A Mask in A Mirror

Chapter 9: Blind Build-Up

What was the point of it all? Why was I wasting so much time arguing with one girl? How was I responsible for helping Hatchet when he refused to allow it? Questions rolled through my mind all that day. Images of Ann tormented me into the night and I awoke to Hatchet's words in my head. I had plenty of people who I could rely on, several that I could call friends.

Perhaps it was the way that things had settled with my old group, how we had all blown apart like a stick fort. Whatever the case, I had developed some serious trust issues. Unable to connect with people on a deeper level, I kept all of my friendships at an arm's length. I didn't break my mostly superficial relationships with Courtney, Colton, or Bill. My deficiency prevented me from sharing feelings and concerns with others, forcing me to shoulder the burden alone.

The week after my confrontation with Ann I was sitting in English class and she was still confined to the seat behind mine despite our divergence. The bell brought the lecture to a merciful end and we gathered our things to leave. I took my time rearranging my book bag as Ann crammed her binder back into her backpack. The stark contrast in speed was intentional. We didn't want to wind up walking out at the same time. Ann plowed through the door into the hallway a solid minute before I meandered out of the classroom. A short distance down the hall I could see Ann with her back against a locker. Standing in front of her with his arms crossed, was Dave.

He didn't look happy with his ginger eyebrows pulled towards the brim of his wide nose. I sighed knowing that regardless of my qualms about Ann, I was going to have to walk past the apparent confrontation in order to get to my next class on time. I made a mental note to be the first to leave the class tomorrow.

"What the fuck?!" Dave really was mad. "You can't say no to me! Hell, you've been with every guy in this school, you don't get a say anymore." His wide eyed exclamations made his insane proclamation sound even crazier than the logic behind it.

Ann didn't like Dave to begin with, and given the current situation, I didn't expect her to be able to contain herself much longer. I was curious to see how she would manage to hide her IQ and still defend herself effectively.

"I've only been with most of the guys in this school Dave, not all." She spoke slowly, playing on the cliché of a dumb girl talking as if she were explaining a simple subject to an even simpler person. I turned a laugh into a cough. Ann's eyes broke from Dave for a moment as they flashed towards me. The corner of her mouth twitched as she repressed a smile.

Dave was far too committed to securing his date too notice our exchange. The disruption was starting to attract the attention of surrounding students. "No you stupid," I took a step forward, "blonde," Dave was about to cross the line.

Before he managed to squeeze out the end of his insult, a bouncing ball of hair appeared behind the crowed calling his name. Dave spun around to find the source of the interruption, bringing him nose to nose with me. He put two burly hands on my chest and shoved. I had to offset my feet a bit, planting my right foot behind me for stability, but otherwise I didn't budge. I wasn't the same freshman that had been thrown around the last time I had tried to rescue Ann. The hallway had fell silent, a warning sign that was sure to draw school administration.

"Dave! Hey Dave! Back here Dave!" Hatchet broke the silence with more summons. Dave ignored him as our stare down drug on. Hatchet pushed his way through the growing circle of bodies and forced himself between the two of us. "Calm down you two! No point in fighting over a girl who hates you Dave; and isn't overly fond of you either I'd wager there Clay." He reasoned with us.

I could see the tall lanky form of our principle, Dr. Link, turn the corner. It served as motivation to allow Hatchet to split up our dispute. I sparred one last glance over Dave's shoulder before leaving. Ann's cheeks were flushed red, seeing her so disrupted raised some primal instinct in my gut. I wanted to defend her, take out the bully and win her back, but Hatchet was right. She wasn't going to be taken with me anymore. As I turned to walk away, the crowd split, giving me plenty of space to pass. Behind me Dave was left to push his way through the bystanders.