The Silence Between Us

Confrontation

Chapter 7:

I realized that Monday came too fast and as I was standing outside of the school, I was starting to regret my decision. Westview High School was a ginormous building filled with obnoxious teenagers and stuffy teachers that couldn't care less about their lessons. The building was looming over me, almost as if threatening me to not take another step.

I don't know how long I waited outside the front doors of the school. Usually I took the bus that arrived at the school every day around 7:30 am. But once I was dropped off, it was like there was some sort of force that was preventing me from making another move. I was stuck outside the doors, the other students hustling to get inside and out of the cold air.

Every other day, there was no problem with me entering the school, even though I knew what was waiting for me inside. But today was different, everyone knew what happened on Friday. To be honest, it was so embarrassing that I was glad that I wouldn't come back. And yet, here I was.

I felt someone link their arm with me outside of the doors, and instantly I smiled. Only one person did that.

"Are you ready to blow this popsicle stand or what?" Mae asked cheerfully by my side.

"No, definitely not ready. Don't make me go in there!" I said, laughing nervously with Mae. I was sort of joking, but I really did not want to step inside those doors.

"Too late now!" Mae opened the doors and shoved me inside. Two seconds later, I turned right on my heel and tried to walk back outside, before Mae grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.

"Don't even think about it."

I groaned as I lifted my walking stick completely off the floor, not needing it as Mae led me through the hallways, arm in arm. I don't know what it was about her that made me feel so confident or happy, but I was glad that she was by my side. I didn't think I could make it through this day without her radiant self.

"Alex!" Mae suddenly stopped as she shouted his name, briefly letting go of my arm so that she could hug him instead. My smile grew just from realizing that he was there. I probably looked like a grinning idiot but I didn't care.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I stiffened a little from the contact because I wasn't expecting it, but I soon relaxed after realizing it was him. "Louisa." He said, more as a greeting and I smiled, nodding at him in return as a hello. Mae and Alex walked on either side of me, attracting more attention to me in the middle, but I didn't mind.

"Well look who it is."

I cringed at the voice, recognizing it immediately as Cora's. School hasn't even started yet and here she was, already harassing me. Then I remembered who was standing next to me, and knew that she probably wasn't going to be as bold as before.

Still, she kept talking, "I never knew you actually needed babysitters surrounding you twenty-four seven. I guess some people are too weak to handle their problems on their own." Cora sneered, her words twisted in her mouth to sound harsher.

"Leave her alone." Mae piped up next to me.

That wasn't good. Although I knew Mae was trying to help me, she only made things worse for herself. I could take the words that Cora said about me, but Mae? She wasn't used to being attacked and bullied.

Cora proved me right when she whipped around to face Mae directly, taking a couple steps towards her to intimidate her, "And who do you think you are?"