Rumors

Back With the Girls.

Two weeks after Bridget's popularity had plummeted, she finally got the guts to speak with Brittany and the other girls. She had been catching peeks sent to her from Quinn and Arielle, and knew she had been getting caught doing the same. But she couldn't help herself! These were the girls that had given her a feeling of freedom - something she hadn't felt since the students at her last school began ridiculing her.

Finally pulling enough confidence from where it had hidden itself was very difficult. Every second, she second guessed herself. Would they be willing to talk with her? Would she be able to become friends with them again? What if her waiting so long made them hate her? Would they spread a rumor about her? Her fears practically enveloped her, suffocated her, making Bridget stay up late in the night, trapped within her thoughts.

Fortunately enough, she was able to stumble in front of them one day during lunch. It was a Tuesday. Usually, she would be in the library, reading through a new book series that she had started. But the books were in her locker and she was standing in front of Brittany, trembling under the girls' gazes. What would she say to them? How would she even begin?

"Have you finally made up your mind?" sighed Brittany. She crossed her arms and cocked her hip out, raising a brow at Bridget. The others did the same, with Danielle adding a little sass with a flick of her hair. Bridget bit her lip and stared at the ground. She couldn't speak. It was like her voice was locked inside of her throat, clenching around her heart and making it difficult to breath. "Well?"

Arielle stepped forward at Brittany's impatient tone. Bridget had flinched, and tears were now filling her eyes. "Brit, chill out," Arielle warned. "Bridget's just nervous. You remember how she was when we first met her. Cut the poor girl some slack!" Bridget eyed Arielle through the strands of hair hanging in front of her face. The girl was defending her? "Bridget?" Arielle said softly. Bridget jumped slightly, but lifted her head enough to properly see Arielle's honey brown eyes. A hot tear escaped her eye as she did so, making Brittany's face soften. "Are you okay?"

It was like a bubble popped. Suddenly, Bridget couldn't hold her words back. "I-I'm sorry!" she cried, feeling her nose tickle and eyes burn. Her words came out thick, with the weight of tears behind them. "I-I d-d-don't w-want you t-to h-h-hate me!" Even though she stumbled over a few words, she knew the girls understood. Quinn's big green eyes were filled with tears of their own, and even Danielle appeared to be emotional. Seeing that gave her hope that the girls might just forgive her. "I-I wanted t-t-to c-contact y-you," Bridget tried to explain through the hiccups that were now effecting her. "B-b-but I was s-scared-"

"Bridget." Brittany's voice cut her off. The girl was holding up a manicured hand, gold ring shining under the lights. Her blue eyes were meeting Bridget's calmly and her lips were tugged into a small grimace. Bridget's heart fell, along with the small amount of hope it had held. "Please. I totally understand."

What?

Arielle spoke once Brittany didn't give a sign of continuing. "What Brittany means to say is that we know," Arielle smiled comfortingly. She moved closer to Bridget and slowly set a hand on her arm. "We know that you were scared and nervous. So, it's okay! You want to hang out with us, right?" At Bridget's nod, her smile grew. "Great! Then it's all settled!"

As though they were waiting for those words, Quinn and Danielle were at her sides, wrapping their arms around her. Bridget, caught in a moment of shock, could only shuffle her feet as they led her to the girls restroom. That had been it? She didn't even have to use any of the speeches she had practiced in the mirror! Arielle had spoken for her!

"Lets get you cleaned up," cooed Quinn, pulling wipes from her bag. Bridget just stayed silent, features still slack in shock. The two girls cleaned her face with gentle hands while Brittany and Arielle stood slightly behind them. There were contemplative expressions on their faces. What were they thinking?