The New Girl

Chapter 16

Abby stood terrified. She never imagined she would be standing in front of the Barbara High campus again after everything that happened. It seemed like the doors to Hell even though, it was just the doors to a school. With everything that happened with Derek and how everyone didn't believe her, Abby felt powerless. There was this nerve within her that swelled thinking they would still be against her about everything. She kept her hands in the pockets of a letterman jacket she wore. A letterman jacket of blue and gold with the name, Harper on the back of it. 

Though it was Spring, the day was cold. It felt ominous to her. A bad sign warning her to just turn around. A warning that Derek might still be lurking around here. He's gone quiet the last three weeks since Sarah's attack. No one speaks to him very much. Benny Halls, his best friend, out casted him after hearing of the attack and told him he's not a Barbara Warrior. It was the first time Abby ever heard Benny actually have a voice for himself instead of being just a sidekick or a random henchman.

An arm wraps around Abby's and shakes her out of her inner thoughts. 

"Ready to go inside?" Sarah asked nudging her shoulder with hers. 

"I don't think so," Abby said with a bit of worry shaking her voice. Her anxiety was building up so high in her. 

"Remember what I told you," Sarah smiled. She rubbed Abby's arm with her hand and nudged her forward. With a bit of resistances, Abby took a step forward with Sarah. "See? One step closer and one step braver."

Sarah could feel how tense Abby was just by holding her arm. She had forgotten how traumatized Abby truly was not by just Derek but the people of the school. It wasn't just Derek who betrayed her, it was the whole school that sided with him. They called her a liar, treated her like a harlot and cold shouldered her. All except Sarah did these things, and now she might have to face all of them again. 

"I'm right next to you. We got this," Sarah encouraged. Abby took a deep breath and closed her eyes. 

"Okay, okay, okay... Let's do this." Abby and Sarah walked through the doors into Barbara High. 

Today, Northend plays Barbara High at their field and going through the school is the fastest way to the field. Class was still in session, so the halls were still empty. An utter relief to Abby as she won't have to encounter anyone she knew from when she was attending the school. Passing by each closed door, she was able to move faster through and more confidently. 

"See? No big deal," Sarah said as they approached the back entrance. Abby smiled and opened the door and the two began walking down the cemented walkway to the baseball field where the players were warming up. Northend wore grey jerseys today. It was their color for when they played away and Barbara High wore white instead of their black jerseys. 

They sat down on the highest bleacher in the corner of Northend's side of the field. Abby took out a hat of her backpack. 

"What? Abby, no. You made it this far and didn't need to hide. You don't need to hide now."

"I just forgot it was in there until now or else I would have worn it," Abby said folding the hat in her hands. 

"Put that down," Sarah ordered. Abby put the hat back in the bag. 

"Oh God, I hope people don't recognize me..." She said as the school bell started to go off signaling that classes were out.

"So what, girl? Look at them, eyeball to eyeball, and be like 'bitch, I told you so', and let them walk. You're overthinking it." 

Though it wasn't the most "Abby" thing to say to someone, Sarah did have a point and it stuck to Abby. She was right about Derek and now the world knew it. There was no more reason to hide. Derek was done and so was her hiding.