Someone Like You

Chapter 20

It's Wednesday. Today is the day that I am back at school.

When I woke up this morning, I resembled a character straight from the walking dead. I was pale, my hair was a rat's nest and my eyes had bags so big they probably could have held an ocean.

I did a very good job of covering that all up, if I do say so myself. Although it took me nearly and hour and used up a chunk of my makeup, it was worth it. I look confident right now. I look like a strong, independent woman who doesn't let life get her down.

If only I felt that way too...

I lock eyes with myself in the mirror hanging inside of my locker. Someone bangs into the locker beside me making me jump. I turn my head and glare at my idiot friends who are acting like monkey's beside me. 

Alex, Jay and Brady keep trying to jump onto each others backs without getting bucked off and without having another jump on their back.  Avalon and Kylie are standing off to the side cheering them on, which is only fueling them to act stupider.

Keiran and Daxter come strolling up to us, each holding 2 Tim Hortons' coffees. Daxter walks up to Brady and hands him the coffee, momentarily pausing the game. We all watch with dread as Brady raises the cup to his lips.

"No!" we all chorus together to him. Daxter looks shocked for a second before he chuckles. 

"Chill out. I got him a decaf because I know how he gets with sugar and caffeine. I would never voluntarily feed him either of those." We all sigh in relief as Brady rolls his eyes. He shakes his head as he takes a long sip of his decaf.

As he is drinking, Daxter flips the bottom of the cup making Brady spill some down his shirt. Brady slowly lowers the cup and glares at Daxter, who is biting his lip to keep from laughing. Brady slowly and calmly sets his coffee cup on the floor. Then he lunges at Daxter making him shriek.

We all laugh as Brady chases after Daxter. We are used to this by now. The two of them have a tendency to get into trouble when they are together. It's hilarious how the two of them act when around each other.

Keiran takes a step towards me and holds out one of the coffees to me. I eye it suspiciously and he sighs. "It's a French vanilla cappuccino. Jay told me that you love those. I figured that you could use one today to balance out the stress of having to come back."

He would do that for me? I smile up at him and give him a light hug carefully so I don't crush the coffees. It's the small things like this that make me feel like I am capable of doing this today. I start to step away from him, but he wraps an arm around my shoulders and holds me to his side. 

"Thanks. I really needed this," I mumble quietly to him. His frozen eyes latch onto mine to let me know he is listening. "I know that I am acting like I'm fine, but I'm really not. Just the thought of seeing Parker, or any of his friends makes me want to vomit, I don't know if I can do it."

"I know you can," Keiran immediately soothes. "You are so strong, and I know that you won't let them get to you. You're better than that. I admire your strength, Green. Don't let any of them get you down today, okay? Show them just how strong you are. Let them know how insignificant they are."

My smile widens and I feel fuzzies float through me. Who knew that a bad boy could be so nice? I grab my coffee with my free hand that isn't wrapped around him still. I gently lift the cup to my lips and sip some of the coffee back. Its warmth rushes down my throat filling me with a warm, happy feeling.

Suddenly Keiran tenses up beside me. I look up at his face in confusion and see that he is staring down the hallway. I follow his gaze, but immediately regret doing so. I make eye contact with a smirking Parker who is standing on the other side of the hallway.