The Day of The Escape

X. Damn Teasers.

Damn Teasers.

“Casey?” I whispered and her quiet gasps seized the second I said her name. “Casey- please open up.”

“I’m okay Ashley.” she sniffed.

“No you aren’t.” I leant against the ice cold wall.

She didn’t say anything.

“Casey please just open the door.” I sighed.

“Okay.” she whispered after a minute of silence. I listened as the door unlocked and it crept open, revealing a very broken Casey. She looked into my eyes and I immediately knew them. They looked like mine. Vulnerable and pleading. Damaged and pained. I think she saw the understanding in my own eyes and she ran out of the stall in sobs- clinging to me tightly. I wrapped my arms around her and held her securely. Her body fell limp in my arms but I held her up as she cried. Even though we don’t have the best past with each other, those thoughts went away in that moment. All I cared about was her being okay. She was going to be okay.

She whimpered in my arms and was gripping to me as if her life depended on it; I told her it was okay. I told her that she could squeeze me as tight was she needed and she did. Her breathing was heavy and staggered; she couldn’t control herself. When she started to get her breath back I loosened my hug and held her out to see her face. She was hurting.

“What’s going on? Talk to me.” I said softly.

It was hard to make out what she said because of the deep breaths she was taking between each word. But it think it was something like, “I can’t bother you with my problems.”

I shook my head and she started to sob again, pulling me back into a bone crushing hug. This time though, I couldn’t hold her up so both of us slowly made our way to the ground. I continued to hold her and she continued to cry. It lightened again and she sat in front of me on her knees with her head in her hands. She was shaking.

“Talk to me, please.” I said, moving some of her brown hairs that were stuck to her wet cheek when she looked up. I was going to be her rock in whatever situation this was because when this happened to me that was what I needed, but never got. I wasn’t going to let this be her start down the wrong path. No. I would never forgive myself if I did that.

She took in a deep breath, “Oh- I ruined your sweater.”

I looked at my shoulder and there was infact black mascara stains on my white sweater. I shrugged, I never really did care about clothes, “Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

She took in a breath, “Why are you being so nice to me? Don’t you- don’t you hate me?”

I let out a breathy laugh, “No. I don’t hate you Casey.”

“Why?” she looked down at her fingernails, “Why don’t you hate me? You should hate me.”

“No Casey.” I put my hand on her thigh, “I don’t hate you. Now please tell me what’s going on.”

“Okay.” she sighed, “All the girls, except Hannah came up to me in the hall today and surrounded me. They well- they laughed at me and said all of these cruel things to me. Then they dissed me and turned away. A bunch of people saw and a bunch of rumors are spreading that aren’t even true.”

I wasn’t shocked, instead rage boiled through me. I know what it feels like to be brought down by that group better than most.

“How do you…?” Casey sniffed, “How do you do it? I don’t understand how you do it. I never realised how badly they… we were hurting you. How do you ignore it? How do you always remain so calm? How can’t you fight back? How can’t you hate me right now? Ashley. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it- but… but.”