Games of Power and Prowess

Chapter 24: Gone

It's hard to imagine that theses are the last moments I'll be spending in this school. Normally when I move, it's over the summer so I will have gotten my last day just like everyone else. But no. The halls are empty, save a few people walking around to and from the washrooms, and I am cleaning out my locker as if I were going to be graduating with the rest of my friends.

"Ally!" Speaking of my friends, here they come now. In case you're wondering, no. I haven't told them yet. But I am about to since Jodie is looking at me like I have three heads. "What are you doing? Did Nat finally expel you because you wouldn't let her in your pants?" She jokes, making Morgan laugh. They quickly contain themselves when they realise I'm not laughing. Not even immediately blushing at the mention of getting intimate with my girlfriend.

"Nope. I'm moving." I give a light chuckle, not wanting to make the entire school fill up with my depression. We all stare at each other for a moment, waiting for me to break the tension with a "just kidding!" but that moment never comes.

"So, like, moving in with Natalie?" Jodie attempts to make light of it, something that I've always admired in her. In this situation, it's just a form of denial, though.

"No. Like, moving away from here. Thanks to Emily, Miss Taylor, and my own mother." I add, wanting to give them a bit of a warning before I explain what really happened. To take my attention away from the heartbroken expressions on my friends' faces, I return to my solemn duty of cleaning out my locker.

"When?" Morgan asks, his voice breaking several times though only speaking one word. I turn to face them before putting my back to them to toss a binder into the bin beside me. "Ally, when?" He grips my shoulders and swivels my body around to face them once more.

"Let's just say I'll be in a hotel tonight. Somewhere far away from here." I speak quietly, not able to look them in the eyes as I deliver the bad news.

"What happened? What does Emily have to do with this?" Jodie asks, I think for the first time realising she isn't here. I look at them, debating whether I should tell them everything here and now or wait until a later date to spill everything. As I begin the story, I pull out another stack of papers from my locker and chuck them in the recycling bin.

I answer every last question, go over every last detail at least twice; all with two expectant and nearly crying teenagers at my side. Reflecting on their personalities, Jodie is now angry and Morgan won't let me out of a hug he began giving me nearly two minutes ago. I appreciate the sentiment but when it comes to these things, goodbyes, they don't really fly well with me. I've had to say them too many times so I've learned it's easier if I just leave quietly in the night, you know?

"Ally?" I hear a quiet voice approach from behind. Morgan finally lets go of me and holds Jodie instead. I turn to meet the eyes of my killer. Well, not literally. But if I were any weaker, she would be the reason for my death.

"What do you want, Emily?" I ask sharply, not giving a rat's ass about her anymore. I haven't seen her in only a day or so but it feels like I've been in prison for years and she was the guard who refused to set me free.

"I came to say goodbye." She admits, her voice weak as if she'd been yelling or crying. "Miss Taylor told me about your decision to leave the school. I just wanted to say I'm so sor—" I cut her off by simply raising my hand.

"I didn't decide to leave the school, Emily. My mum is making me move far away from here, thanks to you." She opens her mouth to make some bullshit apology but I stop her by taking a step towards her. "Y'know, I thought I finally made three really good friends here. Turns out I only made two." I point behind me to where Jodie and Morgan are silently watching this go down. "Because when I finally found someone who accepted me for all my flaws, made me feel loved, understood me when I was angry, brought me solace in my sadness, you had to go and rip that away from me. I bet you didn't even think twice about what you'd be doing to me when you chose to place those photos on my doorstep, huh?" I speak clearly and calmly, because everyone knows the quiet rage is the scariest kind of anger.