As I was waiting for my bus quite a few thoughts ran through my mind: Did I really just say that? What was I thinking? I'm so goddamn stupid.
The bus pulled up giving me a chance to distract myself from my own brain. When I got on I realized Gaby wasn't here today. Oh well I thought I might as well enjoy my peace and quiet. I popped in my earphones and let Ed Sheeran take me away as I fell into a dark abyss.
I felt the vehicle stop abruptly and jumped out of my sleep. I looked out of the window and I realized I was at school now. Great.
I got to my first period and noticed that Josh wasn't here. The late bell rang and I knew for sure he wasn't here now. As Mr. Day was talking about something that sounded like trigonometry or something, I'd been thinking about why the cute couple weren't here today. Seemed pretty strange to me.
***
I'd made it through a whole other day of school. Overall, it was a pretty boring day. At the end of it I caught up with Jason and Maddie up in front of me. "Hey guys!" I was actually happy to see them. When they faced me, though, they looked worried or sad and didn't bother to hide a bit of it.
Maddie gave me a quick, tight hug. "Did you hear?" Jason asked me. Now I was confused, "No, what happened?" They glanced at each other and stared back at me. We were still standing near the bus loop of the school so Maddie said we'll talk about it in the car. What was it?
As soon as we got in I poked at her again, "What wrong?" She was starting the car, but held up her end of the conversation. "Well, there's been a rumor going around that you took Josh to an empty parking lot and made out with him." My face twisted with remorse. She continued.
"Wait, it gets worse."
"Great."
"Then, it's said, that you took him back to your house and...you know."
"What?!" Where would somebody get such an idea? I was infuriated.
"I'm not done. They said you did it because you were jealous of Gaby for having him, so you decided to beat her up, and what a coincidence she didn't come to school today."
I turned my head at Jason in the backseat. He was nodding, confirming that was what was being spread around the school. "No! Who was the one that came up with that rumor?" I wanted to cry, but I was too angry.
"I don't know. Jason and I were just in our second period and there was a huge group of people gossiping and we heard about it." Maddie pulled out of the school parking lot and it was about a quarter-to-three; school had let out at two-thirty. I took off my shoes and lifted my legs so my knees touched my chin and dug my head into the little gap in between my legs and chest.
***
After Maddie and Jason dropped me off at home I was still upset at the fact someone would spread that rumor. Who would've done that? After all, I don't really socialize with anyone besides Maddie and Jason.
I walked took out my key, unlocked the door, and quickly tried to get upstairs into my room to contemplate my existential crisis before anyone saw me. Just like the night of my mother's affair the light came on from the kitchen, but this time it was a voice I was actually happy to hear. "Sam! Surprise!" It was my dad.
