Greengate Academy

Chapter 17

I got to math class before J.J. did. Ethan was already there, so I decided to stop by his desk. "We need to talk." 

He looked up from his homework. "Oh, hey, what's up?" 

"You need to tell my friends what actually happened Friday night. They're angry at me because of you." I ordered him. My eyes drifted down to his homework. "You got number two wrong." 

He nodded. "I bet I did. I might've bitten off more than I could taking on this class." 

I walked to my seat just as J.J. walked in. "Hey, C.C., Peyton was able to believe my word. Zoe and Maddie are still really skeptical." 

I nodded. "I just talked with Ethan and told him to tell them the truth. I'm not sure if he will or not." 

J.J. shrugged. "If he doesn't, I'll talk him into it. Our entire group hates him because he hangs out with Ashley, but if he tells them I think they'd much rather believe that it wasn't your fault." 

I only paid half attention to the rest of the class, passing up my homework and taking notes. I doodled in the margins, drawing horses and flowers, really anything. 

Once we were dismissed, I went to lunch. I was starting to get used to my schedule, so I didn't need to check it as much. 

I stood in line, realizing that Ashley, a couple of her friends, and Brooklyn were in front of me. Of course. Just my luck. 

"Well, if it isn't the up and coming queen?" Ashley smirked, crossing her arms. It took me a second to realize she was talking to me. 

"Is homecoming really that important to you? I don't care about it. You can keep your titles." I told her. She shook her head. 

"We went over this. Listen, you should sit with our table." She said. I drew back. 

"What?"

"Did I stutter? If you want to really come out on top, stop by our table. If you want to stay where you are and never get anywhere, hang out alone like you usually do." She grabbed her tray and left. As they left I heard Brooklyn talking. 

"Y'know, you can be kinda rude," Brooklyn said. 

"Shut up, Brooklyn," Ashley snapped at her, and then laughed at something one of the other girls said. 

I stared after them, a dilemma rising before me. Do I sit with them? Or do I just go to my usual table? The smartest decision would be to not trust them; they've given me no reason to believe otherwise. But on the offhand they were serious...

Luckily, I didn't have to answer, because I heard Peyton's quiet voice behind me. "Hey, do you want to sit with us again?" 

I looked at her for a second. "Depends on how I'm gonna be treated." 

She looked down at her bright red flats. "I'm sorry they're being rude. Zoe's just really sore about Ethan. She really liked him, y'know. And Maddie's her best friend, so Maddie'll blindly follow whatever she says. They'd walk through fire for each other. Kinda admirable, y'know?" We both looked over at the table, where Maddie and Zoe were already sitting. 

"Yeah, I get it. It's nice that they have each other's backs. Sure, I'll sit with you." I said, and we grabbed our food and went to the table. 

When Maddie and Zoe looked up, they both glared at me. "What's it doing here?" Zoe asked. I felt a twang in my heart. I was powerless. I couldn't make them not hate me, even though I'm not to blame. 

"I told her she could sit with us. Unlike you guys, I trust what J.J. and Claire have to say." Peyton said, and motioned for me to sit down. J.J. and Connor got to our table. Connor's face lightened up when he saw me. 

"Hey, Collins! You're back!" He sat a couple seats down from me. "You finally didn't fail a science test." 

I arched my eyebrow at him. "I did better than you, Mr. C plus." 

Maddie and Zoe were still eyeing me up. It made me feel a little queasy, and I didn't want to eat my lunch anymore. The entire table was quiet as nobody tried to start any conversation. 

As soon as I got the chance, I bolted from the table and walked as quickly as I could to the trash can. I was so desperate to get away from the group, I didn't realize Brooklyn had stood up from her table, going to throw out her garbage, too. I accidently bumped into her, and fell to the ground, my tray sliding across the floor in front of me. I hear Brooklyn gasping, and her table laughing. 

I quickly got back to my feet and dusted myself off, then went to collect my tray and garbage. I turned around to see a fuming Brooklyn. 

"I'm so sorry, Brooklyn," I said as I walked over. I now realize I never saw the cup of soup on her tray that she hadn't gotten around to eating. I now see that that same soup is all over her heather grey sweater and red skirt. She glared at me and grabbed some napkins off of her table. Ashley seemed to be getting a kick out of it. 

"You, you idiot! Are you blind?!" Brooklyn yelled at me, which made heads turn. "I just bought this sweater! 

"I'm sorry, I'll help you clean it up. Here, I'll go grab more napkins." I offered. She shook her head. 

"No. Don't even. I'll handle this myself." Brooklyn scoffed and walked off to, I presume, the bathroom. Her grey flats squeaked with every step. Ashley was still laughing. 

"That was priceless! Oh, I haven't laughed that hard since I saw you stomp out of the ballroom on Friday. Oh, well done. Wanna sit with us?" She offered me Brooklyn's now empty seat. 

"Um..." I wasn't sure what to say.

"Sit," Ashley ordered, in an almost threatening tone. I plopped down in a seat. "So, I realize we don't know much about you. Tell us about yourself." She folded her hands and rested her chin on them, gazing at me, waiting for an answer. 

"Um...I guess I ride horses," I told them. Ashley looked at the person next to her, and then back at me. 

"So does Brooklyn," she purred, "Have you seen her around at the stable?" 

I nod. "Yeah. We're in the same riding lesson." 

"So do you ride Western or Eastern?" One of the other girls asked. 

"I'm sorry?" I clarified, "Did you mean English?" They laughed. 

"Yeah. Do you ride that?" The girl continued. I nod. 

"Yeah." I answered. The questions started rolling in. 

"Do you have a thoroughbred?" 

"How many races have you won?" 

"Do you jump?" 

I decide to not argue with any of them, so I just decide to politely nod at all of them. I see out of the corner of my eye Zoe glaring at me. I turned to look at her, and she mouthed something. My smile dropped when I realized what she said. Traitor. 

"Claire!" Ashley raised her voice to regain my attention. Once I spun back around to face Ashley, she smiled sweetly at me. "Did you not hear my question? I asked you what was going on between you and Ethan." 

"Oh! Nothing! I actually don't like him. At all." I told her. She laughed. 

"Can I trust you on that?" She lowered her voice. "Because he's mine." 

I almost laughed out loud. "Please! Keep him! I really don't care about him at all!" 

Ashley smirked, "That's what I hoped you would say. Anyways, I think we're done here. You can move along." 

Confused, I stood up and walked away. Was that all she wanted to talk about? Was that the only reason I was allowed to sit down. 

While I walked through the courtyard, I could see someone sitting on a bench in the distance. As I got closer I realized it was Brooklyn, curled up. I quickly turned around, not wanting to disturb her. 

I could've sworn I heard her sniffling.