Under The Surface [Editing]

Chapter Eight Breaking Point

The day went by in a haze for me. I couldn’t concentrate on anything. In history class, Lily was looking very concerned at me, since I hadn’t even said ‘Hi’ yet and my disheveled appearance was unlike me. This was probably making her worry even more.

Nathan would not take his eyes off of me all class. He was trying to get my attention. I refused to look at him. I only knew he was looking at me because Lily had texted me saying he was staring at me intensely.

Even Penny was giving me dirty looks since she was not getting the usual attention in this class that she got from Nathan. I was not going to give in. The emotional rollercoaster I have been on this week was wearing me thin. I wanted to get off the ride.

Lily poked me hard in my side with a pencil and I glared at her swatting her hand away.

“What has gotten into you today?” She hissed, worried rather than angry. I just shook my head not wanting to talk about it. She let it be for now, but I knew at lunch, I would be interrogated. This was all I needed. Why couldn’t people just let me be for a few minutes?

When the bell rang, I felt drained already. I walked slowly to the gym, vaguely aware that Nathan was following a good distance behind me. Lily was chattering about next to me as her next class was close to my locker. Maybe I would just call out sick tomorrow so I wouldn’t have to endure another day of school and get myself together over the weekend.

In the locker room, I changed slowly into my P.E. uniform. Most of the room had emptied out by now but again I heard those girl’s voices.

“Did you see them this morning?” The first voice said and it was starting to sound familiar, but I couldn’t put a face to the sound.

“No, who is it this time?” A second voice spoke up.

“Dawn and Nathan, they were fighting, I wonder if they are fucking, she was upset about something.” The first voice said and anger flashed in my face.

“Oh let it go already, they aren’t fucking. She’s a stuck up bitch and thinks she is a popular goody goody and he would never be interested in her.” The second voice said giggling.

This time something in me snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore. My eyes glazed over with rage and I walked around the wall to confront these girls.

Of course I should have known it was Penny.

Her blonde hair was swirling around her face as they all looked up to see who had interrupted their conversation. I didn’t recognize her voice before because I don’t spend time with her and never really heard her talk a lot before. She wasn’t part of my crowd. The other two girls I did not know, but they were some of the girls that I have seen who follow Penny around like lost puppies. My arms were folded over my chest.

They were stunned to see me standing there and the looks on their faces were as if someone had slapped them on the back and they were now frozen like that. They were all in different positions as they stood from putting on their P.E. uniforms.

“You were saying.” I encouraged, letting them know I heard everything they said. My voice was full of venom.

“Dawn, um, didn’t know you were still in here.” Penny tried to sound like nothing was wrong.

“Just like you didn’t on Monday when you concluded what was it, oh right, I am uptight.” I spit out.

“So you eavesdrop now, wow Dawn get a life.” She scoffed getting defensive. Seriously! She was the one talking all the shit and wants to act like the victim.

“Mind your own business Penny, everyone already knows that you’re the school skank.” I threw at her. She was fuming and I smirked turning to leave.