Speak Now

Chapter 3: The improbability of friends at first meeting(poof!)

"I decided it is better to scream. Silence is the real crime against humanity."

Nadezhda Mandelstam,Hope Against Hope

♡♡♡♡

Tristan Trent.

His name lingers in the school hallways like strong perfume. He's the epitome of popularity. And the opposite of who I'd like to be friends with.

He isn't a jerk though. In fact, he's nice to everyone. He volunteers at the pet shelter, never gets drunk at parties and helps everyone out. Once he helped Makyle McKenzie re arrange her notes when a few guys from his team purposefully threw her binder out the window.

One of Camilla's cronies, Samantha Jones, is his girlfriend. They're the IT couple, and they've been together forever. I've never seen Samantha spend a day without hanging around Tristan like a fly around food. It's sickening and extremely sexist. A guy with so much attention should have grown a big head but Tristan hasn't...yet.

Anyways, since he's popular, I've never paid much attention to him. Until now.

The guy is super hyperactive. He taps the wooden desk with his pencil, sometimes chewing on the eraser and using his fingers to tap out a rhythm. When that gets monotonous, he keeps shifting his legs underneath the table.

I allow myself to peek at him curiously, and he catches me.

He grins, and I look away.

About a minute later, a crumpled paper lands on my desk and I'm  startled. I look at Tristan who winks at me.

Curiously, I flatten the paper and read:

I didn't hurt you too badly right? If you're going to sue me, I'd like some forewarning.

The fact that he remembers me startles me so much, I gasp slightly. 
It's not possible. No one ever remembers me.

Once I went to my mom's friend's house and the next day mom sent me over to borrow the design for a new handbag. The woman didn't recognise me at all, and peered at me until I told her who I was.

The grocery man visits every week and seems surprised whenever I catch him loading groceries onto the kitchen table.

And this boy who glanced at my face for merely three seconds deemed me important enough to talk to.
I feel a lump growing up into my throat and I swallow.

Suddenly, I remember the man in my nightmare, lifting his leather clad fingers to his lips.

"Shhh" I remember his silent demand,"Stay quiet and everything will be fine"

Tristan is looking at me for a reply but I carefully fold the paper and set it at the corner.

I've had enough attention today to last me a year. I don't need more drama.

The whole period I feel Tristan's eyes burning into me like a hot poker but I never glance his way. Instead I focus on Adrian who's carefully jotting down notes.

I grab my pencil and do the same.

♤♤♤♤

During lunch, I usually grab my tray and head to the library for something light to read. The librarian knows me and how much I adore reading. She's the only person at school besides the principal who I'm comfortable to talk to.

But today is not a regular day, and so when Miranda swivels me around to face her, I'm not surprised.

"Where are you going?" She chirps,"I found a table for us. Adrian ditched us for those Barbie dolls"

Before I can protest, she grabs me and we hurry to an empty table. A girl with dyed pink hair sips on Coke as she watches us approach.
Kayla Brown, I think in sound relief. Her mother is friends with mine, and she sometimes says hi to me when she skateboards past my street.

"Hey, Kayla this is Maddie" Miranda scoots over to the end, and I reluctantly seat myself next to her.

"We know each other" Kayla laughs,"although Maddie hasn't bestowed her company on me willingly before."

I smile weakly and take a bite of my pizza slice, as Miranda and Kayla talk about Psychology. I watch them laugh and tease each other as if they are best friends, and I wonder how you can be comfortable with someone so fast.

"So Maddie" Kayla turns to me,"Where do you go during lunch?"

I swallow and say,"the library. I love to read"

"Doesn't it get boring?" Miranda yawns,"Wouldn't you rather have friends to gossip with? About boys and stuff?"

"Um, I don't know" I say and Kayla laughs.

"Well you're no longer a loner from today" Miranda decides, as she drops a muffin onto my mostly empty tray,"And I'll teach you how to socialise"

I don't want to socialise, I think.

But Miranda turns to me,"So wanna hang out today after school? You don't have too much homework do you?"

I smile,"No, I won't be preoccupied"

"Busy" Kayla corrects me,"You sound so formal. Loosen up,babe"

"We'll work on your speech later" Miranda waves her hand, ketchup stains on the cuffs of her blouse,"But today I think we should head to the park. I saw it when we drove here, what do you think?"

"Westview Point?" Kayla asks,"It's mostly dominated by guys. And the only girls there are the Barbie dolls"

She points to Camilla and her crew who hover around Tristan Tent's table. Some of the guys look uncannily troubled by Camilla's screeching and Samantha's weird urges to fondle her boyfriend everywhere.
Surprisingly I see Adrian watching me, and he points at the Barbies, raising his eyebrows as if to say Can you believe them?

"We'll stick out like a sore thumb" Kayla argues, as Miranda wipes her hands on a napkin and leans back.

"That's the general idea. To make Maddie more comfortable with people. Maybe she even meets someone there."

Both of them laugh and I join in.
Miranda wiggles her eyebrows,"Well? Where shall we meet?"

"I'll pick you up" Kayla says to me,"and I think you can walk over right Miranda? You told me you live only a block away"

Miranda nods,"Yeah okay"

I watch incredulously as Miranda and Kayla argue over their favourite rock band, occasionally inviting me to join in, asking my opinion.

I didn't want to be noticed but fate had drastically driven me to the edge, until I now have no choice but to plunge into the sea below.

I look over and see Tristan hugging Samantha. I have an urge to giggle as Tristan tries to unwrap Samantha's arms around him, but she clings to him tightly.

Maybe there are some things we should let go of. Even if those things have made us feel safe for five years. Maybe there's a time to shed your skin and grow a new one.

I look around me and wonder if I've outgrown my silence.
Yes.
Yes I have.

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A/N

Yo guys thank you so much for reading my story!! I can see so many views and I feel gloriously heavenly!!
I'd love it if you would vote and comment! Thank you!
Next chapter is really interesting and I can't wait to write it!!
Ciao!