two

1.4K 75 16
                                    

[WARNING: This chapter contains mentions of suicide]

_____

"If these walls could talk, I wonder what secrets they'd tell"

- Gayle Forman, Just One Day

_____

Students flooded into their respective homerooms. They all sat in their familiar seats, grouped together like they usually did. The jocks bragged about their recent away game victory whilst the preppy kids talked about their homework. A teacher sat at the front by his desk sipping on his coffee wondering what went wrong that brought him to this moment, a teacher for a bunch of spoilt brats. One lone chair remained empty, the person that previously used to sit their now just a ghost of memories.

Nobody noticed nor did they particularly care, they were too wrapped up in their own little bubbles to even give a second look. That was until the principal made an announcement that would change everything.

"Students, teachers, visitors. It is with great sadness that I must inform you of a tragic event that has happened"

All the student's chit chat ground to a halt with any lingering words immediately hushed.

"Early this morning one of our own was found dead in the park. There will be a mandatory assembly starting at the end of homeroom"

A chorus of groans were audible throughout the school. No-one liked the mandatory assemblies the principal would throw. Amongst the mass complaint few actually took on board what had been said. Someone was dead, a life had been lost.

The chatter grew amongst the students as they desperately tried to work out who it could be. When everyone in one specific homeroom turned to the back if the class where there was one empty seat suspicion rose. Who sat there? What if it was them?

Students poored into the hallways and slowly made their ways to the gym. The realisation had not yet hit them of how serious this was. A student was dead. They all sat in uniformed rows facing forwards waiting for the principal to speak, and when he did they all wished he would take it back. A few shared a worried expression as the principal announced that there was to be a full investigation into Camila's suicide.

The guilt washed over them as if the plague had come and claimed them as it's next victims. There was no escape, all their secrets were out in the open. Just waiting to be exposed.

Normani sat quietly with her head hung low with tears spilling from her eyes. Her best friend was gone and she didn't even know how bad it was. She knew about the beatings, she had witnessed a few of them. She didn't try to stop them, she should've. As soon as they were dismissed Normani sprinted to the nearest bathroom.

She couldn't believe the news. She didn't want to. But she had to. Her best friend of her entire life was gone, she had pushed her away. She looked in the mirror, her eyes were red and puffy. She looked a mess. She couldn't stand the sight of herself. She had let this happen, she had been blinded by popularity. Like instinct she raised a fist and repeatedly threw punches at the reflective surface. She was a monster.

She only stopped when someone pulled her back, dragging themself against a stall. Another figure crouched down in front of Normani and reached a hand out to touch her knee gently, whilst the last body lingered at the eyes fixed on the smashed remains of the mirror.

Normani let out a scream as she sobbed into the neck of the small girl in front of her. She latched her arms around the girls neck as the taller girl behind huffed and pushed herself up. Dinah walked towards Lauren where she was standing. "I hope you're proud of yourself"

Lauren scoffed as she turned her attention to Ally and Normani. Normani's hand was covered in blood, her knuckles were badly busted and even from the distance she was at Lauren could tell that there were small shards of glass stuck in them. "Ally, you need to take her to the nurses"

Ally nodded as she helped Normani stand. Normani had now calmed a little as she stood shaking. The magnitude of the events only just hitting her.

She Who Left [COMPLETED]Where stories live. Discover now