That's My Sister ➼ tas

Chapter 29

I sat in the car, nervously staring out at the floods of students entering the school. I noted Poppy's mom dropping her and the girls off across the lot, whilst Nick ambled alongside Aiden down the walkway. My breath was caught in my lungs, and I couldn't tell if it was the loss or anger I felt towards him.

"I'll walk you in," Austin offered, giving me a sympathetic smile. "C'mon."

"Try not to focus on it all," mom said encouragingly. "I'll be back to get you guys at the end of the day."

I nodded my head, took a deep breath and stepped out the car. As we followed the crowds through the doorway, I couldn't help but think all eyes were on me, silently judging what a loser I had turned into.

"No one is staring, don't worry," Austin leant down to whisper.

Maybe he was right. Maybe no one was staring because no one cared. I had spent so long thinking everyone's eyes were on me because I was the type of person who deserved the attention, but realistically, that was probably all in my head. I led myself to believe I was more popular and even more worthy of popularity than I actually was.

Austin gave me one last sympathetic smile before carrying on down the hallway with his friends. I opened my locker to prepare myself for the morning, trying to ignore the people walking in and out of the cafeteria. Hoisting my bag over my shoulder again, I turned and headed towards form.

It was only once I got to the doorway that I realised: who was I going to sit with? Obviously the whole back section was out of bounds now, and I never bothered to interact with the smaller groups that were dotted around. I let out the smallest sigh of relief when I noticed there was only lonely spot next to Emily.

I made my way through the desks, remembering what mom said, attempting to keep my head held high and ignoring the silent stares examining me from the back. I pulled out the chair next to Emily, who was silently reading with her book too close to her face. She didn't look up at me.

I sat focused on the teacher as they recorded our attendance and began reviewing plans for the summer fair - Kimberly had asked us to join the committee for it, as she was required to show her face due to the funding largely coming from her family. I never paid attention when she spoke about it though, because Aiden always thought it was boring.

"So, you finally realised how narcissistic your friends have been?" Emily placed her hand between the pages as she let the book fall closed. I turned my head towards her. She sounded confident and, even if it was negatively aimed at myself, I couldn't help but be in awe.

"I hoped I could sit here with you since I don't exactly have anyone anymore," I spoke quietly. "Did you hear what happened? I wasn't sure if you'd managed to hear it off someone else."

"I know I should be mad that I'm the obvious "nice quiet person" that everyone picks up when they're in need but drops when they're done. But sometimes I don't mind - having no one to talk to all the time has made me an observer. I still know what goes on. I may not be in attendance at your parties or your weekend trips away, but we're school students - word travels fast, and social media posts travel faster."

"So what do you have to say about everything that's happened to me then?"

"Don't get me wrong. Just because you did something here and there it doesn't mean I know everything because that's just how popular you are, but, I know clear as day that Poppy only took an interest in you when you had something to offer her. And everyone knows her friends will follow anything she does. I know Aiden thought dating  a celebrity's sister might lead him in the direction of parties with models. I know your old friends were nothing but supportive of you when it happened, and you ignored that because their lives weren't as flashy as others. And, on the topic of your nicer old friends, it's a shame to see you let that one go."