Nothing To See Here

Chapter 4 - Crybaby

After our little moment a day ago we went back to the way we usually were, not talking, and definitely not hugging. I didn't want to go through feeling like that again, after years of hatred and resentment towards her, after Badlands sent me to that mental hospital where I didn't see sunshine for two and a half months. She turned me into this, and never apologized or gave any sympathy, she just wanted us to be perfect, right after years of not giving a single flying fuck about whether or not people viewed us as perfect while I lied my sweet ass off trying to protect us. 

And now she wants us to be like normal sisters again? Like she never betrayed me? Like she didn't throw all of my years of suffering to keep our family perfect to the outside world away?

That's nothing but a complete load of utter bullshit.

I sighed as I waited in the lobby, my friends giggling and praising me for cutting school the day we decided to pick on Brian.

"Babes? Earth to Babes?" Madison, a new addition to my group asked, waving her hand in front of my face breaking me out of my resentful thoughts and I covered it up by glaring at her until she put her hand down.

"What we were trying to say," Kaitlyn added, giving Madison a look that could kill, "We should have a party, try to find more people to add to our group and to make sure everyone is staying with their own kind,"

The girls muttered words of agreement, some nodding their heads as they waited for me to give my seal of approval. They were scared, obviously, and didn't want to end up like Madison. These girls followed me like sheep, clinging to a false hope that being popular will make them better people, and they'll be popular in college too, not knowing that they'll be on their own by that time.

"A party sounds fun, but we have to invite that Scarlet girl from chemistry class, she sounds like a nice fit for the group, and she's got a badass name too," I reasoned, as Brianna, our unofficial secretary started typing up plans that would be eventually sent to all of us.

I started making my way out of the hotel, the rest of the group in tow, gossiping and giggling about the party and who to invite. I mumbled "Mhm" and "That sound's cool" whenever I was spoken to, thinking to myself about how the hell I ended up like this: A stereotypical, rich popular girl in high school that picks on others for no reason while dealing with a difficult relationship with her sister. If you asked the girl who lived back home, my real home before life took a humongous shit on me, that I would end up like this, she would've howled with laughter.

We reached school, walking through the gates like we owned the place, earning some glares from people lower down the social food chain, and looks of awe from people who practically worshipped us. It was the same routine, pick on a few girls, do work, gossip, practice cheerleading and going home with the girls.

"Let's watch a movie!" I suggested, once I finally finished my homework, being the only one in the room that actually does homework on a daily basis. 

They all nodded in agreement, some calling out random suggestions. I turned on the flat screen, ignoring their loudly voiced suggestions and put on my favourite movie: Mean Girls.

I liked it because it kind of resembles our group, but I really wished that I wasn't our representation of Regina George.

The lights were dimmed as the girls huddled together in front of the screen, whispering and sticking their manicured hands into the bowl of popcorn. I sat on the bed, my white duvet over my shoulders encasing me in comfortable warmth.

The girls started whispering to themselves as the movie started, ignoring me as I was on my phone, reading a book. I didn't want to listen to the movie as the girls weren't willing to pay attention.

After a couple of chapters, I sighed turning off my phone, shrugging on a jacket and mumbling "I'm going out," to receive silence in return.

I walked out of the hotel, the city lights surrounding me as I fumbled in my pocket for my fake ID and walked over to a bar.

I walked into the bar, the sound of people talking to each other brightly, laughter emitting from conversations occasionally. I put the hood of the jacket over my head, concealing my brightly coloured two-toned hair as I went over to a bar stool to sit, right next to a guy who also looked around my age, and with a hood over his head as well. We sat in silence until I got tired of it of it and waved the bartender over for a drink to soothe my nerves. 

"Whiskey please, for the both of us," I ordered, ignoring the questioning look on the boy's face.

"ID first missy," the bartender drawled in some kind of weird southern accent.

I showed him my ID which he nodded at in approval before pouring us our drinks.

When the alcohol was handed to us the boy asked, "Why did you give this to me? We don't even know each other,"

"I don't know," I admitted shrugging my shoulders as I took a sip.

"Why are you here?" He wondered after taking a large gulp.

"To think, I guess," I answered, looking at him, with an unwavering gaze.

"I came to stop thinking. Ironic isn't it?" The boy chuckled dryly.

I laughed too, finishing the rest of the whiskey in silence after his remark.

Sliding off the stool, I handed the money to the bartender turning to bit saying, "I guess I better get going,"

He quickly jumped off of his stool, "I'll walk you to wherever you're going,"

I smiled brightly at his kindness and started walking out of the bar with the mystery boy in tow. As we walked in silence, it was already dark outside, almost two am, and the streetlamps and the headlights of passing cards being our only source of light. To my surprise, he didn't ask me about my life or tell me about his. He was quiet, and I think I liked that.

I don't know if it was the alcohol or if it was genuine, but when he noticed me rub my hands together from the cold, he tentatively reached over and softly held my hand in his. It didn't feel weird though like it was some stranger doing this, it felt I was holding a friends hand.

We walked like this for a while, hand in hand, not saying anything and let the noises around us comfort us. 

After a while, we reached my hotel, and we both stopped at the door. I was sad that we had come here so quickly, and I wanted to spend more time with this guy, but just when I was about to suggest going for ice cream at the shop across the street, he let go of my hand.

Realizing that our time together was coming to a close, I grinned, "Well here we are,"

His face dropped as I spoke, then the boy turned around, ready to go, but not before I called, "Wait! You got a name?"

He turned around smiling brightly, and said, "I'll tell you if you tell me yours first,"

"My name is Crybaby, and I laugh through my tears," I spoke, my voice cracking a bit when I got to the bit about 'laughing through my tears', realizing that I told one of my deepest secrets to a stranger.

"My name is Blurryface, and I care what you think," He responded after a small pause.