The Story Of Me

Chapter Six

That night was the night of the schools open house. Also known as-
Possibly The worst night of my life.
Me and My friend meheret were stoked about it. It meant we could hang out with Adam!
As we were packing up our bags to leave school, a kid in our class named Derek, said,"Hey just so you know we know you guys' lil secret," he laughed and smirked at Michael.
"What?" My heart thumped.
"Yeah uh, the whole basketball team- including well- your man," he started to crack up,"and Pastor Adam and Mrs.Herod. We know," him and Michael laughed.
"How?" Was all I could choke out. Meheret stood silent.
"An insider," he winked. The only other person besides meheret who knew was-
Bailey.
A lump the size of my fist formed in my throat and my knees weakened. This wasn't happening.
"May I go to the restroom?" I asked my teacher. She nodded and I darted down the hall to the girls restroom. I looked myself in the back stall. I felt like throwing up but I couldn't. My best friend had told! I heard the bell ring so I darted downstairs with my backpack. Meheret was coming to my house tonight. I found her sitting in carpool. Her eyes liked like the reflection of myself that I saw in the mirror. We both looked like some one had just died.
I saw Adam walk in and he looked at me. My eyes couldn't have darted away faster.
May be they were lying! Maybe he didn't know! I could only hope.
"You know who told-" meheret started.
"I know. Let's talk at my house," I interrupted. She nodded.
My mom came and picked us up and we drove to my house. My mom asked how school was and we lied. Because school was freaking CRAP.
We pulled into my driveway and me and meheret state to my room.
"What do we do?" She asked instantly.
"I don't know," I sighed. I fell onto my bed and she collapsed onto my bean bag.
"I'm scared," she said.
"Me too," my voice shook.
After a while of talking about what we should do we agreed to a plan.
"So we'll just have fun and wait til he brings it up, good," I smiled.
"Wanna go shot some hoops to clear our minds?" I suggested.
"That sounds good," she said. We went into my driveway with the basketball hoop and played around the world with Mark. Then my mom called our names. It was time to go.
We quickly changed out of our school uniforms and darted to the car.
We drove off to what we thought would end ok.
Who woulda known we would go down like the titanic.

When we arrived hardly anyone was there. We went to the girls restroom and just talked. Then we went up to my mom's classroom. He was there. We weren't expecting it. Meheret didn't hesitate to run back into the restroom. I should have followed.
"Hey," he said.
"Whatever," I said. Now I have this problem where when I'm nervous where 'whatever' and 'who cares' is the only one thing in my vocabulary.
Luckily Mark was there to keep Adam busy. Eventually meheret came back up. Then I noticed Mark giggling at something Adam had said.
"What?" I said.
"Um shelbs?" Mark held back a laugh.
"What?" I repeated.
"Does Bailey ever lie?" He asked. I was caught off guard.
"What? No!" I said confused. Mark started to laugh. And then it hit me.... I looked at meheret. It was almost as if she was already running for the bathroom.
"Bailey told me you like me," Adam said
I could take Mark. I could take Derek. I could probably take Satan. But this guy was worse. This was Adam.
And I couldn't take it. I darted for the stairs. I can't forget it. It's all kinda engraved in my head. Me and him were starting to become friends and now- I didn't know what now. And that scared me a whole lot.
Me and meheret got to the bathroom and the tears came. They probably added up to more than that sink could pour out.
This was horrible. Mark knew. Adam knew. Derek and Michael knew. I don't think that was really my problem though...
My problem was my best friend telling the thing I trusted her most with. I looked at meheret. She was hurt too.
"You know what?" I wiped the tears off.
"What?" She choked.
"We can't let them win!" I grabbed my purse.
"Huh?" Her eyes were red and glossy.
"We can't let them win! This is what they all want! To see us crying and defeated! Well I won't let them. I'm gonna go out there and have a good time! That's why we came here! And even if it hurts like heck, I won't shed a tear. Not in front of them! They don't deserve your tears or mine! Are you with me or not?" I preached. She laughed a little and wiped her black eyes. She tightened her black ponytail and splashed water on her brown face.
"Let's go have some fun!" She giggled. We walked out an the crowd had arrived. The first person who approached us was Hanna.
"Hey guys!" She smiled (as always)
"Hi," I managed a small smile.
"So I've heard some stuff," she frowned,"I asked where you were and Mark said you ran off after-" she stopped. Her light brown eyes full of pity.
"We're ok," meheret spoke up.
"Yeah we are," I actually smiled.
"That's great! Well if you wanna hang out with me and ashtyn later you can! I have to go find my mom but I'll see you later," she waved.
"Ok bye," I said.
"Ready to go back upstairs?" I asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she sighed. Upstairs was covered in people. I spotted a blonde head out of the crowd. Usually I would run to her and link arms with her and tell her everything. I looked at meheret. She was great but she wasn't Bailey. And that made it hard not to cry.
But it didn't matter that I didn't walk up to her. She found me anyways.
"Hey," she smiled.
I would have talked then. Not sure what I would have said but actually this time, it was meheret who spoke up.
"Do you have any idea how much you hurt us?" She growled. She probably would have continued if- he wouldn't have walked up.
"Hey Adam!" I smiled.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Have you seen the creepy dolls in Mrs. Neighbors room? You have to see them come on!" I winked at meheret. This night wants over
"No," he said.
"Let's go!" I gestured for him to follow.
"Wait but- is it true? Do you like me?" He asked. Ughhhhhhhhhh! I thought we could avoid this!
"No it's not," I lied. Shock covered all their faces. And couldn't care less.
"Now come on let's go!" And he followed. And so did Bailey.
"If you don't like him why are you talking to him?" She asked cleverly. I ignored it. It hurt.
"Look," I pointed to the scary rag dolls and porcelain dolls.
"Ew! What the-" he gasped.
But I saw the look he gave me. It was- different. Different than the look in the car singing and in hide and seek. Everything had changed. I couldn't see him look at me like that any longer. It was like he was looking at a stranger. He didn't believe me.
"Yeah," I nodded. But I walked away. And I kept walking.

I would love to say that Adam ran after me. An that he told me he loved me too. And that we danced in the moonlight and I made up with my friends and we all live happily ever after... but one thing about this story you might hate...
It's not fiction.