After Goodbye

Chapter 7

Bridget's POV

Hazel is still the talk of the school when we come in on Monday. Not that I expected anything to be different. I mean she did die after all.

But the rest of her family's names are about the gossip as well. Her brother is returning to school for the first time today. Her sister has been back for a while which is still weird.

It'll also be the first time I see Jess after she bitched me out on Saturday.

I close my locker after filling my bag with a notebook and pen. Kara tells me I shouldn't worry about school since her dad is the superintendent and I really don't have to do anything, but I don't mind the work so much. Not that I would ever admit that to her.

I find her in the hub sitting in front of the statue with a crowd around her. Groupies.

"-wanted to go, you know? 'Cause she totally deserved for me to be there. But I was just so sick. I couldn't even get out of bed." So this is the lie she came up with. I was wondering how she would defend missing the funeral to hook up with Matt Kingston. Who's in a relationship with Rachel Polimary.

"But you're better now right?"

"Well of course! It was just some 24 hour thing. Why do I still look sick?" It's an accusation, not a real question. She just wants a compliment.

"No. No! You look great." Despite this she still reaches into her bag and pulls out a compact to powder her nose. She actually does that. When she's finished she snaps the piece shut.

"I know right?" The girl goes back to playing with a piece of her hair. "Bridget darling!" She stands up in her stilettos, smoothing her hair back to down to approach me. I go along with her air kisses like every other day, but it just doesn't seem the same today.

"Can I talk to you?"

"Now really isn't a good time. I was just about to tell these lovely people about my weekend." I roll my eyes, but follow her back to the statute and take my rightful place on her left.

The bell rings eventually alerting everyone that home room will be starting in ten minutes.

"Well darlings we must be off. Can't be late to class." She says this, but makes no move to actually leave. Instead that is her way of demanding everyone else leave.

I stay by her side as expected, nodding my head along to her story and mumbling a 'yeah' at the correct times. She stops babbling suddenly and I look up from my boots to see why.

"Isn't that adorable? The dead girl's brother and best friend are hooking up." Jess stops, which makes Nathan stop, but she doesn't turn around.

"She isn't worth it." Nathan whispers the words, but I catch them. I know the look Kara is wearing well. It's the look of a predator approaching their prey.

"Kara don't-" It's no use trying to stop her. Once she has her mind made up there's nothing that can be done to change it.

"It's precious really."

"I really don't have the patience to deal with you today." I'm impressed that Jess is willing to stand up to her. It's one thing to talk big to me, but to Kara? She's asking for trouble.

"You don't? That's a shame. I heard what you did to Bridget on Saturday and I don't like it." I wasn't the one to tell her so somebody who had seen the confrontation must have. Maybe the girl who was with her this morning.

"You heard about it? Oh that's right. You didn't even show up."

"It's sweet you still stand up for her. I mean when someone kills themselves don't the people close to them blame them for their death?" I see the rage light up in Jess's eyes. Kara knows just what buttons to push.