Wish We Could Turn Back Time m.c

Chapter 3

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"G'day!" Al joined me in his usual spot on my walk to school. We'd developed this little routine where he'd walk with me, try to start up a conversation, and fail miserably. I would always ignore him and stare at my shoes the whole way there until we arrived at the school building.

I know what you're probably thinking, why do I have to be so rude? It's not that I want to be mean to the poor guy, it's just that every time I've tried to make friends in the past, they always get to know me and I get to trust them only to be let down or abandoned by them later when someone better or more interesting or less weird comes along. A part of me wanted to hope that Al was different, but I was done taking my chances with these types of things. Besides, I had Jasmine now.

"Y'know Lacey, you really aren't very talkative," I was surprised that he even remembered my name from that first day I had talked to him. When I didn't answer him, he sighed and we walked the rest of the way to school in silence.

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"Hey, we're gonna need this table. Mind sitting somewhere else? Maybe somewhere where the student body doesn't have to look at you," I knew that irritating, nasal voice.

"Charlotte, why do you continue to terrorize me? Can't you ever just let things go?" I had to look up from the book I was reading (Paper Towns by John Green) to speak to the evil witch's face.

"Terrorizing you?" She flipped her luscious black curls out of her face. "Honey, I'm only treating you for what you are."

"Which would be?" I already knew what she was going to say. The difference between this time and any time before this was that now I actually had a come back prepared.

"You're just another screw up who didn't make it. You think you're somehow special because you used to hang out with Michael Clifford years ago? Wrong. There's a reason why he's famous and you're not Lacey: he has talent and you don't. Now get over yourself and let me use this table!" Charlotte crossed her arms and her two lackeys mimicked her.

"Yeah? Well I might not be special, but you- I mean... But I..." my voice trailed off as  lost my confidence. Charlotte laughed in my face.

"Yep. You even screw up your words in an argument. Now move!" The red headed girl that flanked her shoved me off the edge of the bench where I had been sitting at a picnic table. My book went flying somewhere in the grass and my face hit the dirt and I grunted because I had landed hard on my stomach. I could hear Charlotte and her friends laughing at me as they say down at my usual lunch table. Her boyfriend, Lance joined them and they pointed to where I was sprawled out on the ground and laughed some more.

Finally catching my breath from getting the wind knocked out of me, I stood up, brushed the dirt off as best I could (of course I'd chosen to wear a white Blink-182 shirt that day), picked up my book, and walked away with the little dignity I had left.

Why does Charlotte continue to bring things up from my past? Back when Michael was still in Sydney, the three of us used to all be friends. It was Charlotte and I's freshman year (Michael's junior) when I admitted to Charlotte that I had a bit of a crush on Michael. At first, she seemed fine with it, but over time, Charlotte began flirting with Michael more and more. The two of us fought a lot because of it and Michael always took my side. Because of this, Charlotte began to hate me and still to this day held a grudge because Michael seemed to like me better. It was only because when we were growing up and Charlotte began to gravitate more towards makeup and cloths, I always stuck around with Michael to listen to music and play video games rather than go to the mall with Charlotte and her other friends. It wasn't that Michael liked me better at all, we were just closer. But I guess Charlotte will never give me a chance to explain that to her. And I don't want to as long as she's going to continue to bully me because of her stupid grudge.

"Hey, Lacey!" I stopped when I herd Al calling to me when I was walking down the hall to my next class. "Are you okay?"

"Um, yeah, why do you ask?" I said really quietly. I had to answer since he asked me a direct question.

"I saw that bitch push you down outside! You ran in here before I could get a chance to help you up," he looked down, seeming embarrassed at that last remark.

"Oh, uh, that's just Charlotte. It happens to me all the time. Don't worry about it," I gave him a small smile and felt my cheeks heat up. This was the first real conversation I had had with one of my piers in a long time.

"Don't worry about it? Lacey, she's bullying you," he looked genuinely concerned. It touched my heart, but I knew he wouldn't feel the same way if he knew me for what I really was: just another screw up.

"No, it's okay, really. I can handle it. Hey, I've got to go..." I glanced over to the door of my classroom. I really didn't want to be late.

"If you're sure," he frowned. "See you around, Lacey."

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@TwentyOneSecondsOfSummer: Jaz! I've got so much to tell you!

@CurrentlyMuke: you got concert tickets?????

@TwentyOneSecondsOfSummer: not exactly...

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End of  Part 3

Yay! You got to learn a bit more about Lacey's past and why she is the way she is. Like the story so far? Tell me! Don't be a silent reader! (Even you CurrentlyKellin_)

You're probably wondering where Michael is. No worries, he'll come into the story soon.

Thanks for reading!

-SJ