Broken then Healed (REWRITTEN)

CHAPTER 8

Unexpected Connections

The following morning, I woke up feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation. Eric's visit lingered in my mind, a small light amid the overwhelming darkness of the rumors swirling around me. I stared at the ceiling for a moment, willing myself to get up and face the day.

After a quick shower, I threw on my favorite black sweater and jeans, the fabric comforting against my skin. Today felt different, almost as if I was ready to reclaim my space in the world. I headed to the kitchen, where the smell of pancakes wafted through the air. My mom had already left for work, likely still busy with her patients.

I made a quick breakfast, the rhythmic sound of the spatula against the pan easing some of my nerves. The bright morning sun streamed through the window, casting warm light across the kitchen, and I found myself smiling despite the chaos of the previous day.

Once I finished eating, I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door, determined to confront whatever awaited me at school.

The walk to school felt longer than usual, but I took a deep breath, reminding myself of Eric's kind words. As I entered the school building, a wave of anxiety washed over me. Whispers echoed through the hallways, and I could feel the eyes of my classmates on me, their judgment heavy in the air.

I made my way to my locker, heart racing. I focused on the cold metal as I spun the lock, ignoring the whispers around me. With a deep breath, I opened the locker door, grabbing my books for first period.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice behind me. "Look who decided to show up!"

I turned to see Trisha standing there, flanked by her new group of friends. Her expression was smug, and for a moment, my heart sank.

"Did you miss us, Jane?" she continued, feigning innocence. "I mean, it must be tough being all alone now that you're the school pariah."

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, but instead of letting her words get to me, I took a step forward. "You know what, Trisha? I'm tired of your games. I'm not the problem here."

The other girls laughed, but I stood my ground. I wasn't going to let her push me around anymore.

"Is that so? Maybe you should just stick to your little omelets for dinner instead of trying to fit in with us," Trisha shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Before I could respond, a voice interrupted us. "Hey, leave her alone."

I turned to see Eric approaching, his expression serious. He stood tall, a protective aura surrounding him.

"Seriously, Trisha? Don't you have anything better to do?" he asked, glaring at her and her friends.

Trisha's smirk faltered, and for a moment, I could see the surprise in her eyes. "Who do you think you are?"

"I'm someone who doesn't tolerate bullying," Eric replied, his voice steady. "You should really think about how your words affect people."

I felt a swell of gratitude wash over me. Eric's presence felt like a shield, protecting me from Trisha's harshness.

"Come on, let's go," he said to me, motioning for me to walk with him.

I fell into step beside him, my heart racing. "Thank you for that," I said quietly, glancing up at him.

"Anytime," he replied with a small smile. "You deserve to stand your ground. Don't let them get to you."

We made our way to class, and the tension in my chest slowly eased. I couldn't help but feel lighter with each step. Maybe I wasn't alone after all.

The day passed in a blur, but with Eric by my side, the weight of the rumors felt a little more manageable. We shared laughs between classes and even sat together during lunch, where he introduced me to his friends.

"Hey, this is Jane," Eric said, gesturing to me. "She's pretty cool, so don't mess with her."

His friends greeted me warmly, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I belonged somewhere.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the day, I gathered my things, ready to head home. Just as I was about to leave, Eric caught my arm.

"Hey, I was wondering if you'd want to hang out this weekend? Maybe catch a movie or something?" he asked, his eyes hopeful.

My heart raced at the invitation. "I'd love that," I replied, a genuine smile spreading across my face.

"Great! I'll text you the details," he said, returning my smile.

As I walked out of school, I felt a newfound sense of hope. Maybe things were beginning to change after all.

Hey! If you guys enjoyed a chapter in the book , please give it a quick vote at the bottom.

So that , it tells me that my work is appreciated and enjoyed by you guys.

Sit back and enjoy your reading!

All right reserved. None of this work can be reproduced or transmitted in any way or form. Be it electronic , mechanical or without full express permission from the writer. Being said that the writer of this book explicitly does not own the rights to the image on the book cover and in the chapters. All credits go to it's rightful respected owner.

Basically , please don't copy this book in any way or form because that is illegal and it's a crime.

© 2017 wokeupthisway