Full Throttle

Chapter 2 - Bad Blood

Half an hour later...

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Isn't it funny how rumours fly? I've just arrived at school and the second I enter the hallway, I can feel everyone's eyes on me like hundreds of ants crawling all over my skin. Everything has gone suddenly quiet and the sound of whispering fills my ears as I make my way to my locker.

I open the locker door and rip my books out as quickly as I can. The last thing I want to do right now is be questioned by the student body of Somerset High and I know that if I hang around for even a second too long, I won't be lucky enough to avoid that.

Thankfully, I successfully made my escape and I rush into the chemistry classroom for first period. I head to the back of the room and slump down at a desk. 

It doesn't take long before tons of other people flood in and in no time, school begins. I just go through the motions of each class with all of the lectures and slide shows and quizzes blurring together.

And, as much as I try to focus, I can't stop thinking about the fact that news of my sexuality has probably spread around the school like wildfire. Also, it's pretty hard to forget that Chase, out of all the people in the world, was the one to start spreading this around.

The thing is, I know I hurt him. Okay, I know I really hurt him. But to do this to me? This was just something I never saw coming. He was the only person I told for a reason, I really trusted him. I thought my secret was safe with him but apparently it wasn't.

Also, I know I promised myself that I would face him, that I would confront him about this. But... I don't think I can do it today. I know that I have to at some point but in all honesty, the thought of looking at his face just makes me want to flinch.

I don't even know what I would want him to say. Do I want him to say sorry, to apologise? I don't know. Would an apology even be enough or would it just be like trying to fix a bullet hole with a bandaid? I also don't know. All I do know is that there's definitely some bad blood between us. He took our friendship that was once so shiny and completely rusted it; I just don't know if it's rusted beyond repair yet.

Right now, it's lunch and I'm heading back to my locker (yay... not) to put my stuff back and get my books for the second half of the school day. Unfortunately for me, there's already someone waiting for me at my locker so I won't be able to escape an interrogation this time.

As I get closer, it's confirmed to me who it is. I was really hoping I was wrong but no luck because there's no way that the girl in the hot pink, six inch heels with the curly, auburn hair could be anyone else.

I sigh as I reach my locker. "Anna. What an unpleasant surprise. What do you want?"

This is my ex-friend, Anna Matthews. We were basically attached by the hip during middle school and apart from Chase, she's the longest friend I've ever had. That was until she decided to trade me in for more popular friends and we haven't spoken since then. Until now.

"Wow, rude much, Isobel? What makes you think I came here with bad intentions?"

I roll my eyes. "Well, the fact that this is the first time we've talked in literally years was a pretty good clue."

She frowns and crosses her arms over her chest. "Whatever. So, what's this about you being gay? I've been getting so much crap about being friends with a lesbian," she sneered. "Why on Earth would you let people find out about this? Do you know how embarrassing this is for me?"

I actually laugh out loud. "Seriously? Firstly, I'm bi, not gay. And secondly, what's so embarrassing about not being straight? Finally, why is it embarrassing for you that I'm bisexual? Do you even hear yourself?"

"It so is humiliating and don't pretend like you aren't embarrassed. You haven't talked to a single person at school today. Would someone who isn't embarrassed do that?"

I guess she had a point but she didn't need to know that. "You know what, if I'm so embarrassed, why would I have a girlfriend? Why wouldn't I just date a guy and pretend to be straight?"

Hold on a second, why would I say that? What girlfriend?! There is no girlfriend. Literally no one. What an idiot.

Anna is giving me a smirk likes she sees right through my lie. "Please, Isobel, as if you have a-"

It is at this moment that Anna is cut off and this blond girl that I've never seen before in my life butts into the conversation. She wraps her arm around my shoulder, smiles and then says the last thing I was expecting her to say,

"Isobel does actually have a girlfriend. Me."