Begin Again

Seven - Mackenzie's POV

I’d never thought I’d be like one of those losers in movies who ate their lunches in a restroom stall. But yet, here I am.

Sitting here, on the cold toilet with a bag of lunch in my hands, I couldn’t find the will to eat. Dried-up tears streaked my cheeks and I sniffed, dazed. I absentmindedly stared at the jumble of words, scrawled on the walls of the stall.

Beatrice is a bitch!

Suck it, baby

go screw ur mom

Mackenzie Miller is a slutty man-stealer

An empty laugh left my lips as I read the last one. It wasn’t true. It wasn’t. But did anyone care? No. The truth didn’t matter, not in this town.

Looking away from the harsh words, I stared down at my feet. I was wearing a pair of old red Converse unlike before, where I’d be wearing stiletto heels, something fashionable and hot. Same went with my outfit – I was wearing a loose green shirt with faded blue jeans. Just a couple of weeks ago, I wouldn’t be caught dead in this attire. Ha, funny how life changes so fast.

But nobody gave a crap about me so why should I? Why should I try to ‘dress to impress’ when in the end, it wouldn’t work, anyways? It wouldn’t change the way people were treating me now. It wouldn’t mean anything. I’d still be that “chick who tried to steal Celina’s boyfriend” and “a no-good backstabber.”

And as I soon realized this, tears welled up in my eyes again. I’ve done plenty of crying in the last couple of days, but what else could I do? I didn’t know and I still don’t.

What do other people in my situation do? Were there even others like me? People who didn’t do anything wrong, but they take the fall anyways? What the hell do I do?

Run away.

I blinked as the thought flashed in my mind. Run away? I couldn’t do that . . . could I?

Suddenly, the choice was clear. I could do it. There was nothing left in this town for me anymore. I had nobody – with the exception of Colby, but he’d understand. I know he would. In fact, he’d want me to do what made me happy. Staying here wasn’t going to do that.

My heart began racing as a plan began to formulate in my head. Although I was set on it, I still couldn’t fully believe it.

I was going to run away.