The Definition of Infinite

Mae

"Hello" Nina spits at me a fake smile plastered on her face.

I shuffle from one foot to the next. Why out of all the worries I had about coming back to Bridgewood, why did I not think of Nina.

Nina who was my first real friend. Nina who punched Samantha Jacobs for calling me a nerd when I was 7. Nina who I comforted while the muffled sounds of her parents yelling drifted through her bedroom walls. Nina who I undoubtedly hurt all those years ago.

And now as she stands over me I struggle to say anything to her.

"Hi" I croak out feebly.

"Hi" she laughs back, "Is that all you have to say? After showing up after six fucking years, would it really be so hard to acknowledge my existence?"

A bubble of anger begins to rise up inside of me but I push it down as quick as it comes, there's no use talking to Nina when she's mad, and arguing back is just a recipe for disaster. I feel like a little kid again getting scolded by a teacher and not being able to fight back.

The guy she was walking with stands a few paces behind Nina looking uncomfortable, he doesn't dare meet my eyes.

"But that's just precious little Mae isn't it? Never thinking of anyone but herself, never speaking up because she's too afraid, but I'm sure in your mind you think you can do no wrong because you don't have it in you to put up a fight."

I'm trying hard to stay composed but Nina's words cut like a knife. This is why I've never gotten close to anyone really since Nina. When you allow people to get to know you, you give them power over you, they hurt you more when they let you down.

"Why are you even back? its not like anyone here missed you anyways."

I can tell by her face that she's given me the worst of it. I used to admire that about Nina, she always spoke her mind no matter what. She gives off the impression that she has a hard shell and that no one can hurt her, but the truth is, Nina has been hurt more then anyone I've ever met. She has always worn her heart on her sleeve and could never seem to figure out how to cover it up. So she started to act as though nothing could touch her, always finding ways to hurt people before they got the chance to hurt her first.

"I'm sorry" I say after a few long seconds.

Her eyebrows flick up in surprise before quickly regaining her usual fierce expression.

"No. You don't get to be sorry, you don't get to walk away from this as the bigger person as if you've done nothing wrong. I don't accept your apology"

"That's up to you." I say trying my best to act nonchalant. "are we done here then?" I try my best to hold eye contact as I speak.

I can tell that I've caught her of guard, I know that no one knows how to talk to her they way I learned to.

The boy standing behind her has an eyebrow raised looking intrigued.

"Done!Done! Are you daft or something? You come back after six years with no heads up with no explanation and all you have to say is I'm sorry! NO, we are not fucking done I will never let this go! I thought you knew me better then that! You no what, I think you should just go back to that fucking boarding school of yours because no one here needs another invidious face!" 

Before I can reply one of the nearby classroom doors swings open. I can't believe that for a second there I forgot we are standing in the middle of the school hallway cutting class. A cross looking woman with grey hair pulled back into a strict bun clacks her way out of the room.

Before the teacher has a chance to say anything Nina and the boy have started running. The boy grabbing my arm and swiveling me around forcing me to run too. There are only about five minutes left of this class and soon the hallways will be flooded with students camouflaging us in a sea of BO and moodiness.

I can hear the teacher waddling behind us before banging on the door of the office.

Panic floods me as I realize that if we don't get into cover quick they are going to locate us on the security cameras from his office. I can't get into trouble on my first day here. I scan the hallways desperately for a storage closet or something to step into. To my relief just a few feet ahead of me I see the familiar sign of a white stick man above a door.

"Quick into those bathrooms!" I call at Nina who is a good four steps ahead of me.

She ducks in without questioning me, the boy and I follow suit.

I am instantly overcome by the smell of urine and a strong mixture of different deodorants. My nose crinkles at the smell and sight of my surroundings and I mentally thank god that I was born a girl.

One of the cubicle doors open and a short stocky boy walks out, he jumps a little when he sees us, then shrugs and continues towards the door without saying a word, or more to the point, without washing his hands.

"I'm Eli, just by the way." the previously nameless boy says to me offering me his hand to shake.

I pretend not to notice his out stretched hand after witnessing what the other boy just did, instead I nod at him, "I'm Mae."

"Oh trust me , I know." he laughs, but when he notices Nina glare, he quickly shuts up.

Nina steps towards me, but her face is calmer now, less intimidating, "you owe an explanation"

"I really am sorry Nina" I say sincerely.

"Save it" Nina says sharply, "Whats done is done, I just wanna know why?"

"Why what?" I say shuffling from one foot to another a little.

"Don't play stupid with me Mae, I know you better then that. Why are you back? hell why did you go in the first place? and no bullshit just the truth, Is that really too much to ask of you?"

Her eyes are concentrated hard on mine not even blinking. I know I can't hide it anymore, not from Nina at least."

"Now is not the time, but we could go to Juno's after school if you wanna?" Juno's is a cute little coffee shop my mom used to bring us there for hot chocolate when we were little.

Nina's eyes study me before she throws up her hands in concession. "fine."

I can't help but smile a little.

"But this better be a good fucking explanation and no bullshit." she adds.

"It is! I promise" I say a little to quickly, relieved that she's not angry at me anymore.

"Awesome, I'm in too." Eli pipes in.

He was so quiet that whole time I almost forgot he was there.

"Em, I was kinda hoping it would just be Nina and I" I say awkwardly.

I see his face drop a little as soon as the words leave my mouth.

"oh, uh, yeah obviously, that's cool" Eli says trying hard to play it off as if its nothing.

Thankfully the bell rings saving us from the inevitable awkward silence.

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A/N

Hello readers.

I'm really having a lot of fun writing this. Honestly I was looking forward to sitting down and just writing this all day during work. I'm officially a wattpad nerd Yay!

Anyway aside from my appalling grammar and stuff, I hope you liked this chapter. You know the drill if you did vote and comment, and if you didn't eh vote and comment too.

Callie xxx