Some say...

Not everything is how it seems

Matthew watched Maple run away crying. His chest felt tight and he felt like he was going to pass out. He was about to follow her when there was a pressure on his arm.

"Very good Matthew. She'll never come around and talk again. She will be an outcast who no one cares about." One of the girls laughed. Matthew felt awful for doing that to Maple. He looked back and wondered if he should have told those lies to her?

Maple ran and ran until she couldn't breath properly any more. She stopped by an old playground that she had been to when she was little. She walked in and climbed an old tree.

"Why did Matthew act like that? Why would he just say those things and then tell me about things he did with my friend? Why does he hate me? What did I do?" She cried staring at the bark of the tree.

Maple sighed and looked up. It looked like it was going to rain. She didn't care. Why should she? What problem was it to her if she got sick and died? Who would miss her? not her family, her best friend was dating her crush who had just tore her heart out. Maple looked up just as he first drops of rain hit her face.

By the time Maple had gotten out of the tree and on her way home she was soaked to the bone. She walked to her home and opened the door.

"I'm home." She called. Her mother appeared in the door to the kitchen.

"Hon, what have I told you about leaving the door open?" She asked Maple's dad. He shrugged and said he hadn't left it open. Maple sighed and trudged up to her room. Was she ever going to get out of this hell?

Matthew slipped into the class room early. Much earlier than usual. He was the only one there. He quickly slipped a note onto Maple's desk and took his seat. He pretended to be texting as she walked in and took her seat. She looked at the paper before writing something on it and leaving the room. Matthew walked over and looked at the paper.

Hey Maple, I want to apologize for yesterday. I was forced to say those things to you. You have no idea how much it hurt me to say those things. Will you please meet me at the park after school so I can explain in detail?

Matthew

Matthew, take your fake apology and shove it. I don't want your sympathy. If you were forced, you should have fought back. Like you told me, 'never speak to me again'.

Maple

Matthew felt like a huge jerk. He had said those things thinking he would not be ignored. But all he did was hurt the one person he loved the most. Not even her so called friend was really interested in him. Matthew thought back to yesterday.

"M-Matthew, do you think I am pretty?"

"No." You're gorgeous.

"Do you see me as a friend anymore?"

"No." I wish you would be with me...

"Would you be upset if I walked away?"

"No." Yes.

"Would you cry if I died tomorrow?"

"No." Yes. Please don't talk like that Maple!

Why had he listened to them and become hateful towards Maple? He wanted to have her back. But that was impossible. She hated him now, and he could do nothing about it.

Maple was quietly crying in the girl's room. Why had he left the note? Was there something she was missing? She was about to leave when she heard the door open.

"So you think she'll be here today?"

"Probably. She shouldn't since we crushed her yesterday!"

"I thought Matthew was going to crack and go after her until you stopped him. Too bad. He will go back to being ignored and she will hate him! It's perfect! Like she said, 'love is only for the popular'."

"So you really don't like him Beatrice?"

"What could I see in someone like him?! That lie about us fucking was perfect though. I thought she was going to go hang herself!"

"Yea. She looked ready to do that."

"Come one, lets get out of here so we can flirt with Matts hottie of a brother." They left after that. Maple was covering her mouth to keep any sounds in. Matthew... what had she done? She opened the stall door and slipped back into the class room. She sat quietly as the teacher lectured on about something or another. Maple was taking notes, but her mind was somewhere else entirely. She could hear them whispering about her, she ignored them and continued with her notes.

Maple ran out of the class room after class and went to her locker. Matthew was at his. She slipped a note in the edge of his locker door when he looked away and ran to her next class, still trying to keep her tears in, and her mind focused on her classes.

Matthew closed his locker. Maple had gotten her things as quickly as she could. She had not even said a word to him. He sighed and closed his locker, noticing a note in the cornner of his locker. he grabbed it and unfolded the paper.

Matthew, I am sorry for acting the way I did earlier this morning. I thought you were lying until I heard those girls talking in the girl's room. I am so sorry. Please forgive me?

Maple.

Matthew smiled and folded the note back up. He walked to his class. He said nothing as the class progressed. Matthew was going to grab Maple when the classes dismissed. He took notes as his brother was jabbering about something with the people next to him. Matthew honestly hated when his brother did that.

Maple sighed as she closed her locker. She was late getting out of her last class and it was a good thing she had a free period. She was about to go the the library when she was grabbed from behind. She let out a surprised squeak when something cold and flat was pressed to her neck.