The Goal

𝟸𝟹| 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚢

Serendipity (noun)

- an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

~*~

The bathroom door sealed with a loud blow and I didn't even recoil, too busy attempting to stop myself from having a panic attack. I could feel rapid perspiration accumulating on my forehead and my breaths were coming in crisp pants, barely enabling me to get a gulp of oxygen in. 


After what just happened in the gym, the "fight or flight" kicked in. Being the coward that I was, I preferred flight. My legs felt paralysed as I shot up from the bleachers and accelerated through the gym doors, making my way to the girls' bathroom. 


It felt like every single student was gawking at me, assessing me. I was used to it because attending Lakeside's central perk was being judged on a periodic basis. But this time felt unusual. It felt different because they were judging something I was already self-conscious about. 


My fingers quivered as I opened the tap, bending over to splatter cool water to my inflamed face. I felt like I was going to die even though I knew I wasn't in any real jeopardy. Closing the tap, I stood up, looking at my appearance. 


I lifted a hand to my face, feeling how heated it was even after I splashed cold water onto it. Seizing a paper towel, I cleaned furiously. My skin turned blistering red with the force I was using to dry it, almost as if I was striving to scour the utter mortification away.


There was no way I could face everyone again. How would they take me seriously if they thought I was an idiot? Jillian got it all wrong. I cringed, reliving what had happened not even five minutes ago. 


Jillian had stood in the centre of the gym and began admonishing everyone about the rules of staying in your clique. At the time, I was thoroughly amused, wondering how many times she was going to preach the same thing over and over again. Couldn't she see how much more carefree everyone was without the clique rule?


She ranted on and on about how she was trying to be a good leader and I scoffed when hearing it. I couldn't wait for the meeting to be over. But then suddenly, she caught my eye. And her inky gaze shadowed with amusement. She singled me out and used me as an example in front of everyone, declaring that I was ill-equipped to lead the school. 


I wanted so badly to storm up to her and strike her in the face. Could she be any more delusional? The goal wasn't to become a leader. It was to allow everyone to feel comfortable enough to be themselves without having to live up to a stereotype, without being confined. 


But I was unhappy to say that Jillian triumphed this time. I could feel both Maya and Bella place their hands on my shoulder as I gazed ahead at the smirk Jillian carried. From the corner of my eye, I could see Nolan and my brothers sending concerned glances my way. Liam stood up and looked about ready to step on Mattia's face. But I couldn't handle it. I couldn't handle everyone staring at me.