You're My Sol

Chapter 18

Monday morning I awoke to light streaming in through my window. I didn't want to get up. I rolled over in bed, groaning.

"We gotta go," Andrew said, hovering in my doorway.

I sighed, pushing myself up. "Just give me five minutes to get ready."

He nodded and then left.

I got dressed and brushed my teeth, examining myself in the mirror. I tried to make my face neutral, like I didn't care. I would be alone again, sure. But I'd dealt with that before. I was strong. I could do this.

Take a deep breath in, I pulled on a jacket and called out to Andrew.

"I'm ready to go!"

"About time," he laughed, heading out to the car.

I didn't have time to eat breakfast that morning, but I didn't care. I was too busy thinking of what was to come. Everyone had to be talking about what happened. Marisol probably wouldn't even be able look at me. She definitely thought I was a creep.

I buried my head in my hands.

"Hey," Andrew said, looking at me out of the corner of his eye. "I know you're probably scared of how people are going to react, or scared of your ex-friend--"

Ex-friend. That stung.

"but... just text me if anyone says something to you, okay?"

My heart swelled with gratitude. Andrew and I weren't really close, but when it mattered, he was there for me.

"Thanks," I said, a small smile creeping up my face. "Will do."

We pulled up to the school and I got out, ready to face whatever would come next. As I walked through the hallways, conversations hushed. Everyone stared, some turning to their friends to whisper.

I kept a straight face, making a beeline for homeroom. When the teacher called my name for attendance, everyone's eyes snapped to me. It was like everyone knew what happened, that the word had been spread around the school.

There wasn't much gossip, but when there was, everyone knew about it.

I tried to look away from everyone's stares. Some people were judgemental, others curious, and some pitiful. I didn't like any of those reactions. I just wished things were back to normal.

I went through the day, enduring the stares, until it was time for precalc. I froze with my hand on the doorhandle, steeling myself for what would come next. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

All eyes snapped to me. And then to Marisol, who was already sitting in her seat, and then back to me. I made my face neutral, almost like a mask of uncaring. Being hated for two years really helps you develop that skill.

I walked towards the seat next to Marisol and sat down wordlessly. I didn't even spare her a second look. I stared straight towards the board from the beginning of class to the end.

That didn't mean I missed the glances Marisol kept sending me.

After precalc was lunch. I stayed in my seat while everyone shuffled out, unsure of what to do. Marisol lingered in the doorway, looking at me, before heading off. Was that how it was always going to be? Awkwardly looking at each other, neither of us wanting to speak?

I sighed, finally collecting my book and heading towards the lunchroom. I got my lunch as usual, then idled in the middle of the cafeteria, realizing that something was going to happen once I got to the table.

I got closer, seeing all my friends talking and laughing. Jake was sitting in my seat again, his arm slung over Marisol. I couldn't keep my head from boiling. The rest of the girls went quiet when they realized I was there.