This is War

Chapter 23

Chapter 23 - Natalie's P.O.V 

Pressing my foot down on the accelerator, I rolled past the intersection and continued driving to school, the thoughts of yesterday invading my mind and tears threatening to spill over. Stopping at the next stop sign, I wiped them away and took in a deep breath. 

I had to forget about it, I had to at least let go of the past. I wouldn't survive much longer if all I kept thinking about was Gram and the funeral. Taking another breath, I wiped away the drops of water at the edge of my eyes and blinked them away, continuing the drive.

Pushing the tear-inducing thoughts out of my mind, I took a sudden sharp left, almost missing my turn. 

Filling in the emptiness of thoughts came the idea of moving. In four weeks, one month, I'm moving away from this place. Away from my friends, some family, my school, my social life. My parents are tearing me away from my life. 

For them and Nate it's not as big of a deal, Nate's out of school and my parents already found jobs in f*cking Minnesota. Who the hell wants to move to Minnesota? No one normal and most definitely not me. 

My parents are running away from the pain of losing Gram. Well I'd rather face it head on. 

Trying to focus on the day ahead of me, I parked in the school parking lot and turned off the ignition, rummaging through my bag to find my cell phone. When I couldn't find it I decided I left it at home on accident and shrugged, opening the door and stepping out. 

I had just closed the door with my hip when I was completely drenched in what I'm really hoping to be just plain water. 

Letting out a squeal of surprise, I looked up to see Noah and surprisingly Michael, not Jarrett, standing in front of me with two empty buckets each. Michael was Noah's other right hand man, but I didn't think they were as close as he a Jarrett were. 

"You were just looking too hot," Noah tells me with a wink and I respond with a glare. 

Michael laughed, "Nice one, dude." 

A plan forming, I smiled at Noah, "Yeah, it was really nice. I know just how to thank you!" 

"How?" He questions, clearly skeptical about my tone of voice. 

I give him a devious grin, "A hug!" 

Launching myself at him, I wrap my arms around him and just let the wetness saturate him as well. 

Michael sits there, laughing his ass off while Noah struggles to push my off. Letting go, I took a step back and return his glare, "I'm gonna get you back for this, Hall." 

"I expect nothing less!" He exclaims, walking away with Michael. 

"Ass," I mutter, picking up my semi-dry bag and walking into the school, earning plenty of stares which I turned away with a look. 

Walking up and interrupting Olivia and Kate, I ignored their wide-eyed and confused looks, "Tell me one of you has an extra outfit." 

"Nope," Kate shakes her head, chuckling a little. 

Olivia sheepishly shrugs, "Sorry." 

Groaning, I made my way to the only place that would have dry clothes for me. My gym locker. Thank god I just cleaned it, too. Opening it up, I grabbed my black track sweats from my track bag and threw on my gym hoodie over my head, pulling it down.

Facing the mirror, I groaned. My makeup was ruined, and of course I don't think to pack an entire makeup kit for school of all places. Washing my face in the sink, I sigh as I stare at my reflection. 

I hate going out in public with no makeup. I'm just not confident enough to do it. 

Today was apparently the day I was going to have that confidence. Braiding my wet hair down the side, I swore as the warning bell rang. Gathering my things, I sprinted down the mostly empty halls and stepped into homeroom just as the tardy bell rang. 

Everyone stared at me and I felt incredibly awkward. Blushing, I took my seat and saw Kate, Olivia, Logan and Dylan all staring at me. 

"What?" I mumble, feeling incredibly self conscious. 

Kate and Olivia shrugged, before turning around and writing down the assignment. Logan and Dylan however just continued staring, making me feel incredibly uncomfortable. Olivia noticed and hit them both on the back of the head and finally they turned around. Throughout the class everyone eventually faced the board and not me, but there were still many glances at me. 

Was no makeup and a baggy sweatshirt really such a big deal? 

The bell rang and everyone filed out of class, save our group of friends, "Okay, talk." 

"What?" Kate and Olivia both say at the same time as we begin to make our way out of class. 

"Why was everyone, you guys included, staring at me when I came in?" I question, clarifying it even though I thought it was pretty obvious what I meant before. 

"Really, it's nothing," Olivia assured me and I frowned. 

Kate smiled, "I promise." 

They continued on and I held out both of my arms, stopping the boys in their tracks. 

"Alright, they won't tell me anything so now it's your turn," I announce, facing them. 

They both rubbed the backs of their necks, something they did when they were nervous or afraid to tell us girls something. 

I rolled my eyes at them, "Just spit it out!" 

"Well," Logan started, "you walked in late so everyone looked at you, and we all saw you without any makeup and like really dress-down clothes and so--" 

Dylan cut him off, "What this idiot's trying to say is that you actually look really good without makeup on and it was just kind of weird to see you without it." 

"Oh," I reply lamely, a blush coming up on my cheeks. 

"Plus we can tell you're actually blushing without all of the fake blush on!" Logan added and I chuckled a little. 

I smiled, "Alright. I'll be late to class, I have to go grab my stuff from my locker. Please, entertain the class and Mr. Johnson for me." 

"Will do!" Dylan mock-salutes me before the two take off down the hall. 

Jogging to my locker, I pull it open, grab my things and close it. Turning on my heel and making my way down the hall to second period. 

"Natalie!" A familiar voice calls my name and I turn to see the one and only Margo rushing my way. "Hi." 

"Hi," I respond, my lips pursed. 

She nervously fidgets with her thumbs and when we're this close up I can see the dark circles under her eyes and the sloppiness of her makeup, the effortless hair. She looked like a mess. 

Letting out a sigh, she makes eye contact with me for the first time in weeks. 

"Can we talk?" 

∞

a/n: so...... what do you think Margo wants to talk about? And what about everyone's reaction to Natalie's no makeup look? Looks like Noah's plan backfired, huh? 

SPOILER FOR NEXT CHAPTER: throwback to, like, the first few chapters?? idk lol