"Please . . . don't cry. You had to have known I'd do this at some point."
***
Parker Sims is the class clown but that doesn't mean he's easy to fool. And that's just what Nola B. is good at - fooling people. She's got the whole school believing th...
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Chapter Twenty-Nine:
Nola went to chew the pills but was surprised by the bitter taste that consumed her mouth. Quickly, she realized what she was doing.
Nola went to place the pill bottle on the side of the sink, but in her haste, she ended up knocking the bottle to the floor. Nola didn't try to pick up the bottle because she was more focused on spitting out all the pills into the sink.
Her heart was pounding, like a jackhammer, as she hovered over the sink. Nola felt thankful that she hadn't swallowed any of them as she watched the pills sit at the bottom of the sink.
Feeling disgusted with herself, she quickly turned on the sink and washed all the pills down the drain.
When she was done, Nola stood up straight and looked at herself in the mirror. Reaching up, Nola twirled a pieced over her raven colored hair. She stopped and dropped her hand as a stomach turned in disgust. Her hair felt like straw, and all together it looked dull and flat. She noted the striking contrast the color of her hair made with her pale skin. Nola thought she looked sick and malnourished.
When she caught sight of her lips, chalked with the pill residue, Nola looked away. She couldn't face her reflection and the embarrassing reminder of what she had attempted to do. Suddenly, her whole mouth tasted bitter as if to remind her that there was no hiding what she had done.
Reaching out, Nola turned on the sink and cupped her hands under the faucet. She collected some water and washed her lips before rinsing out her mouth.
Turning off the faucet, Nola started to feel shame consume her body. After a minute, it morphed into guilt at what she had just tried to do.
She had no idea why she had just acted in such a way, at first. She retraced back to when she saw the pills and all she could remember thinking was: it's a way out. Nola knew, now, that if she'd taken all those pills, she might have killed herself.
Nola remembered several times when she was Mitch and had similar thoughts of ending her life. However, she acted on her thoughts. Yet, when her eyes caught sight of the pill bottle ... something clicked.
"Nola, are you okay?" Parker asked from the other side of the door. He had done like her aunt requested and given Nola some time alone, however, he grew impatient.
Nola looked over at the door, she wished he'd go away and leave her alone. Not that she didn't like him, but right now she was swimming in guilt and didn't want to face him. Yet, Nola knew she couldn't hide out in the bathroom forever.
Closing her eyes for a second, she collected herself. When Nola opened her eyes, she let out a low sigh. "I'm fine," She replied and then walked over to the door. She unlocked it and opened the door to reveal herself to Parker. "See."
Parker smiled at her when he saw that she was fine. "Sorry, I was just ... worried," He moved so she could exit.
Nola didn't comment on what he said as she slipped by him and quickly took off towards the living room.
Parker went to turn off the bathroom light, after Nola left, when he saw a bottle on the floor. Walking in, he went over to the pill bottle, picked it up from the floor and read the label. He was confused by why it was on the floor, but suddenly assumed the worst.
Storming out of the bathroom, Parker went into the living room. His eyes narrowed at Nola when he entered. Stalking up to her, he held up the bottle. "Did you take any of these?!"
Nola's eyes began to water up. "I-I-I-I-"
"You're scaring her," Suzanna said when she noticed at Nola was shaking in place.
Parker looked at Nola's aunt and back at Nola, "I'm not trying to scare you, Nola. I just want to make sure you're not as stupid as it looks."
Nola's eyes widened at what he said. "I t-took them but I spit them out. I c-couldn't do it-" Nola stopped talking when Parker turned around so that his back was facing her. "Parker?"
Parker didn't say a word as he walked out of the house.
Nola stood there in shock. She couldn't comprehend what just happened.
Suzanna walked over to her niece and placed a comforting hand on Nola's shoulder.
Nola jumped when her aunt's hand touched her shoulder. "Sorry," Nola muttered as tears streamed down her face.
Suzanna put her hand to her side, "He's just upset, Nola. He'll calm down and come back around."
Nola looked at her aunt, "He's n-never been angry ... with me." Nola's chest ached as she questioned on if Parker was really going to come back.
***
A/N:
Parker's a friend, Caesar, is engaged to a girl he has known for how long?
