𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐘 | 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙨

7: I promise em' you're different

"So, where do you live?" I asked Annick as we walked down the hall, gym bag in hand. I've always been good at remembering names and faces, especially of the people in our town, but I don't think I remember a family named Sabiani. 

Annick hesitated slightly before answering, seemingly thinking the decision through. "I live a bit further out, though I don't think you'll know," 

I nod thoughtfully, humming. "Do you have any siblings?" I ask again, trying to make small talk. She hesitates again, shaking her head in the end. "No, just me." 

I nod again, trying to think of other questions. If the conversation was to finish now, it'd be really, really awkward, and I didn't want that. Why did Annick have to answer to short and simple in the first place? "What do your parents work as?" 

Annick smiles, though it was strained. "I only have my mom, and I would rather not tell you, sorry," She says, and I nod with a smile. It was okay that she didn't want to tell me, but now I was starting to get curious. "That's fine, no worries," 

"Ah," Annick suddenly murmurs, halting. "I forgot my water bottle." She says, turning over to me. "Just keep walking, I'll meet you in the gym," 

"Oh, okay," I mutter, watching as she runs back to our classroom. Oh well, I think as I keep on walking. The conversation was starting to go stale anyways. 

I'm waiting for Simone to finish changing alongside Michèle, leaning against the bathroom door. "Why do the boys get a changing room, and we get this?" Echoes out of the bathroom, and I couldn't help but shrug, even if Simone couldn't see me. "The school isn't ready to take in girls, and it's pretty obvious."

"My brother hates me." Michèle says, seemingly from nowhere. I look over at her with a bit of pity, and pat her on the shoulder. Simone emerges, pulling the hem of her shorts down. "Oh, don't say that."

Michèle just sighs, entering the bathroom to change. I close to door after her and stand in front of it, guarding. "I mean, you didn't do anything wrong so..." I muttered, trying to get her to forget about it. It doesn't work, as the blonde girl just starts wallowing again. "If he gets expelled, I'm never seeing the light of day again!"

"Yeah, but wasn't Descamps the one who lost a whole eye? I mean, you've gotta think, it's kind of fair...?" I said, looking over at Simone only to see her look at me with an incredulous expression. She shook her head, and I take it as a sign that I said something very wrong.

"Are you really defending Descamps right now?" Michèle said as she opened the door, changed into her gym clothes. I stutter a bit, avoiding her eye contact. Shit, maybe I shouldn't have said that.

"I thought you were on my side, Madeline." Michèle muttered angrily, before taking her things and walking away. Simone looked at Michèle and back at me, mouthing a quick 'sorry' before running after her friend.

Opening the bathroom door and stepping in, I lean against the door, wanting to scream. Everything was just not working out right now, and I don't need another thing messing up on me right now. I compose myself and change into my gym clothes, only to realize that my shirt was a tad bit tight.

Now, I have my reasons. My lovely Maman loved warm-toned colors, and I had virtually no clothes that were cool-toned. Thus, the blue shirt that I had brought with me was vaguely outdated and small.

It looked more like a crop-top instead of a shirt, but I tried to stretch it out as much as I could. At some point, it could be tucked into my shorts. Hopefully, I can put some of my trust into this thing. I grab my things and run down to the gymnasium, meeting Annick on the way.

I run to her side, heaving. God, I was not going to last in gym class if we had to do some endurance or something. "Annick! Did you find your water bottle?" I ask, walking beside her. 

She simply nods, before her eyes divert themselves to my shirt. 

Was it that obvious?

"It's a bit tight." The blonde girl commented, grinning. I just sigh, trying to pull it down as much as I could so it wouldn't run up. "It's one of the only blue shirts I have, so I guess I have to deal with this until I buy another one." I complain, frowning.

We enter the gym, just in time for the teacher making the teams for handball. It seemed as if he had forgotten us though, because the girls just stood there to the side, doing... nothing. It wasn't until Annick raised her hand that he noticed, and what did he decide to let us do as a good and interesting exercise?

Rope climbing. We had to climb a single rope. What the heck.

I sucked at climbing - and sports in general. I was never the physical kid, and my mom held me inside my house for hours on end for bible study so I never got the chance to learn any fun tricks. I sigh and turn to sit on the mattress, only to meet eyes with Descamps himself.

It was obvious what his eyes were staring at, and he even had that little smug smirk plastered on his face. To make it even worse, he whistled, catching the attention of Dupin and Lamaziere. They ogled at me and God, it was so embarrassing.

Boys are so perverted and disgusting, and it makes it worse that I've known these boys since kindergarten.

I faked a gagging sound, giving the one-eyed idiot the middle finger before turning back to the other girls. "At least no one will notice the huge bruise I have on my thigh now," Simone teased, and I playfully roll my eyes. It seemed like Michèle still had a little grudge with me though, but I know she has her reasons.

As we stood there, watching Annick climb, I suddenly spot a person from the corner of my eye. Looking closer, I see an older boy standing there, in a bit of distress. I tap Simone on the shoulder, also catching Michèle's attention at the same time. "Do any of you know him?"

The blonde girl's eyes go wide and she runs over, leaving the rope holding to me and Simone. Simone hesitates for a quick second, but she also excuses herself and runs towards Michèle. That leaves me, with an Annick that was on her way down from the rope. That must have been Jean-Pierre, I concluded in my head.

- AAHHHJ LOOK AT THEM INTERACTING HIEJ

- What do we think about the story??? Is Madeline in the right, or is it Michèle and Simone??!!?!? Hopefully I'm not making the girls too out of character - Just saying, they are teenage girls so...