eyes of the mind

chapter 16

The sounds of thunder woke me up for school. I checked my phone to see if anyone had texted me and yesterday was some elaborate prank.

No notifications.

I got up and put on an oversized hoodie with even larger sweatpants with converse.

I decided to just bike it to school seeing as I had no other way of transportation.

As I lock my bike up I see a the parking lot empty, figures since it's completely grey outside.

I went to the over head away from the entrance and lit up a cigarette.

As I was doing so I seen August jog up to the entrance but faltered in his steps.

He looked my way and began to walk over.

We didn't say anything but let the rain be the background music and the cigarette smoke our scent.

"I didn't mean for it to come out like it did" August says as he lights up a cigarette too.

"What'd you say" I ask taking a drag.

He turns towards me and says, "I said that you manipulated and mentally abused me and were jealous of me and Bianca hence why you said what you said."

What shocked me was that I wasn't even surprised but what scared me was that I wasn't even surprised.

"And why would you say that?" I ask.

"I don't know, because I thought I was loosing them and I already lost you so I had nothing to loose with saying what I said" he says.

"Even though it meant hurting me in the process?" I ask.

He looked down in shame and then takes a drag.

I take a drag and then put my cigarette out.

"Whatever the truth will come out soon, that you were the person who did all of those things, not me" I say as I bump past him.

—

School was a blur, no one even breathed in my direction.

The gossipers would whisper when I walk past. Some even bold enough to say abuser in that weird cough cover up but the whole hallway heard.

I'm stocking shelves in the back per my request not wanting to see anyone.

As I was putting records in different groups I heard a knock and Landon sat next to me.

"Hey" he said looking at me.

I looked at him with tears welling in my eyes. He then took me in his embrace and comforted me the best he could.

While I cried out all of the water needed in my body he whispered, "I knew none of it was true."

I moved off of him and looked betrayed, hurt.

"Then why would you just stand by and let all of those horrible things happen to me?" I say with my voice cracking.

He looked lost for words.

"I met you and you hated August, you were confused on why I was friends with them. Why go on to treat me like dirt on your shoe if you didn't believe him?" I ranted.

"I didn't know they would take it that far. I didn't even know that the whole table was mad at you until that happened" he spoke.

"What about when you and Carol was on the date did you know then? Is that why you guys were so awkward when I came up?" I asked desperately.

"Because I was basically in love with you, and Carol knew. But we also heard about the whole August situation and we didn't know how to handle it. We should've done better and I apologize" he said.

"I'm going to get water" I said as I walked out of the stock room.

I walk to see Brock and Carol at the register. Their eyes light up when they see it's me.

"I'm so sorry for yesterday Lav, we both are, we didn't know it would go that far and we should have prevented it" Brock says.

"I mean me of all people should know that August bleeds bull shit and none of that was true" Carol adds in.

"Did he tell you the truth or are these apologies out of the goodness of your heart?" I ask.

"Both" they said at the same time.

"He came to lunch looking miserable like something was weighing on his mind and spilled the truth about everything" Brock said.

"Was Bianca there? What did she have to say to all of this" I ask.

"She just stayed quite snd comforted August but she looked extremely guilty and ashamed" Carol said.

"Can you please forgive us?" Brock says.

If I had a backbone I would've just told them they should've came and talked to me first, hurt them like they hurt me.

But they were the only people I had.

I move from around the corner and hug them as hard as I could and cried in their arms as they cried with me. I felt Landon join in as well.

"I missed you, I really missed you" I cried out.

—

We all went to this local ice cream shop after work. They wanted to make it up to me.

"I love you guys, I mean it and it isn't the sugar talking. I feel awful for how we treated you Lav and I'm happy spending forever making it up to you" Brock says.

The rest of them agreed and we took each other's hands while looking at each other and erupted in laughter.

As we were eating and talking I noticed someone familiar walking in the door.

Brian.

I smiled and excused myself from the group and walked up to him.

"Thank you" I said to him.

He looked at me confused and then I saw familiarity cross his eyes.

"Of course, it looked like everything worked out with your friends. I'm glad" he says.

"Do you have to be anywhere? If not we would love to have you and talk" I said.

He nodded and then he wiped the ice cream from the corner of my mouth and tasted it.

"Cookie dough?" he asks.

"A classic but is very hated on" I laugh.

He gets his ice cream and sits at our table.

Everyone greets themselves and we go back into conversation about nothing and everything.

I look around, smile and thank the heavens above for times like these.