lORe

Olive- where worlds collide

I didn't even do anything wrong. All that I did was punch her. Nothing else. Just a small, harmless punch. So what if it sent her to the ER? So what if she's in a terrible condition? So what if she went to the ICU? It doesn't matter that she started it, does it? It only matters that I hit her. Now everyone thinks I'm the worst person ever. It feels like they don't even care about why I did it. All they see is that I hit her, and now I'm stuck with this label of being the attacker, while she's the victim. It's not fair. I just wanted her to be quiet for once. And now I'm here, feeling like everyone's looking at me like I'm a monster when all I wanted was to stand up for myself. I wish they could just see the whole story instead of just freaking out about one dumb punch. And now I'm here. Cleaning the running track after school. I lifted up the broom and swept the grass in a quick and easy motion. I didn't want this to take too long."Hey, Olive! What's the matter? Cleaning up your mess?" The voice cuts through the air like a knife, sharp and taunting. I look up to see her leaning against the fence that separates the oval from the parking lot. Her arms crossed and an infuriating smirk plastered across her face, she watches me as if I'm some sort of entertainment. I brace myself, taking a deep breath to steady the whirlwind of feelings swirling in my gut. "Leave me alone, Candice," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, suppressing the embarrassment that threatens to boil over. "Oh, come on! I just wanted to see how the 'famous fighter' was doing," she coos mockingly. "I heard you were quite the smash hit! Too bad it didn't work out that way, huh?" Every inch of me wants to lash out, but I force myself to focus on the broom, moving it methodically across the grass. Ignoring Candice is harder than it sounds. She's always been relentless, fueled by some twisted desire to be the center of attention, to make others squirm. "Can you even call that a punch?" she continues, stepping closer, her voice dripping with disdain. "You practically swung like a little kid! No one wants to associate with the girl who nearly killed someone, especially because it was me!" I push harder against the broom, the bristles catching on the rough patches of turf. But I keep my head down, convincing myself that rising to her bait will only make things worse. ''If the punch wasn't enough to shut you up, do you want me to use the broom as well?'' I muttered, though it seemed like Candice didn't hear me. "You should really get a grip, Olive," she chirps, a phony sweetness coating her words. "It's not like you're going to get invited to any parties or hangouts anytime soon. Just think, if you hadn't thrown that punch, you could be hanging with all the popular kids right now." "Go away, Candice. You're not helping," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. I made a mental note; if she didn't stop soon, I would use the broom."Helping? Oh, but I am! I'm doing you a service, trying to help you understand that you're a joke!" She laughs. "Or maybe," Candice continues, undeterred, "you should really embrace your new identity. You could be like the new Mean Girl or something! 'Olive the Outcast' could have a nice ring to it!" "Why do you care, Candice?" I finally snap, fueled by the pain of being cornered. "If you think I'm so terrible, why waste your time on me? Shouldn't you be busy with whatever group of kids you run with?" "Ah, but who could resist the opportunity to watch a train wreck?" she says, amusement dancing in her eyes. I take a deep breath, telling myself to stay calm. I won't give her the satisfaction of knowing she has gotten under my skin. I keep sweeping, focusing on the grass in front of me, my blood boiling. ''Come on!'' Candice urged me. ''Why don't you fight me again? I dare you.'' Candice's face was curled into a cruel smile. This girl, I told myself, is really the devil in disguise. ''Just go away.'' I said, glaring at her. ''Why don't you make me?'' Candice said. A car in the parking lot suddenly beeped its horn. ''I've got to go, but this isn't over!'' said Candice, scowling and heading towards the car. I rolled my eyes and went back to sweeping. Minutes went by, and I had only cleaned about a quarter of the running track. It was a hot day, and the sun was beating down hotter than ever, even if the sun was setting. Suddenly, I heard something fall. I looked around to see a girl, older than me, on the floor. She groaned, and laid on the floor like water that was poured out of a glass. She had landed in a bush near the fence, and it was covering her. I could see she was wearing a ripped shirt. ''Hey! Miss, are you alright?'' I called out. The woman didn't reply. Her long brown hair looked like it spilled around her like a silken curtain.The waves of her hair frame her face, softening the edges and accentuating the striking appearance of her small, almond-shaped red eyes. The vivid hue of her eyes captured my attention immediately, seeming to glimmer even in the ambient light. Her delicate features were momentarily startled, with her slightly parted lips revealing a hint of surprise, and just a bit of frustration. Then she spotted me, and startled, she crawled back into the fence that separated the running track from the car park. ''Who are you?'' She asked, her face stuck with a scared expression. ''I'm Olive!'' I said hurriedly, trying not to scare her more. ''Don't be scared!'' The woman looked annoyed. ''I'm not scared!'' she insisted. ''I'm just in shock! You wouldn't happen to know how to get to the woods?'' When I was little, I had big, tall woods surrounding my house on all sides. I loved running through them, playing and imagining all sorts of adventures. But now, as I've grown up, those woods have vanished, replaced by buildings and roads. It made me sad to think about how the trees are gone and all I have left are memories of the fun I had there. ''Uh, no. Sorry, all the trees are gone now. The city had to cut them down to make space for marketing.'' The woman looked around, taking in the scenery around her. I went to a private school in the middle of the city, where the only trees for miles grow. The woman looked back at me. ''Do you have any clothes I could borrow, uh...''