Something You'd Never Expect

Chapter Six

That night I was obsessing over what they had meant by that. 'Done what?' Right moment? And who were they talking about? And why the hell was Esther even talking to Courtney in the first place? It didn't seem normal. Perhaps they were talking about an assignment? Of course not. No one would address a project like that.' My thoughts were interrupted by London banging at my door. 

"Yo, ugly bitch! There are groceries Mom needs you to put up!" I sighed. 

"I'll be there in a second." 

"Well, don't take too long, or I'll send Daddy on you!" I shuddered at the memory of the last time. 

"I'm coming, don't worry." 

"Right, sure! Just hurry up, okay?!" 

"Yeah, yeah. I got it." 

"Good." I heard her stomps trailing down the stairs. I breathed in and out shakily and walked downstairs. The next day as I was getting ready, my phone went off with a text from Ari. I stopped mid-brush and looked at it. 'Hey, Esther just texted me. She said she had something "special" planned and said it was a surprise. I don't know about you, but that sounds a little suspicious to me.' I frowned in confusion. "Special?" What could she mean by that? I replied back. 'What makes it sound suspicious to you?' 'She literally put quotation marks around special. And special means many things in the girl world. It could mean that she's breaking up with us or something along those lines.' 'Or cupcakes. ;)' 'Now is not the time for jokes, Kirstie. What could she mean?' 'We'll find out once we get there, won't we? I'll see you there. <3' 'Right. Later then.' I set my phone down and continued to apply my concealer to cover up previous scratches.

         Ari, Scott and I didn't see Esther that entire day, until it had ended. Just as the three of us were getting our stuff to leave that hellhole, she approached us. 

"Hey losers." We flinched at her voice and choice of words. Ari turned to her, offended. 

"I'm sorry?" 

"What are you ugly, unwanted misfits up to?" Scott's eyes were wide as he snapped his gaze at her. 

"Excuse me?" 

"Flocking right and left, afraid to get trampled?" I blinked rapidly at her. Ari slammed her locker loudly with little effort. 

"Did you just call us losers? Esther, aren't we your friends?" 

"Actually, no. I found better ones. Oh, and Kirstie?" I looked at her. 

"I burned all of your sheet music. The blank ones as well." Ari lunged at her as Scott and I held her back. 

"You fucking bitch of a friend!!" Esther smirked confidently. 

"I think you're the bitch here, Ariana. I mean, no one I know would repeatedly eat almost nothing and then vomit it all up. Until I met you." Ari's eyes widened as she stifled her breath. 

"What, too many secrets? Thought so." Esther smiled mischievously. 

"I'm not friends with you insecure losers anymore. Later." She started to walk off.

"So, that's it? All of it?!" Esther turned to me, an innocent look upon her face. 

"These two were never good friends to you and I, Kirstie. Let's go our own way." 

"No." 

"Pardon me? Kirstie, you and I would be better off without them. They are nothing!" 

"They are my best friends, and I don't appreciate you talking trash and throwing shade to them." 

"You and I are much better than them. Just think about it, okay? You're the only friend I want." 

"Are you kidding me?!" 

"Think about it, okay?" She started walking away again, but I stopped her and flipped her towards me. 

"Is that all you have to say to me?! No apology, no nothing?!?!" 

"Listen, I-" 

"No! I don't wanna here it! If that was all you wanted to tell me, then I don't want to hear your excuses!" 

"Kirstie, you have to listen to me!" 

"It's Kirstin to you now. I should've known you would break my heart soon enough. Why the hell did I trust you?!" 

"Look, you have every right to be mad at me, but-" 

"Before you say 'I can explain', let me save the trouble for you. If you do, it'll just make the situation worse. It always does. Forget it. I'm done. I'll see you later, Est. Or perhaps I won't." Ari, Scott and I all walked away, leaving Esther standing there. I rubbed my face roughly once the three of us had arrived at the front entrance of the school. Ari leaned over and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. 

"Fuck her and everyone who is associated with her." Scott gave me a confused look. 

"Associated? What?" Ari looked to Scott. 

"She uses really big words when she's pissed off." Scott nodded. 

"Right, that makes.....sense, I guess?" I shrugged. 

"Why did I help her if I was just going to get hurt in the end?" 

"You're too nice for your own good, Kirstie. You heard someone crying, so you decided to help. It's not your fault." 

"Yeah, well now she's going to hate me for saying that to her." 

"You mean, more than she already does?" 

"She despised me then. Now I guarantee she hates me now and definitely wants me dead, just like Courtney and her posse." Scott leaned into the group hug. 

"No one can hate you, Kirstie. It's mentally and physically impossible." I shrugged. 

"Never mind this. I'm heading home. Group call tonight at six." Ari and Scott nodded. 

"See you then!"

"Are you still alive?" I chuckled at Scott's greeting. Ari's static giggle could be heard as well. 

"Yes, Scott, we are. Are you?" He scoffed. 

"Well, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have answered." I rolled my eyes, hearing Ari dying in the background. I heard her sniffle. 

"Guys, you're killing me. I'm literally cry-laughing!" 

"Like we care, Ari!" I held my laughter, my lips quivering. 

"We're trying to argue about how we're alive or not." I snickered. 

"That is the worst thing to be arguing about." 

"Well, we have nothing else to talk about." 

"Yeah we do. By the way, Scott, is your tattoo holding out?" 

"Hmm? Oh, the LGBT+ one! Yeah, it seems like it's permanent." 

"Does it need to be reapplied?" 

"Nope, it's good." 

"Okay. Ari, anything to add?" 

"Why do you guys have to be so hilarious?" 

"Because we're fucking comedians!" That one got me. I heard Ari dying as well. 

"Okay guys, I have to go. See you later." 

"BYE!!" I held the phone away from my ear as they shouted, then hung up.