As I'm Letting Go

Chapter 7-March

"Beth!!!!!! How was your weekend???" Kailynn squeals after spotting me at my locker, "I didn't see you by the doors where we normally meet."

"I know. I'm sorry. I had to go through a different door." 'To avoid you.'

Kailynn drops the subject and moves on to a new topic. Dylan.

"Okay, so my 16th birthday is coming up and so of course I'm having a sweet 16th birthday party. There will be a DJ, a giant cake, tons of food and presents and decorations. You are all invited of course, no invitation necessary. But the best news of all....is that Dylan will be there too!!!! He agreed to go and act as like a boyfriend for me. You know, someone I can walk arm in arm with around the place."

"That's amazing Kailynn. So happy for you." Everyone chants the same words in the same, fake, cheery voice.

It was when I closed my locker, that I noticed Kailynn staring at me.

"Isn't there something you need to say?"

I knew what she wanted from me. I knew she wanted me to do the same thing as the girls. But for some reason, something inside of me told me to rebel. And so I did.

"Yes actually."

Kailynn's face lit up.

"What day and time will the party be taking place?"

I acted nonchalantly, like I had no clue what she really wanted of me.

Kailynn's face fell to disbelief. And then anger. Resulting in her walking closer to me and....

Smack

Right across the face.

You know how in movies, when someone gets smacked across the face, their whole head turns from the impact? But their entire body remains still, in the same position as before? That is what I did.

I turn back to face Kailynn, looking at her. Right, straight into her eyes. Refusing to show any emotion. Refusing to acknowledge the burning pain across my face.

Everyone around is standing there in aw. Just staring between me and Kailynn.

"You are such a bitch." Kailynn calmly states.

"You should take a look in the mirror. Because I think you have the wrong person."

"How dare you!"

Kailynn tries to slap me again. Luckily, my reflexes prevents her hand from making contact with my face. Instead, I grab her wrist and twist it behind her back.

Kailynn let's out a whimper. I let her go after a few seconds. She turns to look at me.

"You're no longer allowed to come to my party."

"I wasn't planning on going anyway."

Kailynn and the rest of the girls turn and leave.

I watch them leave and out of the corner of my eyes, I see someone standing there, watching me. When I turn back around, I notice it is Dylan.

'Oh my god. He saw. He saw the whole thing.'

Embarrassed, I walk past him, ignoring I ever saw him, and keep walking.

"Beth, wait!"

I constantly hear these words. As I continue down the hall.

"Beth, wait!"

As I walk up the stairs.

"Beth, will you wait!"

As I'm going down the hall to my first hour class.

All of a sudden, I feel a hand on my arm. I jerk it away and walk faster. Unfortunately, running is a lot faster than walking, and that is exactly what Dylan did. Ran until he was in front of me. I try to walk around, but he acts as a wall and blocks my way.

"I don't know where you think you're going."

"To class, Dylan. That's where."

"Wow, okay. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

"No, just tired of being pushed around."

"By who? Kailynn?"

"Kailynn...my mom....everyone! And I'm sick of it!"

"Your mom? What like about your grades?"

"No...just...never mind."

"Not never mind...tell me what's wrong."

"I shouldn't have even brought it up. It doesn't matter. Just let me go."

"It does matter."

"No it doesn't."

I shove past Dylan and instead of heading for class, I head for the bathroom.

...

After exiting the bathroom stall, I walk over to the sink and use the water to dampen the paper towel. I press it on the wounds of my stomach, making sure they are all clean and rid of blood. I wipe off the razor blade and stick it back into my pencil pouch. Above me, the sound of the bell rings through the bathroom and the rest of the school, signaling us to head to first class. In my case, biology.

I throw the paper towel in the trash and throw my backpack over my shoulder as I swing open the door.

I turn to my left to head to class, but instead I run into Dylan. Like....literally....ran right into him.

"Hello again."

"Don't you have class to get too? Because I know I do."

"Well since you won't answer my question about the whole pushed around situation. I have another one."

"Great."

"What the hell took you so long in the bathroom? You legit took 10 minutes."

"Nothing, it's none of your business."

Dylan looks down as if he's hurt, but that's not why. I looked down with him and notice that blood has started seeping through my shirt.

"Beth, why is there blood on your shirt?"

"No reason."

I run back into the bathroom to clean up as best as possible. I only have one bandage, so I put it on the wound that opened back up, instead of the other 6.

When I exit the bathroom once more, Dylan is not there.

'See....no reason to tell him anything. He can't even bother sticking around to find out if I'm okay........maybe he is just like everyone thinks he is. A popular jock and nothing more.'