Beneath Your Beautiful (H.S. AU)

Chapter 21

   I don't know why I ever thought going to class would be a nice way to get my mind off everything that had happened this weekend. First of all, I didn't get my mind off anything and second it wasn't in a nice way. The fact that I had become the latest gossip around campus was terrible. If I though being looked at strangely or being called different things was bad, I was wrong. I had no idea how people found out, but it seemed as if everyone knew I was Maya's roommate, and therefore they wouldn't stop staring or whispering about me. I wasn't sure I had ever felt so alone in my life as I felt then. Every stare made me relive everything that had happened less than 48 hours ago. Maya's death was beyond any pain I had ever felt before because for once, I felt like it was my fault and the guilt was literally tearing me down from the inside. Seeing Maya's lifeless body was excruciating which was why every stare was like a nightmare, and I was glad I never had to find my parents like that or my grandma for that matter. Tears fell down my cheeks just like they had done almost constantly for the past two days. Sadly, I barely even noticed anymore. It was like they had engraved themselves into my day. Would I ever be happy again?

   Whoever said bad attention was better than no attention at all was clearly wrong or at least hadn't gone through what I had because right now I'd pick being invisible any day. The walk to school had seemed to take a lifetime and as I headed for my locker I felt the need to go straight home, but the thought of being in the apartment by myself made a shiver run down my spine. As I grabbed the economy books from my locker, I could no longer stand on my feet and I crumbled to the floor. Everything had become too much for me to take in, and I felt my body give in under me. I heard voices, but I had no idea what they were saying and everything seemed like one big blur to my eyes as I sat there on the floor with my back against the lockers.

   Someone seemed to be calling my name, but I couldn't be sure. So I just sat crying while hundreds of students passed me without as much as asking me if I was okay. Shivers ran down my spine at the thought of how messed up this world had turned out where people didn't even care enough to help people who needed it.

   "Trinity!" The voice said again, now sounding a bit louder, but I still wasn't sure if it was my imagination until two hands grabbed my upper arms and pulled me up. "Trin," the voice said again, and not until then did I realize it belonged to a man.

   "Trin? Trinity, look at me!" He demanded and placed a gentle hand on my cheek to force me to look at him and when I looked into those piecing, green eyes that I'd come to like a lot everything seemed to be okay and it was as if nothing else mattered but him.

   "H- Harry?" I mumbled though I knew very well it was him, but I feared that everything would go back to him ignoring me, even though he had slept next to me for the past two days. Luckily, I was wrong, and I found myself wrapped up in his arms and sobbed lightly as his hands ran up and down my back in an attempt of soothing me.

   "It's okay," he whispered in my ear, and I felt myself relax at both his words and touch. "I'm here." It was strange how easily he could make me feel better, especially since I still felt like there were so many things I didn't know about him.

   "How did you know I was here?" I wanted to know while I wiped away my tears suddenly getting my mind back to reality.

   "I didn't," he gave me a smile, but it didn't seem sincere. "But when you didn't get to class early, like you always do. I figured that you'd probably be here or still at home, and I decided to start here," he told me and brushed a strain of hair behind my ear. My lips curled up in a small smile at his words. He already knew me better than I thought.

   Underneath his left eye I noticed a slight bruise, and my smile changed into a frown. I gently ran my thumb over it while I wondered how he had gotten it. I knew he didn't have it this morning and as far as I was concerned he didn't box before school. That left me with only one other option though I hoped that wasn't the case. "How'd you get this?" I asked concerned for him. Everything with Maya had been pushed to the back of my mind.