Broken

Chapter Seven: Ignored

The scene opens. We see a girl looking small and out of place sitting at a table. Although surrounded by friends she's never felt more alone. They say that it isn't wise to burn bridges; you never know when you could face the person or problem again.

"They say don't burn bridges you may have to cross later. I say I don't mind swimming if the bridge was fucked up to begin with"
~Sonya Teclai

It had been two weeks since the "Otto Dilemma" and I was happy for all drama to be over. I was at my locker grabbing my lunch, when two arms wrapped around me.

I twisted in the persons arm and was met by Addison's smiling face. She giggled at my "seriously?" expression and I gave in to her laughter.

"What's up?" I asked still laughing

"Planning on when I should bomb the school." She replied with a serious tone. My laugh melted the expression away and we both suffered through more short breathed laughs.

I waved and skipped down the cement stair case into the cafeteria. I walked around humiliated while looking for my friends. Since it was winter we weren't allowed to eat outside no matter how much we complained.

I found them and breathed a sigh of relief through my nose. I sat in between Jackie and Cathryn. I smiled to the other girls at the table: Ocean, Cassidy, and Karina.

The nodded a hello and went back to their conversation. I listened but floated in and out of focus. The main words I caught were "cutting, depression, and suicide."

Cathryn and Jackie struck up a conversation about an anime and I quickly joined. Before I knew it, lunch had ended. I followed Cathryn back up the cement stairs and to our lockers when I heard Karina spit a rude comment at Ocean about her crush on a girl outside of Maple Ridge.

Ocean laughed it off but I felt my heart ache for her.

I smiled as math ended.

"Everyone pick up TWO things before you leave. I'm talking to you Oden!" Mrs. S yelled to the class. We all snickered as she called out Oden you had been leaving early for the past few days.

I picked up a piece of paper and a rubber band. I walked by Mrs. S and dumped them into the small trash can as I left the room. I walked outside of the school and sucked in a breath of fresh air.

I walked a few feet before my phone buzzed in my back pocket. I took it out and smiled at the text.

Addison: Get your ass back to school.
Avery: What if I don't want to?
Addison: Then im going to come to you and kill you!
Avery: That's not nice! And I was going to buy you food to...

I smiled to myself as I waited for her to take the bait. In about thirty seconds I was staring at Addison's red face. A droplet of sweat rolled down her cheek as I laughed. We walked to the bus stop together and joined Max and Jackie.

Days went by and nothing had happened. School was as quiet as it had ever been. Classes chugged along slowly while lunch was lonely. The weekend came and went. I found myself...bored with life.

Be careful what you wish for.

I arrived to lunch and sat down between Jackie and Cathryn. Almost immediately, Ocean, Karina, and Cassidy got up and left. I looked at Jackie, confused, as Cathryn switched to the other side of the table and faced us.

We began to talk about the three girls. The longer we talked, the more we realized we didn't belong. The girls were ditching us earlier and earlier every day and we were surprised each time. Whenever they did hang around, all they would talk about was their suicidal attempt stories and laugh about cutting themselves.

One day, Cathryn broke.

I entered the lunch room and sat down to hear Cathryn yelling at Ocean.

"Is that what I have to do to fit it with my friends?! Cut myself and be a depressed piece of shit?" Oceans eyes were wide with horror.

"No! Cathryn we love you the way you are!" She yelled back. I had to bite my lip to keep myself from scoffing. Then Cathryn became quiet.

"Who needs enemies when I have friends like you guys?" She asked calmly and ran to the bathroom. Cassidy ran after her and I slammed my hand on the table. I was about to stand when Jackie put a hand on my shoulder.

She stood calmly and opened her mouth. Hiding behind her blue eyes was a sea of rage. Her tone betrayed her and anyone could tell how angry she was.

"What the hell is your problem, Ocean? All she was trying to do was express her feelings to you. If you really loved Cathryn, you wouldn't treat her like dirt all the time." Jackie held Oceans stare before walking outside to cool down. I looked at Ocean and saw her trying to look calm. Like Jackie, her eyes betrayed her.

I held her gaze for a moment or two before running to the bathroom. I had to get to Cathryn. I slammed open the door with her name on my lips and was stunned at the sight before me.

Cathryn was crumpled in a heap on Cassidy's lap crying an ocean of hurt and sadness. Cassidy was shooting her hair back and whispering encouraging words to her. As soon as Cathryn's name left my mouth Cassidy whipped her head up and I was met with a cold stare.

"Leave her alone Cassidy! You don't know how she feels! I know you are just kind to Cathryn in her time of need because it makes you feel a little bit better about your miserable behavior as a friend." Her eyes darkened but didn't seem affected by my words. Good because I wasn't finished. "If you could just stop being a self centered bitch for just a second we could finally stop this madness."

Before I could continue, Cassidy stood and I heard Cathryn's head hit the ground with a soft thud. Cassidy walked over to me and grabbed my shoulders. Her nails bit into the skin for a moment before she relaxed and pushed me into the door with so much force it opened.

I gasped as I clawed the air to grab at nothing and waited to feel the impact of the floor. The impact never came and I opened my eyes slowly.

I was engulfed by the scent of smoke and a sweet apple. I saw two tan arms wrapped around my shoulders and I tilted my head back to see my savior. I was met with two dark, amused eyes, a smirk, and Olivers signature Mohawk. I groaned as his white teeth flashed against his tan skin and he carefully set me down.

Before I could say thank you or punch his shoulder, the bell rang and students flooded the halls. I was left on the floor staring after him like an idiot.

The rest of the day was spent ignoring Oliver even though he was assigned to sit next to me in every class. When the final bell rang I rushed out of the school and to the bus stop so I wouldn't have to see that stupid smirk of his until tomorrow.

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A/N : Thanks for reading Chapter Seven! I hope your enjoying Avery's story so far but, as we all know, there are always more sides to one story. The characters in my book are based off of real events and real people. Two of my friends (Jackie and Addison) are writing their points of view to this story.

To check out their stories, go to their profiles: Emma_Kirk_ and winterowl22 or check out my reading list "Destroyed Saga" to read all three. Thanks a lot and please show them love!