THE SUMMER I LOVED HER, Conrad Fisher

THREE, Walk Of Shame.

CHAPTER THREE. Walk Of Shame.

• DAISY BARDOT'S POV •
• 13 MONTHS BEFORE •

I HAD huddled myself in the bathroom for a total of 5 minutes, trying to collect myself from the adrenaline and emotions I had just bottled up. I had been staring straight into my own irises since the moment I entered, my palms pressed flat against the surface, my breathing heavy with no hesitation, acting as if a million horse hooves were trampling my heart every second. I hated how riled up I had gotten, feeling as though I was about to shatter into a million tiny pieces.

I had unknowingly bawled my hands up, the tips of my chipped painted nails digging into my hand; causing a fire to burn beneath my skin. My jaw felt locked; clenched and afraid to open, knowing if I did, I'd regret it. I was easily irritated with people, but usually kept my calm. Tonight, I had been so tense from my previous argument with my mother, this only fueled the fire more.

"Jesus." I mutter to myself, shaking my head in disbelief that I had let a little thing affect me in such a drastic way. It was months ago when Annabelle and I had created the rumour. Sure, I may seem like a bad person, I know I'm not the best, but I try. Aubrey did something bad to my friend, so I returned the favor. Aubrey was a sweet girl. Her and I had even grown up together as close friends. But she had always told me that I assumed I thought I was better than her, which wasn't the case. I didn't think I was better than anyone, because I wasn't. I was worse. I could be mean, rude, all the horrible words in the dictionary. But I had already dug my grave, what more could I do than just lie in it.

I wasn't stupid. I knew I wasn't a saint, and I knew what I did to Aubrey was an overreaction, but Annabelle was so incredibly affected by the outing Aubrey had done, I hated seeing my friend in that state. Annabelle wouldn't do something about it, as her father owned the school, and she was running on thin ice at the time. That's when we had created the plan. Nobody hated me for it. They loved Annabelle. No one had liked Aubrey that much due to the annoying complaints she would whine about with every step I took, all because she hadn't gotten over the rumour. Most people didn't believe it, at the start. But by the way Aubrey would always continue to bring it up, people had almost started to think it was true, since she had been so defensive over the situation.

Now, I'd be defensive too. But after it was a done deal, I'd be over it. I served my time in detention, I publicly apologized on every social media platform I owned, as well as in person, and even sent a damn care package. And Aubrey still wasn't over it. But I wouldn't strike a nerve with her and cause an explosive event to occur, especially tonight. I'd be civil with everyone, happy, joyful, the whole facade, and then go home, smoke some weed, and probably sneak out with Jaxon to go for a drive. That was what I was hoping for, let's just pray it plans out in the way I intend.

Stepping out into the empty corridor of the Fisher's estate, I inhaled a hefty breath, my eyes fluttering shut to contain my emotions, before beginning to walk towards the dining room where I had heard a handful of muffled voices. My shoes clapped against the wooden floor each step I took; my presence being known to whoever listened carefully. I then wrapped my hand around the pillar that was molded into the dining room entryway, swiveling my body to throw myself in. I then walked quietly over to the only empty seat left, trying my best to not interrupt. I sat myself beside Estelle as she ignored my presence, speaking to Jeremiah, who was also right next to me, about whatever they could conjure up.