Yellow Roses

Chapter 12: Ava

It's the last day before winter break, and usually the sight of Christmas decorations everywhere brings me joy, but now any sort of happiness I'm seeing just makes me angry.

I arrived at school to notice everyone else seemed to be just as depressed as I was. What the hell could they possibly be upset about that's worse than what I went through?

Liz seemed more annoying than normal, Carrie wasn't obnoxious for once though which is unusual. Angel wasn't yapping about Sapphire like she always does.

Before I had a chance to ask them what's wrong, the bell for the first period rang.

"Nice talk we had there." I said blandly, to which none of them responded. I wonder what is going on.

I dragged my way to first period, trying hard to keep a straight posture, as if nothing was wrong. Nobody likes having gym class first thing in the morning at 8am, but that wasn't even the worst part, it was still Seth.

As I was changing in the locker room stall, I overheard an unfamiliar voice talking about me in the distance.

"...you've noticed she seems different too? Maybe we should ask what's wrong. Normally she seems confident."

Another unfamiliar voice cut the other girl off.

"Yeah," she laughed. "So confident that I didn't like her. Maybe now she's humbled herself."

I felt a pit of rage build up inside of me, so intensely I didn't even put on my other shoe before busting through the stall.

"Yeah, I'm fucking humbled alright." I snarled out in the open, not even sure who I was talking to.

They all looked confused, but two of them in particular.

"Um... we weren't even talking about you Ava." One of them said.

"Maybe, just maybe, not everything is always about you?" The other said.

Embarrassed, I felt my face get hot. I didn't even know what to say. I just grabbed my shit and ran out of the locker room.

I didn't even have time to think over what just happened, because the teacher, Mr. Balding, whistled his whistle and asked us to line up in a line.

"Today we're going to play some kickball." He said, which was followed by immediate cheering and claps.

"Yes, yes. It's been a while since we've had a chill day in the classroom. If you don't wish to play, you may walk around the track instead."

I had my eyes looking at the ground for so long I didn't even notice Seth was standing next to me, which sent a shiver down my spine, followed by a wave of nausea.

Keep it the fuck together Ava.

Mr. Balding announced some other things I involuntarily tuned out, before the class broke apart into groups.

There's no way in hell I'm playing kickball, especially since I know Seth's athletic self would be all over that.

I sped walked away towards the indoor track we had and began to walk alone, planning to contemplate how I'm going to get through not only this period, but the rest of high school as well.

I grabbed some headphones out of my pocket and put them in my ears as I started my walk.

I can't keep letting this control me. Derrek won't get the best of me, there's no fucking way I'll let him win.

My thoughts were interrupted when I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I spun around to see who it was, I nearly fainted.

"Hey, Ava." He said with a smile.