Good Luck With That *ON HOLD*

Chapter 2: Welcome Back

"Hayden who?" I ask leaning over the table towards Ally but she just stares ahead lost in outer space. Yeah she could be quite dramatic sometimes. 

"Hayden Miller," Aria enunciates lingering on each word as she takes one of her earphones out, "the resident bad boy. Been gone from military school for two years, but looks like he's back." I glance over my shoulder again at the boy, ok Hayden, sitting casually in one of the cafeteria's red chairs, leaning across the table. His dark brown hair sticks out in all the right places, and the way he leans back in his seat...snap out of it Evelyn. He's even talking to- no, Clarissa. Though considering he's the 'bad boy' Aria claims him to be, then it's no surprise he's chatting to Clarissa who looks to be all over him. She flicks her long, silky black hair back over her shoulder and twirls her finger around it. That guy must be pretty thick to fall for a girl like her. Just as I'm about to look away I catch the eyes of Hayden and for a moment we both just stare. I stiffen and turn around quickly my heart drumming against my chest. This has never happened before, I need to clear my head. I stand up still staring down at my textbooks. 

"Evelyn, are you alright?" Ally asks looking up from the plate of salad she's been moving around glumly with her fork. 

"Yea-um I just need to...ah go to the bathroom," I stutter, pushing my chair in and turning in the direction of the bathrooms. 

"Ok..." she says slowly, her words echoeing over my shoulder as I realise where the nearest bathrooms are- the other side of the cafeteria. Ok deep breath Evelyn, I repeat to myself as I begin to make my way towards the bathrooms. My gut is screaming at me to run and I eventually give in swivelling the other way and heading to the next nearest bathrooms. As I quickly scamper past people, they give me the strangest looks as though I was wearing a paper bag over my head or something. And there I was thinking they were over the freak of the school, obviously the joke still stands. 

As I reach the door of the bathroom I hear the unmistakable giggling of Clarissa's cheerleading possie. This can't be good, I'm thinking as I suddenly stop and try to be as still as possible and hope to god they won't notice me. 

"Omigod, did you see Hayden like look at me?" one of the cheerleaders gasps, her words echoing out from the bathroom. "Yea he's like totally into you, I mean he's so dreamy..." another girl sighs and I realise their words were becoming a lot louder and before I know it thing one and thing two turn the corner of the bathroom hallway, evil smirks plastered across their faces. 

"And just look who we run into Macie," Felicity laughs, her cruel remark reverberating down the hallway. My insides freeze, turning to ice. They stalk towards me their heels clicking along the tiled floors. They stop inches before me and I realise my options have been dramatically cut short- why Evelyn did you not run when you had the chance? In one swift movement I fall to the ground, the pain pulsing through my arms and legs and Felicity stands before me, pretending to dust off her hands. Their cruel laughter lingers in the air as they continue past me down the hallway. I sigh pulling myself off the ground and continue on my prior path into the bathroom. I lean into the mirror staring at the horrible mess of myself. I run my hand through my blonde locks, combing out the knots as I catch my eyes in the mirror. Those eden green eyes that bore into me bring tears to my eyes, reminding me of my mother. I stagger back from the mirror and collapse against the middle of the bathroom doors. I bury my head in my hands, sinking to the floor as the tears come streaming down my face washing away my make-up. My breath comes out in small gasps, in between sobs. My chest aches, with remorse and sorrow longing for my mother to return. Today marked the passing of my mother, three years ago she died in a terrible car accident. Three died including my mother.  The doctors said she died upon impact and she wouldn't have felt any pain; they were the words repeated to me ever since the accident. 

It's not your fault Evelyn, it was never your fault. Is what my father kept telling me the day she passed, but I begged to differ. If I hadn't of left my bloody jumper at the supermarket it would never have happened! The last time I saw my mother was when I slammed my bedroom door in her face, the result of an argument. If I had only known that would've been the last time I'd seen her, then maybe the pain would be easier to handle. But I didn't and now my heart aches every time I think of her, everytime I look into my own eyes and see her staring back at me. 

"Evelyn?" a familiar voice whispers hesitantly. I gaze up from my dreadful state and meet the warm eyes of Aria. "Oh Evelyn." She drops hers and my books to the floor and crouches down beside me wrapping her arm around my shoulder. I sink my head into her shoulder, and she coos softly. "I'm so sorry Evelyn, I'm so sorry." I cry harder into her shoulder, the sobs shuddering through my body. She smooths the top of my head and holds me tighter, whispering soothing words.

The bell rings through the hallways interupting the stillness and a chorus of voices break out in the hallways. "C'mon babe let's get you cleaned up," Aria says, helping me off the ground. Cupping my face in her hands she grabs a tissue and wipes away the streamline of tears. 

"Thankyou," I sniff embracing her arms in a hug. I breathe in deeply thanking the heavens for giving me such a great friend. "We better get to class." We pull away, pick up our books and walk out of the hallway. 

"Oh I've got english, speak in history ok?" Aria reasures, her arm lingering on my shoulder. I nod timidly and make my way to  my english class feeling a little better. Over the past three years I've gotten used to hiding the pain from everybody around me, but on days like these it's harder to control it. 

As I approach my english classroom my heart sinks dramatically as I see Clarissa leaning by the door scrolling through messages on her phone. She looks up from her phone catching me in the process of trying to enter the racket of noise escaping from the classroom. One of her supermodel, long legs steps out in front of the door blocking my path. "Have a nice break, Evelyn?" she sneers, her eyes flitting over my body, taking in my faded denim shorts and white, knitted jumper. "I hope you didn't forget my parting words last spring?" I freeze, my insides quaking with fear. 

"Ah Miss Hines, could you please take your seat in the classroom now?" Mr Johnson's voice thunders from behind. Sounds like he's already in a bitter mood. Clarissa, huffing, twirls around and takes her seat in the middle of the second row. I hurry in after her with my head down but am suddenly drawn to the floor again as Clarissa trips me. 

"Oh sorry didn't see you there," Clarissa snickers above me. I quickly grab all my books when something hot soaks into the side of my white jumper. I gasp leaning back and the class erupts into hysterics all around. "Oh if you wouldn't mind," Clarissa asks pointing to coffee cup on the floor beside me. Grabbing all my books I get up off the ground and place her beloved coffee cup on the table with a thud. As I make my way to my seat at the back of the classroom, words like spaz and freak bounce off the walls, all directed at me. I sink into my seat, heavily placing my books onto my desk all the while examining the coffee stain. It leaves my arm feeling sticky and smelling horribly of coffee. I sigh leaning my head against my books wishing I was just by my mother's side in the cemetery she's buried. The weird thing is that I'm not usually freaked out by cemeteries and enjoy spending time where my mother's buried- lying beside my mother's grave, on the grass and staring at the blue skies ahead. It all takes away the pain and gives me time to relax- to breathe in the fresh air and get away from it all. Right now I long to be there.

 "Miss Woods, pay attention please!" Mr Johnson's voice booms through the room. My body jerks upwards as Mr Johnson's glare bores into me, but he soon goes back to writing up topic questions on the board. This day is going to be just as worse as I have expected.