Head in the Clouds // Klance

Scrapes

I turn and leave quickly, wiping away a stray tear that leaks from my eye. Instead of turning left towards my next classroom, I go the opposite way, heading to the bathroom. There's one in particular that no one goes in. Once I get there, I find a stall near the back and close it, then lean my head against the door. A choked sob finds its way up my throat, followed by several more. When I'm sure I'm alone, I let them come.

My shoulders shake, and i'm glad there isn't a mirror in the stall because I know I'm an ugly crier. Now i'm crying harder, because one time Lance said I looked surprisingly good when I cried. He lied about a lot of things.

I hear the sound of the door to the bathroom opening, so I quickly quiet my pity party to a few sniffles.

"--yeah, that sounds fine."

I recognized the voice instantly. Why did it have to be Lance?

"Are you- wait, is someone crying?" another voice asks. I see feet outside the door of my stall, then his voice again.

"Hey, are you okay in there?"

I sniff. "Yeah, I'm- I'm fine, just leave me alone," I cough, trying to disguise my voice.

"Aw, he is crying. Missing your mommy?" Says another voice. The group laughs. I feel my anger rising. Throwing the stall door open, I storm toward the exit sign hoping to make a getaway. Before I can get there, one of Lance's new friends stands in my way.

"Look who it is, Lance. Your old boyfriend."

Flustered, I look at him. He stands in somewhat confused shock, his eyebrows furrowed. "He wasn't my boyfriend!" he says finally. It took him way too long to reply. The boy standing in front of me pushes me back into the bathroom.

"Are you missing your Lancey-poo?" he teases. Everyone laughs, except for Lance. My face burns again.

"Back off!" I shove the boy away hard. He retaliates and pushes me against the wall, raising his fist to punch me.

"Leave him alone!" Lance yells, pushing his friend enough to make him stumble. It's too late; the boy lands a punch on my face, but he directs his attention toward Lance for a few seconds. I take the opportunity and run out the door. I can hear them arguing behind the door as I run further away. The tears come again. I slow down to catch my breath and hear feet behind me. Wiping my face, I start to walk away. There is a hand on my shoulder. I turn around to face Lance, my eyebrows furrowed with anger.

"What do you want?" I snap. He stands there for a second, just staring at me, then he looks at the ground between us. There is so much more than the space there that divides us.

"I'm... Sorry." He says this as if it's painful to speak.

"What are you sorry for this time? For your friends? For the promises you never kept? For abandoning me when I needed you the most?" My voice level rises until I'm yelling.

He looks up at me after what feels like forever. "I'm sorry for all of it."

"Well, I'm sorry I ever became your friend." With that, I am once again running from him- the exact opposite of what I want to do, which is to be in his arms and just stay there. I would give up almost anything for one more hug. One more real, genuine hug that shows he cares.

I hide in another bathroom until lunch.