Enemy Basis | COMPLETE

8| perspective

Over the weekend, I mostly stayed in bed, lost in thought. My mind was consumed by my stalker and the recent altercation, but also flitted through other things, other concerns. It seemed like nothing in my life was going right at the moment. Wrapped in soft silk sheets, comfortable tracksuit bottoms, and an oversized hoodie, I mused about how I'd ended up in my current situation.

Despite having a few friends, I was surrounded by a sea of animosity. I'd foolishly believed the stalker was an exception, an ally in my corner but like everyone else, he turned on me. Logically, I knew I shouldn't let it affect me, but I couldn't help it; it still hurt. This stranger, someone I'd never even spoken to, had added his name to the growing list of adversaries and it felt like the world was conspiring against me, a thought that pulled my lips into a frown.

After mellowing and thinking all Saturday, I hopped out of bed on Sunday. If I was anything, I was not a person who sat there feeling sorry for myself. Yes, my mother and my father hated me as did the whole population of East Bridge and now so did my stalker but I had to remain positive.

I had good people, really good people in my corner and the important thing to remember was that they knew me for me and truly loved me. With them by my side, why should I care about the rest of the world hating me? It meant nothing and I would handle it like I did with everything else.

But thinking about my friends, my skin turned hot in shame.

They were the only people in the world that I loved and I still kept secrets from them. Would they still stick by me once they found out I've been hiding parts of myself?

Knowing this was not a good train of thought, I forced the negativity from my mind, changed into exercise gear and took off into the home gym that my mother had installed, ready to force out the rest of the unwanted emotion within me until I felt peacefully drained and empty.

• • •

Monday morning dawned bright and sunny, coming around quicker than expected. I wanted nothing more than to walk to school, but caution held me back. Until I knew for sure that the stalker wasn't out to get me, I had to start being more careful.

I arrived at school, my only desire to slip unnoticed through the day. As the lessons wore on, the urgency to use the restroom became unbearable, forcing me to dash to the bathroom between classes.

When I looked into the mirror, exhausted, dimmed green eyes stared back at me. So much was going on in my life and my mind was constantly racing, replaying nightmares and anxieties, leaving me drained and weary. A longing for a simpler, freer and more peaceful life away from the chaos of Richview, consumed me, as it often did.

My reverie was shattered by the sound of the bathroom door opening, forcing me to stop the useless daydreaming and watch the familiar girl walk to the sinks to the right of me, bringing in with her something cold. She stared at her reflection, just as I had done, her hands elegant and steady as she applied a lip liner to her lips, spreading the ruby red like war paint. I just watched her; her energy was different to what I expected but still very potent. It made me weary.

"I didn't know you were so good at dance," she remarked, her words casual but voice tinged with a strange intensity as she continued to stare at herself in the mirror.

And for once, I was speechless. I didn't know where she was going with this or why the atmosphere felt so tense all of a sudden.

"But then again, we don't really know much about you Finchley lot," she continued, her voice clear and crisp. "Just that we're supposed to stay clear of you."