The girl next door, - ᴛ.ᴋᴀᴜʟɪᴛᴢ

chapter twenty-seven.

BACK TO SCHOOL - DEFTONES

ONE DAY

»-☠︎︎-+>

My first day back at school after, for god knows. Not that long, though, I think.

I spent most of my time in the bathroom, sitting in a stall and just staring at the door, thinking about everything that had happened.

Everyone was quiet.

Most people knew about it since there was a photo going around; I was passed out on the bed, paramedics checking to see if I was alive or not, trying to talk to me. It was everywhere. Everybody had it, and it was all in less than 24 hours.

But I didn't want anything to do with that. So I'm just skipping, sitting in the stall Tom and I always used while having a smoke.

I don't know what Tom was so angry about, but I haven't seen him like he was the other day. Maybe he hates me now. But, I don't care. Because I hate him, too.

. . .

I didn't even know what his favourite colour was anymore.

"Hello?" A girl spoke. I took a drag of my cigarette, my head tilting upwards as a long, thin stream of smoke left my parted lips. "I know you're in there, Mandy. It's Nora," she added.

"Oh," I murmured, unlocking the stall and looking up at her. She pursed her lips, taking in the poor sight. "How are you feeling?" She said softly, closing the door and sitting across from me.

"Don't worry about me, Nora. How are you? I'm sorry you had to see it." I pulled my knees to my chest, taking a drag of my cigarette before tilting my head.

"I'm alright."

. . .

"So you know about the photo?" She asked quietly. I nodded confidently, shrugging it off nonchalantly. Inside, it was killing me. It really was.

"Apparently, the girl's name is Klara. She just came here from some place, a total bitch, and uhm.. one of Tom's ex's." Nora sighed. I furrowed my eyebrows, but didn't reply.

I heard a name when Tom was on the phone before the party. The rest was German, but I heard that name.

"Yeah, well, fuck her." I mumbled, dragging from my cigarette and looking away. Nora sighed, and stood up. "Listen, I hope you're okay. I really do." She stood, brushing off her legs. "Take care of yourself." She said before leaving, the stall thudding shut behind her.

"Right. Take care of myself." I scoffed, shifting uncomfortably. "Take care of myself?" I muttered under my breath.

☠︎︎ 𝚃𝙾𝙼'𝚂 𝙿𝙾𝚅

"Yeah, she needs to take better care of herself." I mumbled. "I care about her and all, but fuck. Once she got onto meth, she didn't even try and turn back."

"She might be struggling with something." Bill said quietly.

"I know she's struggling, but she can go days without eating or showering after we argue. I show up, feeling guilty, and then we fuck like rabbits." I murmured under my breath.

"Then stop that and tell her you love her, Tom?" Bill's voice raised slightly in pitch, crossing his arms.

"But I don't." I shrugged, putting my hands in my pockets and slowly walking beside him.

"How come?" Bill questioned, still walking beside me. I thought for a minute, considering my words carefully and forgetting them completely as I shifted, turning my head to face him.

"Because she only loves the thought of us." I furrowed my eyebrows a little, and started walking again. Bill just stood, staring at me.