TW for mention of self-delete and verbal abuse
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the basketball team seemed to like me more when i was mean, so i continued to do so. that is, until mr. harding stopped to talk to me after drama club.
"scott, wait," he said. "i want to talk to you."
i was hesitant to agree, but then figured i could escape zach for a little bit. "yes?"
"i've been noticing a lot of changes in your behaviour recently," he said. "is there something going on, maybe at home or something?"
"changes?"
he nodded. "yeah, you've been a lot more... indifferent to your theatre mates. i heard you yelling at shelby earlier."
"oh." i bit my lip. "i was... just, uh... i was just practicing my acting skills with her," i fibbed. "we were just pretending, mr. harding, that's all."
he nodded again, though he didn't look like he believed me. "scott, you know you can come talk to me if you ever need to get something off your chest, right?" he asked, and i froze.
for some reason, him saying that made me want to cry. i still don't understand why it did. "uh, yeah," i answered, trying as hard as possible to keep my voice from quivering.
"okay, good. so, tell me about adrian."
i blinked. "who?"
"that kid you made fun of yesterday," he said. "and don't act like you don't know what i'm talking about, either. you threw away his calculus homework."
"oh..." i nearly gasped. "wait, you-"
"yeah, i saw it." he scowled at me. "i also heard what you said to him." i couldn't help looking away in shame and embarrassment. "do i need to repeat it for you?" i didn't answer. "huh. does 'if i looked like you, i would kill myself,' sound familiar at all?"
i winced, but didn't answer.
"he was found dead in his bedroom this morning."
i looked up now, horrified.
"he hung himself from his ceiling fan." mr. harding paused, staring at me. he looked so angry. "what you say has an impact on people, scott. i don't know why you've been acting like this, but it needs to stop. i heard the things you were shouting at shelby, too. i don't know what's going on at home or if you're being bullied yourself, but this behaviour is unacceptable. especially from you."
i nodded and stayed put as he walked away. i threw up later just thinking about the poor boy i killed, and cried myself to sleep that night.
YOU ARE READING
𓈊 Petal's Diary
Fanfic*COMPLETED* An insider into APBAON!Scott's mind and his side of the story. Please read A Poppy By Any Other Name first before reading this. *** Lowercases are intentional! *** This work belongs to me, @bumblvee, and only me. I reserve the right to...
