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❝ only you can define yourself.❞
―
NATHALIE HAD MADE UP HER MIND.
She wasn't going to the All Valley tournament. She didn't care if she had spent months training. She didn't care about proving the people who doubted her wrong. None of that mattered anymore. All that mattered to her was staying as far away from Eli Moskowitz as she possibly could, even if it meant missing the tournament all together. She hadn't even wanted to join karate in the first place, so it really didn't seem like much of a loss.
Nathalie lay in her bed, scrolling through social media on her phone. It seemed like everyone she went to school with was raving about her interaction with Hawk at the canyon party. There were clips of her hitting him posted to numerous stories and as videos posted to actual accounts that wouldn't disappear after a few hours. Nathalie scrolled through the comments. People were calling her all sorts of things.
Crazy. Psychotic. 'In need of some major therapy.' Nathalie really hated social media. Sometimes, she seriously considered deleting it entirely. Nathalie clicked the power button, turning off her phone. She wanted to throw it across the room. Instead, she tossed the side of her pillow and groaned. She grabbed her pillow and placed it over her face. Nathalie let out a scream.
She removed the pillow from her face as she heard a knock at her door. Nathalie turned her head, watching as her bedroom door opened, revealing Marisol on the other side.
"Hey, we're about to head out. Are you ready to—" Marisol cut herself off when she noticed Nathalie still lying in bed. "You're still in bed. Nattie, why aren't you dressed?"
"Because I'm not going," Nathalie responded as she sat up straight.
Marisol walked into the room and shut the door behind her. She walked over to Nathalie's bed and took a seat.
"Why not? Are you feeling okay?" Marisol asked as she placed her hand on Nathalie's forehead. "You're not sick, are you?"
Nathalie shook her head. "No. I just decided that I don't want to go."
"But I thought you were enjoying karate," Marisol replied. "You know, proving everyone wrong and sticking it to the man?"
"And what good is proving everyone wrong and sticking it to the man when everyone still thinks you're the same messed up, crazy girl as always?" Nathalie asked. "And you heard what happened last night. Do you seriously think anyone even wants me there?"
"And since when do you care what other people think?" Marisol asked, placing her hand on the side of Nathalie's head. "Nattie, you've made mistakes. That part is true. Should you have tried to get Eli to drink with you? No, you shouldn't have. Should he have told you that mom and dad left because of you? No. You both made a mistake. Should you have lashed out at him? No. But Nathalie, none of that—nothing that people say about you—defines you. Only you can define yourself."
