Before The Bad - Volume I

~ four ~

Stella

After a day like today, all I desire is sleep. Since my disagreement with Symone this morning, my phones been practically silent. I expected this though—I know how petty she is.

Symone never wants to be wrong and if she's called out for it, she loses her cool. I used to find it absolutely peeving, but I've grown to ignore it. I couldn't this time, however. She crossed the line. A part of me believed her, which I certainly didn't like.

'Hungry dogs aren't loyal'.

The phrase has and continues to play through my head on a loop, trying to depict the facts. I mean, she has a point. If Jaxon even wanted to be my friend, he wouldn't spend his day avoiding me. All of this was too much to handle and quite frankly, it was consuming me. It's exhausting, and for what? The regrowing love of a middle-school crush?

Jaxon doesn't strike me as the relationship type. Why does that bother me? I need a distraction. I pull my phone off of the dresser and flip through my contacts, stopping when I reach 'L'. If there was anyone I'd like to be immersed in right now, Liam Dylan would be my top selection.

Although I met him yesterday and spent a lunch break with him, I can truly see the kindness and positivity radiating off of him. It's astonishing, really. How a human being could ever be that nice is still a mystery— at least, for me. He could end up to be sinister, but as for now I'd trust him.

I'm millimetres away from the 'call' option when my doorbell dings. Not once, not twice, but over and over again. Whoever this is must be important.

I spring down the stairs, picking up the baseball bat hidden behind my mothers large plant in the foyer. Never know when my father could be let out of prison. Besides, the piece of wood makes me feel safer while home alone, like I am right now. Mom wouldn't be home for another hour or so; she finishes late today. Wrapping my fingers tightly around the bat, I pull open the door. I drop my weapon however when I see who's on the other side.

"Woah, girl. I just met you 32 hours ago and I already have came to the conclusion that you're a badass." Jayde laughs and invites herself in, a tall blonde following.

She nods, "I'm Savannah. We met yesterday as well."

Now, this girl could be a Vogue star. Her smile debunks her career though—it's not fake. I offer her an equally warm smile. "Yes, I remember. What brings you two here? And why are we dressed up?"

I take in the girls outfit choices. Jayde wears small jean shorts, with an equally as short silk tank, giving her small bust some lift. Savannah however, is in a dainty white denim dress, tight enough to accentuate her deadly shape. The girls laugh and Jayde places her hand on mine.

"We, sweetheart, are going to our first high school party. Haven't you heard about it?" My face falls. Of course I had. Thats exactly why I didn't want to go.

I sigh and shake my head. "I'm not really interested in the party life—"

"You're coming, whether you'd like to or not." Savannah speaks up. "Now, lets go get you ready."

The two wear matching grins as they drag me up the stairs, tuning out my protests. I really did not want to go and I definitely did not want to face him. The devil. Jayde throws herself at my closet and starts her search. I sit on my bed, trying to think myself out of this situation as Savannah rummages through my small makeup collection.

"...And I didn't want to upset Lara. But like, honestly, at first I cared. Then I was like nah, fuck you. She wasn't very happy I told her brother that but oh well."