the reason | 13rw

f o r t y - t h r e e

the next monday i got to school early and went to mr. porter's office. 

"nicolette, how can i help?" 

"i want to go back to my classes." i said. "i think i've worked through my issues." 

"alright, that's great and if you have any problems, my door is still open for you." 

"thank you mister porter, you've helped me a lot." i said and walked out. 

i went to my first class as the teacher smiled at me. i saw chloe, alex, jessica and hannah already sat in their seats. 

"hey nicolette," the teacher smiled. she lifted a stack of papers. "here's your work." 

"i'm staying." i told her. 

"what?" 

"i was running from something but i'm not doing that anymore." i shook my head. "i'll be in class for now on." 

"that's great," she said, "but you are actually ahead of your class. so you can do whatever you'd like or you can just do the work i put together." 

"i'll just uh, i'll listen in." i nodded. "is my regular seat still open." 

"all yours," she nodded. 

i turned and looked at the girls and alex. 

"is that okay with you guys?" i smiled. 

"it's perfect," chloe smiled and hugged me. 

we pulled away and she looked at me. 

"it's good to have my nicky back." 

"i missed you guys." 

"we missed you more," alex smiled. 

i walked over, sliding into my chair. 

"so if you're back in classes, then you're back at our hang outs?" jessica asked. 

"i'm back and i'm better," i said. 

"good, i was tired of the bitchy nicolette." hannah said. 

i let out a small chuckle, "she was hurt but she got over herself." 

"what changed?" alex asked. 

"i was just tired of blaming other people." i said. 

"woah, she's sitting in a chair." i heard someone laughed. we all looked over and saw scott and jeff. 

"indeed i am," i smiled. "and i'm staying in this chair." 

"good," scott said and sat in front of me. "i need someone to bother." 

i heard the first bell ring and watched as more people entered the class, monty being one of them. 

"hey guys..." he trailed. 

"hey," jeff said. 

"coach also just said practice was cancelled tonight." monty said and slid into his seat.

"damn, that means cheer is cancelled too." chloe sighed. 

"girls night at my house?" jess smiled.

"i'm actually busy," i said. "my doctor said it's good for me to blow off steam. so that's what i'm doing...after school." 

"alright, maybe this weekend." she shrugged. 

"maybe," i said. the next bell rang and i glanced over at my shoulder at monty. i hoped he'd gotten the hint to meet me in the batting cages. i gave him a small smile before facing forward.