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You Know What

Chapter 23: You Know What
Adeline

Time has passed by and Lawson's party is tomorrow.

My first party. I just wish nothing goes wrong.

Currently, I was wasting time in the bathroom. I didn't really want to go outside today.

Washing my hands, I hear the bathroom door open and close, signaling that someone else was here.

"Hi, Adeline Fawn." The girl stands next to me and I keep my head down, not wanting to talk to her. "So you're really going to ignore me?"

Marma scoffs as I walk around her, still not looking up.

"I see you got a new bag. It's cute."

Placing my hand on the door, Marma screams randomly, making me look back at her.

"Yes?" I tried to sound intimidating but my voice came out quietly, as if I was weak.

I am, though.

"You know. This is why I'm friends with Brianna now. You're so fake." She stomps, balling up her fists. "This is exactly why Easton doesn't want to be your friend."

"Is there something you need, Marma? I want to go to lunch."

"Stop being so fake, Adeline. I actually wanted to be your friend in the beginning. But that was a mistake."

Rolling my eyes, I clutch the straps of my bag before exiting, walking in the opposite direction to go outside.

Sitting at my usual table, I watch Marma walk away, sitting with her new friends.

Easton looks up at her before turning his head and I shift my body back around, hoping that he doesn't come over.

We haven't had a late night talk since almost a week ago, and I was happy about that. His bullying in school hurt less that way.

Still waiting for him, I take my bottle out my bag, setting it down next to my food. I finally feel Easton's presence behind me and hold my water up for him, expecting him to take it.

Surprisingly, he doesn't.

It's something way worse, and it wasn't even him.

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"Are you sure you want to come tomorrow?"

"I'm sure, Kaleb."

"I don't want you going." He mutters again, splashing rubbing alcohol onto the cotton.

"I'm not a baby. And you aren't my dad." I respond, tilting my chin up for him to see under my eye better.

"Fine. But you reall need to tell me who's been hurting you." He grumbles, blowing the area. "Especially the person who did this, I'll hurt them first."

Kaleb touches my cheek with the cotton carefully, watching the blood seep into it.

"Marma..." I murmur under my breath, barely audible.

"Who?"

"Nobody!" I jump, laughing awkwardly. Removing the cotton from Kaleb's hand, I press it against my cheek while getting off the sink edge, walking out my bathroom. "I'll take it from here."

My brother sighs before exiting my room, closing the door behind him and I lock it.

"I tried to stop them. Adeline you have to believe me."

"Adeline open the window and talk to me, god damn it. I'm going crazy here."

"You already were." I mumble, sitting at my window.

I wipe away some of the fog before looking at him, waiting for him to start talking.

"Please talk to me?" He pleads, pushing his hair out of his face.

"No."

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Scrolling through my Twitter feed, I look at one of Marma's posts.

Reading it over, I realize she was talking about how she's the greatest friend anyone could ask for and I scoff.

"Keep lying to yourself."

A sound from my window makes me turn my head and I look out to Easton, watching another object come in contact with the screen.

Stand up quickly and walk over to my window, fanning my arms out on either side of me. "What bro?"

"Open the damn window. Like shit." Easton groans and I climb into my space, opening the window dramatically. "Thank you."

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to apologize for Brianna and Marma." He bites his lip nervously before pushing his hair back again, still looking at me. "Can you forgive?"

"One, no. And two, it doesn't count from you."

"Please, Addy. I'm just trying to do something better."

"No, Easton. Leave me alone." I mutter, slamming my window again. "I don't want to talk."