If Patti had thought she had everything under control, she was mistaken. The next day, she was met with the biggest shock. The natatorium had been turned into a dumpster. Patti glared at it in disbelief. Where had all the dirt come from?
But of course, she knew. Ethan had done this to torment her. How was she going to clean this in time for her part-time job? Feeling defeated, Patti wondered if she had done the wrong thing by not just apologizing to Ethan.
For some unknown reason, she felt like he was watching her tumble, those blue cold eyes taking in every moment of her suffering. And she was right. Looking around, she found that she was alone.
Maybe she should beg and just end this already. Swallowing her pride and folding her fingers into a fist, she turned and left the natatorium.
Patti was able to find Ethan's hideout, even though everyone she asked thought she had totally lost her mind and didn't want to even talk to her. Taking slow, deep breaths and counting to ten in her head, she knocked. Cold shivers ran through her body when Ethan's voice called her in.
"It's you," he said as she walked into the room.
The room was large, like a sitting room, except it had a resting area and a game area. Plush sofas were arranged around a large flat-screen TV, and a pool table occupied one corner. Video game consoles and controllers were scattered around, and a mini-fridge stocked with drinks stood against the wall.
"I..." Patti began to say, but she could not bring herself to say it. Flashes of her ruined car filled her head, and when she looked up at him, the evil smile and mockery in his eyes made her blood boil. She saw his laptop showing the natatorium, and a feeling of anger overshadowed her. So he'd been watching her all the while.
"If you have nothing to say, get out," Brittany said.
Patti took another deep breath, meeting Ethan's cold, icy gaze. "I just came to say..."
She waited, enjoying the suspense she was leaving him in, and then finally she shot out her middle finger. "Fuck you, Ethan Lee. Fuck you."
Ethan's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "I see you haven't learned."
"And I see you still have a dick head," she snapped, turned and doubled out of the room, feeling a sense of satisfaction at their mortified expression.
But it didn't last. As soon as she got out of the room, the weight of her actions hit her. She covered her face, cursing her silly pride. She made her way back to the natatorium, feeling defeated, but when she arrived, she was met with a pleasant surprise.
Jenna, Emily, and Sam were there, waiting for her.
"Where were you?" Sam asked.
"I thought you all left," Patti replied.
"No, we thought we should help you," Sam said.
Patti was touched. Tears filled her eyes. "Oh, guys," she sobbed, overwhelmed by their support and kindness." What would I have done without you, everyone is avoiding me like I'm so virus, but you guys..."
" I think them avoiding you might have something to do with the fact that you mess with the SH4" Jenna said
" And I'm already regretting it" Patti mumbled to herself.
The weight of the day's events lifted slightly as she realized she wasn't alone anymore. . Together, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work, turning what seemed like an impossible task into a symbol of their unity and resilience. Saying jokes and laughing.
YOU ARE READING
Colide
Teen Fiction--- **Colide** by Sally Abraham Patti Lockwood never expected her life to turn upside down when she transferred to Willow High. As a determined young Black woman, she's no stranger to challenges, but nothing could prepare her for the collision cours...
