New Believers Of God

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

I figured everything would blow over after the weekend, and that the guys would have gotten over what I did. But little did I know just how bad things were about to get.

When the bus stopped at Shane's neighborhood Monday morning, I watched as he stepped on and moved over so he could sit next to me, just like he always did. However, on this day, he walked right past me and sat somewhere else.

"Maybe he didn't see me." I thought.

I then looked above my seat and tried calling for him.

"Shane." I said "Shane."

But once again, I got no reaction, and realized he was deliberately ignoring me.

I sat back down and contemplated what to do. I was paying the consequences for my actions, something I knew was likely going to happen when I made my decision. But I figured he wouldn't stay mad at me forever, and I doubted the others would either.

At least that's what I thought.

Later on at lunch, I made my way over to our table and sat down.

"Oh no." said Ethan "Get out of here."

"What?" I asked.

"You heard him." Victor added "You're not welcome here."

"Guys." I told them "Come on. I know I messed up and I said I was sorry. It's over."

"You're right, it is over." said Shane "You had your chance to be sorry and blew it. You should've taken it, and you didn't. So that's it. We're done."

"You're being ridiculous." I said back.

"Go sit with your girlfriend." said Daryl "I saw you holding hands with her."

I didn't want to leave of course. I wanted to work things out. But no matter what I said, they just wouldn't listen and kept shouting at me.

"You've got ten seconds to get out of here." said Ethan "I won't tell you again."

"Please Ethan." I said back "You're my friends."

"Not anymore." said Shane.

"Go!" Victor hollered.

Not wanting to draw any attention, I stood up and walked over to Holly's table.

"Is it okay if I sit here?" I asked her.

"Of course." she answered, "Go ahead."

As I sat down and started eating, I couldn't help but feel out of place sitting with her and her friends, all of whom were girls. No offense to them, but it just seemed a bit awkward for me. If there had at least been one other guy there, I would have been much more comfortable with it.

"Let me guess." she said, "Your friends kicked you out, huh?"

"Yeah." I said back "They want nothing to do with me."

"Some friendship that is." she added.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean if they really cared about you, if they really were your friends, then they would've understood why you did what you did and not be mad at you like this." she answered, "That's not what friendship is."

She proved a great point. Why should I want to be around the guys if they were going to act like this, especially after everything I did to help them? I didn't belong to them, and I certainly didn't have to take that kind of treatment. If they couldn't accept my apology and wanted to have these feelings of betrayal, then that was their problem. They could do that all day long.

I continued to eat as I conversed with her and got to know each of her friends as well, who were very nice and accepting of my being there.

Eventually, I pulled a pack of Twinkies from my bag and opened them up.

"Want one?" I asked her.

"Sure." she answered, taking one "Thanks."

At that same moment however, the guys came walking past us to throw their trash away.

"Practicing for the wedding I see." said Daryl.

"I guess they couldn't wait any longer." said Ethan.

"Save some for the guests." said Victor.

I wanted to say something back, but Holly stopped me.

"Don't listen to them." she said, "They're just being mean."

I didn't want to. But boy, was it hard.

I could only hope this wouldn't last much longer.