𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒

CHAPTER 3

"Okay, students, that's all for today's class. If you could all finish your reading by today you'll be ready for your quiz tomorrow." That's when everyone groaned. "Oh, now don't seem so annoyed. I told you about the test two weeks ago, and I told you it takes up a quarter of your grade. You mess this up, you might stay in the same class next year. Dismissed."

But everyone had already left.

It's lunch time, now. I hate cafeteria food so much that just the thought of it makes me want to vomit. Speaking of vomit, I run quickly to the bathroom and let it all out in the toilet. What is wrong with me today!?

I flush the toilet and go to the sink to wash myself. What if the blonde girl was right? What if I'm actually pregnant? But I didn't do anything. I'm clean. Can it happen by itself? Oh God, what if I'm pregnant?

It's okay, I'm not going to panic. Just stay calm and you will sort this out, Victoria.

Seconds later I'm running through the school halls and out of the school. I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't do this.

I can do this. I walk back into the school, I walk out. I walk in. I walk out. I go and sit on the floor, leaning against the wall. My knees go right under my chin and I lay my head, tears streaming down my face. I bang my head on my knees. "I. Can't. Do. This."

I don't know what I do, so I run. I run as fast as I possibly can because I'm scared someone will chase me. My bag's still at school, but my phone is with me. It's okay. Everything will be okay.

No, nothing will be okay. I'm dying, aren't I? I've done so many bad things and now they are catching up to me, which is why I run even faster. So fast so they won't catch me. They can't catch me, I'm too fast for them. 

After almost getting run over multiple times, I finally managed to make it all the way home. I didn't even realise, because by bus, the school is fifteen minutes away.

I can't do it. I can't do it. I have to go back. 

But there's nothing waiting for me back there! Why the hell am I like this? What am I doing? What am I thinking? Pregnancy? Seriously? That's really what I'm thinking about right now? 

I can't go inside my house, though. I don't want to, so I won't.

So instead, I walk over next door. To the new lady's house. Knocking on her front door, I wait for her reply. 

But then I run. What the actual hell am I thinking? Knocking on her door? Really? That's not going to help anything. She's just going to make things worse. But then, "Young lady!" I stop in my tracks. "Stop where you are right now and don't move! I'll call the cops!"

"Alright, alright! Calm down, Jesus. I'm coming towards you." I raise my hands in the air and start walking towards her. I see a phone in her hand and an open bag of cat food in the other. "Please, you don't have to call the-"

"Shut it. You stay right there and explain to me what on Earth it is that you are doing!" She points her cat food finger at me. Some treats fall out onto the floor near my feet.

"I'm sorry, okay? I just had a rough day and I can't go home so I thought I might go up to your house. But then when I knocked on the door, I remembered that you don't really like me so I tried to leave. I didn't mean to start a problem." I rambled. People don't like rambling, which is why it's so believable. Because I'm not really sorry at all. This woman hasn't done anything to deserve an apology from me, and I haven't done anything that makes me have to apologise to her.

She just looked at me furiously, before saying, "Why aren't you in school?"

Think of a lie, come on. Quickly. "It's a half day."