Our Beginning | Mickey Altieri

Chapter Fifty-Two

[Hallie] "I can see why everyone began singing and clapping at the cafeteria all of a sudden."

"I didn't expect anyone to follow along. Usually they all stare weirdly, so I was really surprised."

[Hallie] "Let me guess, your school?"

"My school."
After the cafeteria, I decided to go along with Hallie and Sid to the lobby. The guys stayed together and went to the library. "Back at my school, everyone were just less-spirited. Reggie ended up being the most school-spirited in senior year."

"That's pretty neat," Sid says.

"And I got on it."

"Did you do it along?"

"No, he begged the yearbook staff to put me in. I was in a theatre club, there was no need to." I chuckle. As we were walking down to the lobby, some man came blocking our view. And it's the man who was with Gale the other day.
"Cotton." Cotton eyes his direction to Sid. "Can we talk?"

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Look, yesterday wasn't my idea. That was all Gale and dollar signs and ratings."

"Gale isn't here, is she?" I move closer to Sid, pushing her away from Cotton who is strangely close to her. "I don't hate Gale, I just don't want Sid to be harassed by anymore journalists and reporters,"

"Is she a friend of yours?" All I only heard from Cotton as he asks Sid. But I guess that means Gale is not around the lobby. Sidney nods to his question, even specifying that Hallie is a friend of ours.
"But what do you want from me, Cotton?" She continues.

"You could start with an apology."

"I did that."

"You wrote me a letter. Very cordial. Very appropriate."

"How? What could I say that would make a difference? I took away a year of your life - how do I apologize for that?"
Hallie and I just watched whatever conflict is rising between the two. All I know is that this isn't going to end well.

"I wish it was just a year. I lost everything because of you. I have nothing now. Look at me, this is what I've become."

"Hey, watch it, Weary! Sidney didn't know just because it looked that convincing to her!" Hallie told me to step back, but I refused to. If I'm about to start a feud with some man I just met, then so be it.
[Sidney] "Y/n, it's fine, really." I just stepped back. She continues, saying, "Cotton, there isn't one day, one hour, one minute when I'm not reminded of what I've done. I have not had one second of reprieve and no therapy or religion or spiritual plane can ever erase what I feel in every vein of my being. And I wish I had in me what you need to hear but I don't think the words exist."

Dead silence. Not until Cotton spoke. "I just thought if I saw you face to face, maybe it would help."

"Did it?" As soon as she asked, I began to feel a sudden vibe from him. "It helped me realize one thing," He said.

"What?"

"You're a self-obsessed little cunt like your mother."

And just like that, he ended up on the ground. "Jesus Christ!" As Hallie looks down, she spots me with my hand curled into a fist.
"That was the last fucking straw, Cotton!" Two arms prevent me from going near his figure on the ground. As I turned, I just froze. Two policemen. "Easy, we've got this," one said. He took out a pair of handcuffs, arresting Cotton on the spot. Hallie takes Sid somewhere else. Before I moved, I look at him one more time.
Only to see him with a smile plastered to his face.

--

"Jesus Christ, that bastard," I muttered.

"I'm just glad you didn't get arrested or something," Hallie spoke. "Well, I don't think they would, Hal," Sid answers.