ENDLESS

S4 Chapter 16

*WARNING: T H E R E | H A S | B E E N | A | T I M E S K I P *

ONE WEEK LATER..

The Martin and Matthews were growing restless. There hasn't been any news on Carter although they had their search teams out looking for him for the past week.

Maybe Zeus had taken him out of Shadow Creek, or maybe he was right under their nose. They couldn't tell at this point and it was driving them all mad.

Regardless of the situation, Nate and Bridget have no choice but to go back to work or else they'll lose their jobs. The kids still have to go to school.

The world still had to keep moving, but nothing was the same.

Bailey didn't want to go back. She was terrified to face the people who were there that day when she was humiliated in the worst way possible. The stress of it all was overwhelming.

There was no one to talk to about it with. Everyone was dealing with their own. Her parents were torn, Scarlett avoided everyone and the triplets were distant.

For once, Bailey felt alone. She still had her family, but she understood now that loneliness wasn't being by yourself.

Loneliness was being surrounded by people, but still feeling like you were the only one in the there.

She walked silently to her class with her head down, avoiding the eyes of her peers. They were all whispering among themselves, clearly speaking about the event.

It all felt like daggers. Each of their gazes were piercing like they could see right through her. She didn't want anyone to know how she was feeling. She didn't want to be vulnerable.

As she approached the door of her classroom, she could hear familiar giggles. Bailey didn't have to look to know who was there.

It still baffled her how fast they turned their back on her. For what, anyway? She couldn't understand it. Was everyone like this? Nice and sweet at first, but shows their true colors when you do or say something they don't like?

''Oh, hey Bailey. I didn't recognize you with your clothes on.'' Michelle snickered. The claw marks on her face were now a dark red. They appeared to be healing rather slowly.

''I didn't recognize you with those marks on your face.'' Bailey clapped back. She wasn't going to stand her and take it. It stung remembering how it felt in the moment with everyone's eyes on her, but at least she had something to pick on her for too.

Michelle scowled. ''No wonder you're so messed up. Everyone you know is fucked up! First you have your gay cousin, your psycho friend- it's not a surprise that you're now the school's slut!''

The rage inside of her erupted like a volcano. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart and a voice inside her head- chanting to hit her. To put her in her place.

Bailey couldn't see in front of her anymore. She could only see red as she formed a fist and punched Michelle across the face.

Her peers screamed while Michelle's face dropped to the side. She turned to look back at her. ''Oh, you're going down, bitch!''