide enough for her to see my body. "See I'm fine. I just need to freshen up." I give her a small smile, hoping she doesn't notice that my hands are shaking as I hold the door nob.

She nods her head and walks slowly towards the door. I see the last pieces of her hair disappear behind her door as she shuts it. I do the same and close the bathroom door. I sink to my knees and run my hand through my hair.

I have no idea what Cassidy will do if she sees me with Seth. I know I shouldn't be so scared of her, but something about her seems off. The sound of my heart beating at a rapid pace fills my ears. I turn the facet on and splash water on my face to cool off. Wiping the water on my shirt, I pick up the guest tooth brush Gabby lent to me.

I finish my business in the bathroom before changing into my clothes. Once I'm finished I run down the stairs two at a time, but stop short of the kitchen to catch my nerves. I lean against the wall and force a smile on my face. I enter the kitchen and see Gabby eating biscuits with bacon and eggs.

"Hey." Gabby turns around in her stool and smiles sloppily at me. "I was wondering when you were gonna come down stairs. The food was getting cold." I walk over and take my place at the table, sitting at a high stool. "Monday's always make me slower than usual." Gabby nods her head and returns to her plate of food. I join her, instantly remembering the delicious taste of Mrs.slyvia's cooking.

In another fifteen minutes we are headed out the door and towards what I've been dreading all morning. School. Gabby is the only one entertaining the idea of a conversation, while I mostly listen. My ears are numb and my hands are glued to my backpack that Seth forgot was still in his car, when I had slipped into a coma.

I occasionally slip in a nod or a "really" when ever Gabby decides to come up for air. By the time we get to the school I can feel the small droplets of sweat beating down my forhead and neck. Looking in the overhead mirror, I notice my pale skin and the obvious anxious expression that captures my face.

Gabby stops mid sentence. "Isabelle, I won't let them do anything and neither will Seth. They won't mess with you." She grabs my hand and gives it a tight squeeze.

I nod my head and wipe the sweat from my face. "Okay, I think I'm ready." Gabby smiles and opens her car door. "Good, don't let them know they have that effect on you."

I exit the car and meet Gabby at on the sidewalk. " Let's go face the world."

~~~~~~

" You will have this research paper due in 3 weeks. I don't want you guys to wait till the last second to get started. It takes a lot of time." I sink into my seat. I almost forgot the torture I left behind. I have so much work to make up.

I rest my head on my desk as my teacher, mr.shaffer continues his lecture of finishing work on time. So far the day has been filled with people congratulating me on my recovery from the hospital and some compliments on my new look.

I haven't seen Cassidy yet today or Seth which I'm sort of glad for. I don't know if I could sit in the same room as them. Just knowing that behind every nice word Cassidy says is a dagger in my back, makes me cringe.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts by the bell signaling for lunch to begin. I lazily pick up my backpack, before exiting the classroom. I purposely walk slow to stall from seeing Seth. On any other day, I would feel overjoyed to see Seth, but knowing he'll be surrounded by his friends and Cassidy makes me want to run for the hills.

When I get to the cafeteria, I speed walk to the lunch line, making an extra effort to hide myself behind people. But as soon as I see Cassidy making her way towards me, I know my efforts were in vain.

"Hey, Isabelle. I'm glad your back. I felt so bad that you were away for so long." She says in a sickly sweet voice.

I give her a confused look,wondering why she's acting so nice. No one that she cares about is here to see her true colors. That is until I catch Seth walking towards us from the corner of my eye.

"Hey guys, I was wondering where Cassidy was running off too. I'm glad your here. I wanted to introduce you to my other friends." He explains.

" oh, your friends." I stare back and forth between Cassidy, whose glaring at me and Seth, who has a bright smile on his face.

"Yeah." He grabs my hand, entwining our fingers together and leads me over to a table with two other boys at the table. One with jet black hair and all black clothes and another with brown hair and sweatpants and a jersey on.

Oh boy. I force a smile on my face, hoping that I can say hi and leave as fast as possible. How did I end up in this awkward situation?