bracelets | ranboo x nb!oc

9

i can't do this.
I've just gotten to school and it already feels like the world is ending.

After barely having the motivation to get out of bed, I managed to put on my uniform correctly and make my hair not look like a total mess. However, I completely forgot to pack food. Which wouldn't be so bad, except I don't have my card on me today. So no food for me I suppose.

I can't tell if that was a conscious decision on my part. I kind of want it to be an accident, but I don't think it was.

Anyway, I've just gotten to school. I'm innocently walking to my locker to grab my things and say hi to people, like I normally do. I have my headphones in, because I'm having a Gracie Abrams kind of morning. Nothing to provoke anything you could consider a rude surprise, right? I think that's a fair thing to think.

Fate doesn't, however, because my entire body wants to crumple in on itself the moment I turn the corner. Guess who is standing there? None other than the wonderfully idiotic, fresh ex-girlfriend of mine, Paige. That's bad enough. What's even worse? Watching her kiss Avery right up against my locker. I don't think it was a conscious decision to choose my locker to make out against, but it certainly happened.

My body stops moving. My hands are already freezing cold from the weather dropping drastically overnight, but now they're shaking too. My mind is racing with so many thoughts and my heart is pounding, each beat a different emotion flooding through my veins.

I'm angry, first of all. I'm so fucking pissed. The nerve on this girl, I swear to god. She thinks she can break up with me, tell everyone incredibly serious (and false) rumours about me and then proceed to make out with our best friend against my locker?

I'm also incredibly sad. I bet you this is why we broke up; so she can date Avery. I had the tiniest inkling, but it was so little I don't think it's even worth giving myself the credit for it. It hurts. A lot.

I'm kind of relieved, which is weird. It's almost like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I don't know what that is, nor do I know why I feel it, but relieved is the best way to describe it.

Thank god I have other friends - ones that notice when something's up. Polly Anders, a sweet auburn-haired girl with the deepest brown eyes you've ever seen is a good example. She's the one that taps my shoulder the moment my knees start to feel weak. She's very clearly concerned, giving me an incentive to stop letting myself look like an emotional wreck. Even if that's what I am.

"Dei, come here," she says softly when I break my stare away from the girls making out onto her. "Come hang out with us for a bit, yeah?" Polly grabs my arm gently and leads me over to a large group of kids. There are a few people I recognise; Mason Wrigley, the state-swim champion for under 20s is standing with insanely perfect posture, one arm snaked around his girlfriend Amber Mitchell's waist.

Anita Patel is sitting on a table beside them. She's the philanthropy prefect, but everyone knows she only got it because her dad's the principal. Grayson Myers is leaning against the external wall of the locker bay, vape in hand. Polly's best friend Aurora is scrolling on her phone, but she looks up and smiles apologetically when I walk over with Polly.

"Dei," Anita sips her iced coffee, bright blue eyes piercing mine. "That shithead over there is your ex, yeah?" Her tone is cold, but I know it's not aimed at me. We've been friends since working on a project together in science, and she's always hated Paige. I clear my throat and nod slightly, sighing. "Unfortunately."
"Delightful."
"You have shit taste in girls," Grayson smirks, holding out his vape to me. I shake my head politely at his offer. "I know that now, dickhead."
"You should've known it then."
"At least I've pulled a girl before," I scoff, giving him a look that can only scream 'loser', "didn't you get rejected last year at the formal?"

This shuts him up. He kinda stares at the floor awkwardly, and I know I've struck a nerve. A pang of guilt shoots through me on top of everything else I'm feeling. "Sorry," I mumble solemnly, "misdirected aggression."
"It's fine, I'd be pissed too if my ex started making out with my close friend." He shrugs, looking up and giving me a half-smile.

"She's a bitch." Amber mumbles. Mason laughs, rubbing her arm and pulling her further into his side. "No shit. She's also batshit crazy."
"You can say that again." Anita chuckles in amusement, gratefully taking Grayson's vape into her possession. "God, I really wanna punch her in the face."
"Don't we all?" Aurora chimes in, giggling. "Though I think if anyone punches her in the face, it should be Dei." Her gaze locks onto mine. Her expression is one I can't read; a mix of guilt and empathy is the best I can infer.

I shake my head, crossing my arms. "You guys can have at her." My eyes flick in her direction, resentment snaking its way into my tone. "I don't want anything to do with her." My hands shakily pull out my phone from my pocket, and I know I need to talk to someone that doesn't know Paige personally.

thyme
basil
can u talk rq
i have news

basil
I'm listening
spill le tea

thyme
Avery and Paige are dating

basil
WHAT
ARE YOU SERIOUS??
HOW DO YOU KNOW??

thyme
they're making out against my fucking locker
that's how I know

basil
oh
I'm so sorry
that's really shitty
if it helps I wanna kill Paige and Avery
I'm here if u wanna talk

thyme
idk
maybe after skl or I might break down sobbing in the middle of class 💀

basil
ok :)
just lmk
I'll probably respond straightaway

thyme
aaa ty :')

basil
ofc!!

didn't proof read LMAO its 1am I can't be bothered it's 2am actually it's like 1:30 but still