Defile Me

twenty-eight: trouble

HOMECOMING WAS RIGHT AROUND the corner, and I was stressed as fuck. With my dad on my back like a henchman and my dress still not arriving, I felt like my shoulders had been worn out.

Slimming down my skirt while staring back at my reflection, I found myself wanting to stay home, not out of a sudden change in heart but because I didn't want to stomach all the PDA we'd have to do.

My boyfriend and I have planned on a date after school and of course, he thought it'd be good for both of our dads, they'd suck it up.

"You've been looking at that mirror for the past twenty minutes, I think it's safe to say you look good." She was munching on some breakfast one of the chefs prepared for us and I'd been close to changing my blazer once more; for some reason, whenever I was stressed I overthought my dressing options hence my fourth time switching my uniform.

"I'm just making sure I look good."

"For who?"

"My..Myself."

She hummed, her fork clicking with the glass plate as she set down. "Right, can we get this show on the road? I've got to get there early."

I tugged for the charm on my necklace, my body fully turned in her direction, "why?"

Sitting up to throw her backpack over her shoulder which revolted in an exaggerated puff, she smiled to herself, "I have to collect something from the front office, some stupid award."

I took my bag over my shoulder, us making our way down the stairs. "Want me to go with?"

She hummed, "nah, I'll be good but can you do me a itsy bitsy favor?" We'd made it to the front door by now and I waved at my dad who was sitting in the dining room, his newspaper in hand.

"Yeah, what's up?" I plopped in the backseat of the car, Henry shutting the door after Lane. "Can you return my book when we get to school, I'm so overdue."

I nodded. Minutes later we arrived at the school, it felt so great to be at this hellhole, yay. We both stepped out, the sun blocking my focus from the courtyard.

We came out from different sides of the car, and within a split second she threw her book to me over the car; The Song of Achilles. I squinted from the sun at sight and walked up to the entrance, Lane doing the same, making her way to the front office.

I had already noticed people rushing to class and that meant the bell had already rung, which meant I'd be late. I surely didn't mind, I could spare a few minutes.

Pacing down the hallway, I practically rushed to the library, I didn't mind being a few minutes late past the bell but over ten would run up my heartbeat.

Arriving at the library, just in time — specifically, forty-five seconds give or take — the librarian was sitting behind her desk, her eyes set on the keyboard before her, and her glasses sitting right on her nose.

I had placed down the book but in expectation it'd be light, I only resorted to it slamming against the wooden desk, her being startled at the sudden noise. "Sorry, hi. I wanted to return this for my friend."

She looked over to the bin nearby against a wall and I nodded; I'd checked out many books before but never found much time to return them so Lane would always make those runs for me, the reason why I had no idea where the book-returning place was.

As I was about to slip the book into the bin, a voice pierced my ear up straight away. I turned around to see Myles standing in front of some girl, his arms crossed and his attention drawn to something that wasn't her.

I wasn't eavesdropping but I could hear their conversation. "No, I already told you, I'm not looking for anything, I don't even know your name."

"Farrah, remember? We shared like three classes together last year."