"...unrequited love does not die; it's only beaten down to a secret place where it hides, curled and wounded. For some unfortunates, it turns bitter and mean, and those who come after pay the price for the hurt done by the one who came before."
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January
I couldn't help but be sick to my stomach. All the blood all over B's hands haunted me. For the first time, I was able to see someone else go over the edge. B gaped at me with wary eyes as if she just now felt the effect of her actions. It was just her, Birdie, and I huddled around Hazel's unconscious body.
"I can fix all of this. Don't worry!" She smiles through the tears bursting out of her eyelids.
Her hands tremble as she wipes the blood on her white dress. She finds her purse that was thrown about in the commotion. Hastily, she pulls out her phone to call someone. As soon as the person answers she demands they come to her at once briefly explaining the situation. It all sounded like code to me. One thing was apparent, something like this had happened before.
"Berenice, that was my car you decided to ram a girl's head through!" Birdie kissed her teeth trying to get her sister's attention.
"Birdie, fuck. I will get you a new car. I have way more crucial problems to address right now" B responds, cutting her eyes at her.
"How am I supposed to get home?" Birdie inquires, more concerned with leaving this crime scene than her sister's attitude.
"How about you take my car and go home with January? I need to be alone anyway" she murmurs, rubbing her temple with her free hand.
"What about you?" I say, I still feel shocked by everything.
B breaks her cold stance with a smile. She grabs my hand earnestly before saying "You don't have to worry about me". She kisses my forehead before sending us off.
The night air felt heavy as Birdie and I stepped away from the chaotic scene and down the dimly lit parking lot. B's actions begin to settle in my chest like a stone, making it hard to breathe. Birdie seemed unfazed, her mind already focused on practical matters.
"Can you believe her?" she muttered exasperatedly as we walked towards B's car. "First she wrecks my car beating up some girl, then she acts like nothing happened. This is too much." I nodded in silent agreement, feeling fear and apprehension for B.
What was she going to do next? Was she in danger? My mind raced with questions. As we reached B's car, the reality of the situation felt like it was pulling me down. My hands shook as I fumbled with the keys, struggling to unlock the door.
"Let me drive," Birdie said, snatching the keys from my trembling fingers. "You're in no state to be behind the wheel." I slid into the passenger seat, grateful for her decisiveness.
As we pulled out of the parking lot, I couldn't help but glance back at the scene we were leaving behind. B's silhouette was still visible, hunched over Hazel's motionless form. "Do you think she'll be okay?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Birdie scoffed, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Berenice Knight? She always lands on her feet. It's everyone else I worry about." The neon glow of the street lights flickered past as we trudged down the worn pavement. I pressed my face against the cold passenger glass, my thoughts swirling like a turbulent ocean. This was not how I had envisioned the night ending, but I was grateful that I wasn't the one embroiled in the fight that had just taken place.
