Call Me Blade✔

Thirty-Three: Welcome to the club

Blade

Going back to school after the best spring break I've ever had was as miserable as I expected. For five full days, I was able to forget about my miserable existence and have fun, but all my demons were waiting for me when I got back. Thankfully, Melissa wasn't one of them. She won't be back for another two days.

The ringing of the doorbell startles me, and I put Faith down before rushing downstairs and peaking through the curtain. I'm surprised to see Dustin standing on the doorstep with his hands in his pockets. He looked a little nervous.

"Morning," he says brightly as I pull the door open. "I decided I'll come pick you up since I left earlier than usual."

I'm a little peeved at him for showing up at my house unannounced. It's okay that he showed up today, but he can't do this when Melissa is back.

"Aren't you gonna invite me in?"

I shake my head, holding five fingers up to tell him to give me five minutes before closing the door in his face. I rush around as I grab my things, returning shortly with a dressed baby, and a packed bag.

"Ready?"

I give hims thumbs up, following him to his car.

He passes me his phone, the screen already unlocked and I scroll through to select a song. This has started to feel natural between us and I quite liked listening to music in the car.

"Where are we dropping off Faith?"

I type the address into the GPS and he drives us there.

Dustin walks me to my locker, leaning on the one next to mine as I put my stuff away. "See you later?" He asks, and I nod, waving him goodbye.

As soon as he leaves, dread settles within me as I think about Melissa's return. The time went by too fast and now I'm filled with uneasy anticipation as the day she comes back gets closer. I don't know what to expect and I don't want to get my hopes up. Deep down, I hope she's better. Fixed. Sober. Even deeper down I hope it stays that way.

Again, I'm surprised to see Alice sitting alone at one of the tables in the library. I don't always come here but the past few times I have she has been sitting here alone.

I pull out a notebook, flipping it open to doodle in attempt look up to stop thinking about Melissa.

It doesn't work.

I sigh loudly when the buzzer sounds. I watch as Alice leaves, hoping to put some distance between us before I exit the library. I don't have a good feeling when I see the crowd of students outside in the hall. I have to pass them to get to my class, but I hang back, not wanting to be targeted.

"You're such a fucking bitch!" The voice no doubt belongs to Jordan. My skin crawls at the sound, making me sink further back into the library.

"Even though everyone hates you right now, you still act like you're better than everyone. News flash: you're just a washed up slut." Dya hisses.

There is too much of a crowd for me to see who they're talking to.

"Fuck you," I hear Alice snarl. Her voice sounds emotional. Raw. Something I never expected to hear from her. "How dare you share that video and say such horibble things about me. I thought you were my friends!"

"Friends?" Jordan scoffs. "Yea, like you've ever treated us as anything more than your lap dogs. Even Josh is fed up with your shit."

Alice laughs dryly. "Right, Josh. The same asshole who's in that video with me. How is no one talking shit about him? Why am I the only one facing backlash for having sex."

"No one cares about your feminist bullshit, Alice." Jordan sneers. "You're a hypocritical whore who deserves this. All of it."

"And you don't right?"

"I'm not the one who got caught having sex on tape."

"Rot in hell, Jordan."

Alice may be the one getting picked on, but she isn't one to back down from a fight. She's a bully and a certified mean girl, but she isn't weak.

"You first, Alice."

I catch a glimpse inside the circle and I see Jordan slap Alice. Dya jumps in and the three of them go at it. The crowd hoots and hollers, but I leave, going to find a teacher.

This school is terrible at regulating fights.

I make sure I'm out of sight when the teacher steps in. She pulls Jordan off Alice.

"I hate you!" Jordan screams at her used-to-be best friend as she's dragged off. Everyone has dispersed now, and Dya is being taken to the office by another teacher who showed up moments after I brought the other teacher. They are occupied with the girls who are trying to make a move at the crying girl on the floor.

A small part of me feels pity for the girl, but a bigger part of me remembers how horrible she has been to me. I sigh deeply, turning to leave, but one of the teachers sees me and they tell me to take her to the nurse. I take a deep breath, frustration coursing through me. The last thing I want to do is help Alice, but I do what the teacher says.

Alice's body is shaking as I help her off the floor. She's crying, and I do feel a little bad for her. Her hair looks messier than I've ever seen it and she has small scratches on her face and arms. It doesn't look too bad, but I'm not her to know if it hurts badly or not.

"Thank you," Alice barely whispers out as I walk her into the nurses office. I help her into the chair and the nurse comes in, looking alarmed at the beaten girl in front of her. I stay back and watch Alice get taken care of.

I see some bruises are showing now, the red spots on her skin turning purple.

"Grab me some ice from the freezer would you?"

I do as I'm told and the nurse has Alice hold the ice pack to her face.

"One second." The nurse rushes off, leaving me and Alice alone in the room. The silence is awkward and I wish I left earlier, but now it would be rude to leave.

"Hey," Alice speaks up. "I-um-" she clears her throat. "I'm sorry."

I stare at her for a moment before nodding curtly.

If that's her excuse for an apology of years of bullying, I'll take it. She got a taste of her own medicine being ridiculed and slapped around. Sometimes that's what it takes, but I don't think she'll ever change. One can only hope.

***
Dustin invited me over for dinner again tonight. I've been spending a lot of time with him and his family these past couple weeks. I was hesitant at first. Not liking how open I was becoming but I couldn't deny that I actually enjoyed myself. The meals were delicious and the company wasn't bad. It's only until Melissa gets back anyway.

As usual, after dinner the family watches a movie together. Usually, I'm not too interested, but tonight I was actually enjoying it. They had put on a comedy movie, and I was entertained by the ridiculous humor. When the movie is finished, it's minutes to nine and Dustin tells his mom he'll give me a ride home.

"Good night, Blade." He tells me as I open the car to get out.

I wave him goodbye and walk up to my house. As the door closes behind me, I hear knocking outside.

Confused, I open the door to see Dustin standing on the steps with a sheepish smile on his face. "Uh..." he starts awkwardly. "Forgot to give you this."

He hands me the cup from our pottery session weeks ago and I break out into a smile.

Thank you. I sign.

"You're welcome," he signs back.

******