We're all ugly when we cry

Chapter 8: Rumours

To say I was excited to go back to school that day was an understatement.

Ever since the talk with Ben, I had practically been glowing. My parents had sensed that something was different yet hadn't said anything, I guess they were just glad I was smiling again. That morning instead of begging the sun to stay down a few more minutes, I was jumping about putting way to much thought into my outfit.

Not that I had much choice that is.

"Black jeans, or black jeans?" I huffed in frustration at the lack of colour but still ended up wiggling into my tightest pair. I had slightly more success with tops since not all of them were the same dull shade. From the very bottom of my draw I had managed to pull out a dark blue T-shirt decorated with a faint trail of stars going from the left shoulder to the right bottom. Hoping it was decent enough I shoved it on...

Since my hair only went one style anyway, I just stuck to the usual.

Signing contently, I skipped down the stairs. my feet, having other plans missed the next step, my body quickly lost balance from the lack of support and I was set tumbling down the flight of stairs. "Damn it" I groaned as I pulled myself up checking over for any damage, seeing I was ok, I sheepishly headed down to the kitchen.

My dad was already down sitting at the coffee table with a newspaper.
His whips of grey hair showing though his chestnut mop. I got my hair colour from him. Oh and his temper. I could just make out his round face from the top of the headline. It had really slimmed out since he started his diet, but he was still quite podgy. Maybe I could ask him how he did it, give some tips to Miss Jackson.

My mum was over at the stove. She was short compared to my towering 6 foot dad but still proudly 5'6. That explains my height. But unlike my dad she had always been the athletic type, so her body held a toned shape. She too had brown hair like myself, yet you couldn't ever tell that because of the years of bleaching it blonde. As I made my way behind her, I was treated with a familiar smell... Wait is that bacon?!

"Mum are you cooking bacon?" I couldn't hide my excitement.

"Oh look who's still alive." my mother chuckled before setting down a plate with freshly cooked bacon in front of my father.

Without looking up from his newspaper he replied "we thought you might of passed out on your way down the stair." Heat rose to my cheeks. They must of heard me fall. His tone was blunt and sharp but I could sense some concern in what he was saying, I had never heard any emotion from him since Jack, so this was new.

"I know I'm clumsy, but I'm okay trust me."

I smiled before grabbing a slice of bacon and sitting in my usual chair oppersite the fish tank. We had two gold fish and way too many guppies. I watched as the larger of the two goldfish chased a few of the guppies into one of the fake buildings in the tank, I chuckled to myself as it reminded me of school. The big gold fish being me and the smaller one being Ben, the guppies were blonde Barbie and her gang.

I had forgotten that my parents where still in the room till my mum spoke up again "So, can you tell us why your so happy? It's the real reason I made bacon, to celebrate you smiling again." the heat rose again to my cheeks. I knew I had been hard to my family lately, it was nice to be appreciated by them, even though I had been awful.

"Oh, did you get a boyfriend?" My mums brown eyes lit up enthusiastically.  Yet at the mention of the word "boy" my dads head shot up his blue eyes narrowed.

"You better not have a boyfriend." he bellowed.

I quickly got over the shock of the question before lazily throwing my arms around my overprotective dad.

"No I haven't got a boyfriend. But I've just got the first friend I've had in a long time." this time when I smiled at them I was glowing. I hadn't smiled so wide in so long. Not since Jack.

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As I entered the school I immediately began my search for a tiny blonde boy with glasses. Though as I walked past people they parted to the sides of the hall quickly. All eyes on me, judging me.

I wasn't used to this, something wasn't right... As my anxiety began to catch a hold of me I realised that I had to find Ben so he could explain things to me.

It wasn't long before somebody grabbed my arm hauling me into an empty classroom away from all the glowing eyes.

"Yasmin? Please tell me what's going on."

I was so relived to see Ben I didn't even realize he had asked me a question till he prodded my shoulder.

"Oh, sorry what was that?" I tried not to blush from my stupid behavior.

"I said, what's going on. The whole school is on edge"

I frowned, what was he on about?

"Ben I don't get it? What?"

"Somebody followed us last night to the clearing and filmed us, you can't hear anything, thank god, but from the angle they were at it looks like you kissed me."

"WHAT"

"That's not the worst bit, somebody hacked the school website and plastered it on there with a caption of 'the weirdest couple award goes to..."

"They are so dead, I'm going to kill them."

"Yaz, what exactly are you going to do?"

"That gang I told you about, I going to find them. They must of found me."

I felt a rage boiling in the bottom of my stomach that I had never felt before, It coursed through my veins begging to be released. Everybody seemed a threat towards me. All but...

Ben.

Whoever spread this video hadn't made me worry for my sake, it was for Ben and him only. He had become like a brother to me before I even realised it. He was so much like Jack he filled the spot so perfectly. It was like I had my brother back. Wrong I know but you don't understand. I was so desperate to fill the hole in my chest...

"Yasmin... how do you know it's even them?! It could be a school kid."

I kept my eyes planted firmly on walking out the front of the school.

"Yaz!"

"HEY YAZ"

...

"OI YASMIN"

...

"WHAT JJ?"

I stopped in my tracks and clasped a hand over my mouth. Shit... My eyes widened when I realised what I had done. I turned round to look at Ben... His face had paled, eyes and mouth open in shock, tears forming in his eyes were quickly replaced by ones of anger.

He turned on his heels and ran back into the crowd of students starting to emerge...

"BEN, BEN WAIT..."

I forgot where I was going and ran after him, I had to get to him. I can't loose him, he's the only friend I have.

"Rrrrrrrrrrrrrr"

The continuous screech of the school bell invaded my ear drums. Followed by the stampede of students. There was no way I would be able to find him now. I cursed to myself before stopping altogether. Fingers ran through my hair grabbing onto it and pulling hard, what have I done? I've lost him. All over again. And there was only one person to blame.

For the second time today I walked towards the front of the school this time making it out if the doors. I knew exactly where I was going. And even though every bone in my body protested I carried on running towards the abandoned church and graveyard one of their most popular gathering areas.

He was going to pay for this "Cal you are so dead."