Catch Me

7

I guess I was having one of those days because anywhere I went, I felt like people were silently judging me.

It started with my brother. Normally, I drive him to school, because he hates driving, but today, he took his own car to school.

Next, all my friends were off. I entered school and when I went to go meet my friends at our normal meeting spot in the library, they were all gone. Not sure where, but nobody was there.

Then, in French, Madame Bijou kept choosing me to answer questions that we haven't even learned about.

And finally, the worst of the worst, Serina. Serina Waters. She had come up to me and started threatening me. "If you don't stay away from Cole, blah blah blah"

By this point, I was just done.

I go to meet my friends for lunch and I angrily sit down.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? EVERYONE IS EITHER RUNNING AWAY FROM ME OR IGNORING ME." I exclaim feeling tears rush to my eyes.

"Liz. I'm so sorry." Sky says frowning.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

Sky hands me her phone and on the screen is a picture of me in the bathroom in my underwear, and written beside me is SLUT.

I felt the world stop.

I drop the phone, get up and run to the bathroom pushing the tears off my face.

I lock myself in a stall and ball my eyes out.

Who would do this to me?

Why did my friends not comfort me?

Why does everything feel like it's against me?

WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?

A few moments after, I hear the door open and in-comes Leo.

"L-Leo?" I sniff.

"Shhhh. It's gonna be okay." He says, pulling me into an embrace.

Right there, I ball my eyes out. Not able to move, just waiting for someone to tell me i'm dreaming.

"P-P-P-Please tell me it's n-n-n-not true." I say still sobbing and hyperventilating.

"Shhhhhhhh. Liz. I'm here, it's okay." He says not breaking the hug.

We stay in the hug for a while, when I break it to hear Serina walk through the door, laughing with her friends.

"Another one of your toys? Slut?" She laughs.

I am about to speak, when Leo jumps in, "Mind your own damn business. You don't know what she's going through. All you ever care about is yourself. Maybe that's why you don't have a boyfriend, or any real friends."

I'm in shock and so is Serina, based on her scream inspired facial expression.

She snaps her fingers and walks out the door throwing a mini fit.

"Come on." Leo says as he grabs my hand.

I stop to take a look in the mirror and rub my eyes, that are now red and puffy from crying. I sigh and walk out the door, where Sky is waiting for me.

She immediately pulls me into an embrace and apologizes. I melt into her arms and feel at ease again.

"It's okay." Is all I can manage to say.

~~~~
When school ended, I immediately drove home and went to my room. All my emotions had built up and I just let it all out, alone.

A few moments after, I got a text from Jack.

jackyboi:
hey Liz, I heard what happened

Not him too.

LIZZZZZ:
i'm a disappointment Jack.

jackyboi:
no you're not! don't say that.

LIZZZZZ:
but it's true.

jackyboi:
it's not, and you know it's not! do you want me to come over?

LIZZZZZ:
please.

jackyboi:
text me your address and i'll be there as soon as i can

About 20 minutes later, I hear my doorbell ring and I see Jack standing out in the rain, holding a container of cookies, smiling. I return the smile and bring him inside, grabbing us some coffee and placing myself next to him on the couch.

He pulls me into a hug, and I feel his warm breath on my neck, which sends chills down my spine.

He whispers, "I'm here for you."

I smile into his shoulder and say, "Thank you."

We break the hug and decide to watch my favorite movie, A Cinderella Story. I practically know the whole script so I squeal with excitement everytime I see Hillary Duff and Chad Michael Murray together.

Jack chuckles beside me and I rest my head on his shoulder.

It was only now that I felt comfortable and safe.

With that, I fall asleep, still bundled up, next to him.