LOVE YOU, LOTTIE.

Ch.12 - Risks and Rewards

Hoya gripped Lottie's hand, making some veins pop out.
“I'm so happy we're holding hands! They're so soft! I never want to let them go!”
She blocked out his speeding voice. He talked like his words were chasing him. And she didn't dare look at him. His smile, even though she wasn't looking in his direction, felt slimy.
Everything about him was so creepy.
Do it for them. She reminded herself, swallowing the bile building up in her throat.
“Hey guys!” Hoya called to his friends, dragging Lottie along.
The group looked confused.
They were almost certain that Hoya's relationship with the girl was one of his delusions.
So why are they holding hands?
“Are.. you okay Lottie?” A concerned Kason said.
“She’s fine, she hasn't been talkative recently, she's coming down with something.” Hoya looked at her and squeezed her hand tighter, “Right baby?”
The girl gulped and let out a quiet “Yeah.”
Not convincing enough for the group.

All Lottie wanted at the moment was to be with her actual friends, Liz, Mike, Ruden and Caska.
Not getting Pitiful looks from Sora, Kason and Doris.
Lottie shook her hand away from Hoya's, “I have to go to the bathroom.”
“Me too.” Sora joined.
Doris added, “Same..”
The two girls practically chased Lottie down. Once in the bathroom, things happened.
Sora locked the door behind her, “Lottie what's going on?”
The girl kept her back turned to the other girls.
“Lottie please.” Doris cried, “Just tell us what's wrong.”
Where do I start?
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?!” Sora's voice finally broke through the cool facade. “We're your friends! We'll take care of you! Just-”
“You've failed that task a long time ago!” Lottie screeched, she eased her tone before starting again, “Sora, you knew Hoya had hurt me, didn't you?”
The raven haired girl looked away then down, “I.. I tried to warn him.”
“Warn him?” Lottie laughed, “Shouldn't you have warned me?”
“I did!” Sora's head leaped up, “I told you to tell me if-”
“I wanted to be your friend.”
There was silence, except for Doris's heavy breathing. She was on the brink of a breakdown.
“What?”
“I didn't tell you because I wanted to be your friend. I didn't want to be kicked to the curb once you found out I was a potential victim.”
“But-”
“Let's be honest, you only saw me as a replacement for her. Arin.”
“Arin? No! You're Lottie!” Doris interjected.
“You're right. I am Lottie. I'm also Arin, and Jaeri and every other person your precious cousin has hurt, Sora.”
Now, Sora has collapsed. Voice racked with broken sobs, “I- didn't- want- him to h-hurt you!”
This was the first time Lottie had seen her show so much emotion.
However, she swallowed her reaction, replacing it with monotonous.
“So you wanted him to hurt the others?” Lottie whispered, leaning down to Sora's form. “Be realistic. What would telling you do, huh? Get me expelled?”
“Lottie what's going on? Why are you sounding like this? I don’t understand!” Doris was in phase one of a mental breakdown. “Can we all just talk about this?”
Lottie arose from Sora. Her tone uncannily cool,
“What's hidden.. no matter how deeply buried,” She took one last glance at Sora, “Will eventually rise to the surface.”
And with that, she pushed past the two girls and ran out the door.

Lotss: Step one, done.

Liz: Okay, great.

Lotss: The cameras are working right?

Mike: Yep. They got fixed over the weekend.

She was currently 5 minutes late to AP Lit. She didn't care though, there was more important tasks at hand.
As she burst through the door she woke the substitute up.
“Lottie Rose Wright?” The woman fumbled, picking up a pen and examining the attendance sheet. “I'll have to mark you tardy.”
Lottie shrugged and went to her new seat, It seemed Hoya had grabbed an extra desk and moved it beside her's.
He gave a wave to her, which she sweetly reciprocated.
“What did you and the girls talk about?” Hoya questioned, trying to sound innocently curious but sounding guilt ridden.
“Girl stuff.” Lottie smiled, reassuring him.
He took the bait, smiling back at her.
“Your.. bruises have healed up well.”
Lottie's fake smile fell as he mentioned that, making Hoya panic. “I- sorry I didn't mean to-”
Her mask almost faltered but she held it together the best she could.
Letting her hand meet his she soothed him, “It's okay, I know you didn't mean it. The medicine you gave me really helped.”