The Addie Alexander Challenge

⁕ 10| Amy ⁕

I gasped but kept walking down the hall. I couldn't breathe. The walls seemed constricting. Everyone was laughing at me. I tripped over something and when I looked down, I realized it was the long shoelace on my converse. They flopped around my ankles, wrapping around my feet like snakes. I held my books closer and walked faster. Hopefully, no one would notice the untied laces until I got to class.

The bell rang. I was late. My class was on the other side of the school. I walked until the halls were clear then dove into the bathroom. All the stalls were empty and I ducked into one.

Tears spilled over my cheeks. Why was I like this? Why did the smallest things or sometimes nothing set me off? I hated it. I hated me.

Shuddering sobs emerged from my mouth. The door to the bathroom swung upon and I stuffed my fist in my mouth to muffle the crying. No one needed to know I was here. I waited in silence for the person to leave. I could see only their feet. They walked slowly past the stalls, black flats making hardly any noise. They stopped in front of my stall. The person knocked on the door.

"Amy?" came a voice. "Are you okay?" I didn't make a noise. They knocked again. "I know you're in here. I saw you. Amy, it's Addie."

Go away. I don't need you. But maybe I did. I unlocked the stall and looked through swollen eyes at Addie's concerned face. "I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile. Addie gave a half smile. "Clearly, you're not. Come out."

I did as she said, dragging my book bag behind me. Addie put her arm around me and pulled me to the corner. She sat down and I followed.

"You don't have to tell me what's wrong," she said. "But it would help me to understand if you did."

That's the problem. There was nothing wrong! I was perfectly fine. So I ignored the question. "You're missing class," I said.

"So are you. Sometimes there are things more important than school."

"Like what?"

Addie laughed. "Like you!"

"I'm not important," I whispered. "I never have been. No one cares about me."

"I care about you."

"You're just pretending. No one cares about. No one ever has."

"What about your parents?"

"They have to pretend."

Addie sighed and looked forward. "I don't know how to convince you I care. I understand that words seem fake. That everyone will say them to you. But I'm going to try again. I'm 16 years old. I have never, never, met someone who wasn't important. You were placed on this earth for a special purpose. You probably don't yet know what it that is. But it would be a shame to never find out."

My thoughts flashed back to the pills in my drawer. How would Addie know? I had barely met Addie. I had never revealed that part of myself to anyone. I didn't want to talk any more.

"Thank you," I said. Addie smiled and jumped to her feet. "We better get to class now."

My heart thundered. No way in heck was I going to walk late into class. I could practically already feel the class's stares. But of course, Addie had it covered. She pulled a bright orange slip of paper from her backpack. "One free tardy for you," she said. "And I'll tell Mrs. Jasper that it was my fault. I'll go in first."

⁕

Every time I drive, I get this crazy desire. A desire to just keep driving away and away. To nowhere but just away. But every time I came to the road where I could choose home or the highway, I chose home.

I pulled into my driveway. I parked and stared at my house. I sighed and let my head hit the steering wheel. I was so exhausted. Shame was beginning to creep into my head. I was embarrassed about letting Addie see me cry. Why did I think I could talk to her?

She was probably annoyed that she had to be late for class for a sniveling baby. That she had to waste her free tardy slip. As I climbed out of the car, I vowed to never bug anyone else with my feelings.

Of course, I'm weak so I would never ever be able to keep that promise.

Author's Notes

While I'm writing this, the story doesn't have very many reads so I hope we get up there soon! This was a short chapter and I hope it wasn't too lame. I hope you're enjoying the story and check back in next chapter! 'Till then.