The Beginning, The Middle and The End (COMPLETE)

Chapter Seven

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. I'm horribly sorry, Natalie." The headmistress said, trying to hold in the anger she had for Brendan and his freak friends. "I will be sure to call up all their parents, what they did to you, was unforgiveable, sweetie." The woman said, her voice softened a bit to console the poor thing. 

"But I do thank you, Toby, for reporting this. They'll get punishments you wouldn't imagine. I'm so sorry.. This having to happen to you on the first day back, Miss Ouellette." 

Natalie sat there, in front of the headmistress's desk, in silence. She had a blanket wrapped around her, for some sort of comfort. She blinked or at least she tried. Everytime she did, her eyes hurt. Perhaps from the crying, she couldn't tell anymore. This was already an awful day. Toby stared at her, his dark eyes filled with deep concern, with 'why didn't you tell me' written in them. He rubbed her back as he turned to the woman behind the desk.

"And you say they really cut Miss Natalie's hair off?" 

"Y-Yes. I saw it a-all over the damn f-floor, miss." Toby exclaimed, his voice stuttering a bit. "They are so d-damn guilty, Mrs R-Roberts and t-they need the b-biggest punishment you can stir up for t-them." He demanded. Natalie wanted to protest against his statement, but couldn't. She felt so guilty not doing anything, let alone, not saying anything to Toby. He would've been so hurt by now. Natalie was his childhood friend and he couldn't do anything to protect her. 

"Yes, I will make sure of that, Thank you, Mr Rogers." Mrs Roberts said, while straightening a set of papers in her hands. She cleared her throat and glanced at the teen, who now. was just sitting there awkwardly. 

"Honey, I think it's best if you can stay home for today. I mean, we should let your parents know about this..."

Natalie's head suddenly shot up, her bloodshot eyes widening. Toby immediately caught onto that and scanned her, once again. "What?" 

Mrs Roberts frowned a little. "Umm, we'll have to let your parents know about this. Mary Beth and David have to know, Natalie, they'll be much more help than we are." 

She shook her head, vigorously, drowning out the principal's voice. "Natalie, a-are you alright?" The pale teen asked. But she didn't reply. And continued to still shake her head 'no.' She did not want her parents knowing about this.  She could hear it now. Her overweight, drunk, ugly-hearted father screaming at her. And Mary freaking over her new hair. It was clear that this ride was going to crash. 

"But Natalie- We have to let your parents know-" 

"No!" 

Toby and Mrs Roberts cried out, when Natalie threw the weapon that ruined her hair, into the wall. Barely missing the lady's head. Without another word, Natalie grabbed her bag, threw off the blanket and rushed out of the office. Toby stood up and followed her, calling her name. "Natalie!" 

"Leave me alone, Toby!" She screamed, her voice echoing through the empty school hallways. She felt her heart ache again. Like before, she didn't know if it was because of her hair or she just told her childhood friend to leave her alone. She didn't know what mattered anymore. She would rather die than go to school, just to see Toby heartbroken. Just because of her not telling him. She felt her sore eyes well up with tears again. "This day just seems to get better and better.." Natalie muttered. The exit of the high school came into view and she rushed outside, into the rain. 

Wait, rain? 

Natalie came to a halt and stared up into the gray clouds. Funny, it seems like the weather  is not having a good day either.. She thought. But was interrupted, once again, when she heard Toby call out to her. "Natalie, w-wait!" 

She whirled around and began running again, her sneakers slamming onto the wet charcoal roads. The young Ouellette sped through the rain, drops getting into her eyes. The cold, winter air whipping her dark hair behind her back. She never imagined this would happen, but...it was. Wasn't this stuff only supposed to happen in movies? The question puzzled her, but the reality kept her focused. How long would she have to run though?

Eh, fuck it, I'm going home..

Toby bent over and panted. He breathed in the rainy air as he squinted into the cold storm. "Where is s-she going?" He asked himself. "Damn, N-Nat's out of her m-mind.."

It was a twenty minute drive to their neighbourhood, but running on foot, that would be something else.  But it seemed like Natalie wasn't gonna let logic get in her way.