nefelibata (n.) | ✔️

twenty-nine.

Present. January 7th, 2019.

As I hurried into the dreadful high school building, I spotted Carson waiting for me patiently, a smile already spread onto his face.

Before I could head over to him, Brooklyn interjected her way in front of me. Her foot stepping onto mine. The smirk on her face was practically sickening as she spoke. "Ah, there's the little emo freak I was looking for!" 

I suppressed a cuss and glared at her angrily. "Can I help you my least favorite superficial bitch?" She scoffed. She pulled my arm and dragged me to a more secluded part of the hallway. I shook her off easily but remained next to her, curious about what she was trying to say. "What is it, Brooklyn? Plotting another rumor?"

She crossed her arms. "Are you dating Carson Foxx?" She asked abruptly. Her smirk turned to a straight line, and her eyes bore into mine.

I stifled a laugh as she looked at me sternly. "What's it to you, huh?" I responded, uninterested.

One of her new freshman minions spoke up from behind her. "Everyone knows that Carson and Brooklyn are developing a love story!" Her squeaky tone made me cringe.

Developing a love story? I'm sorry, what? I smirked. "Ah, that's too bad. Hope your love story is labeled as a work of fiction." Feeling bored with the conversation, I turned on my heels and headed towards where I last saw Carson.

Brooklyn's manicured nails dug into my skin as she clasped my arm and spun me around. I yanked my arm away once again, getting angry. "Don't touch me again, bitch." I snapped.

"Stay away from him, and we won't have a problem." Her dark eyes glared into mine, nearly intimidating if there wasn't gold glitter littered all over the lids.

"Might be difficult to stay away from my boyfriend." I shrugged. I tried to play this situation off as if it didn't bother me, but I couldn't help feeling so much curiosity and aggravation running through me. Where was this even coming from? I've never once seen Carson speak to Brooklyn, let alone hear anyone talk about them developing feelings for one another. I rolled my eyes and finally made my way back to Carson. He was still perched against the wall, watching me with concerned eyes as I made my way over.

"What was that about?" He asked quickly, taking my hands in his.

I sighed and pulled him in the direction of my locker. "Brooklyn seems to think that you two are supposed to be falling in love." I laugh again.

Carson raises his brows and looks back at her before responding. "Brooklyn Hale? I've hardly even talked to her. Besides, she's psycho form what I've heard."

I swap my books out for binders and shrug. "Brooklyn will do anything to make my life a living hell. It doesn't surprise me that she wants to hijack you from me." I try to clear my mind of the rumors, letting them go in and out of brain as quickly as possible.

"She's the rumor starter, isn't she?" Carson looked down at me with a frown. I just nodded and his face contorted into the type of rage I've never seen on anyone's face. "I'll be back."

I clasped my hand around his. "Carson, no. What're you doing?" He gently pulled his hand back from mine and kissed my forehead. "Stop it. I don't need you to defend me."

"I know you try to play it off as if it doesn't affect you, but I see the way your eyes sadden, and your features freeze over whenever you think about it. I'm sick of her having this control over you. I want to talk to her." I shake my head.

"No, Carson. It's not worth it."

"It is for me. Didn't you say you wanted to meet with Parker? I'll see you later, Babe." He pecked my lips one final time before storming off. I didn't stop him because I knew if he didn't do it now, he'd do it eventually anyway.