I'm Sorry (Not Really)

Chapter Eighteen

Dreams of the past,
Never changing,
Until the past meets the present,
And time catches up
~A. F.

          The next morning was just the same as any other morning, minus Taylor's smart remarks every five minutes. The maids had gone back to normal and mom had stopped wailing. By the time I woke up, dad was already gone for the day. Which would most likely turn into him being gone for a week or so. Just as I had expected, the whole debacle last night was just for face, no one really cared Taylor had left except for the fact it may tarnish their reputation. As it was in my family, nothing mattered unless it affected the way you look in other people's eyes.

          I had fallen asleep on top of my covers and still in my day clothes, Taylor's painting resting at the foot of my bed and my phone next to my pillow and woke up in the same position with close to a thousand texts from Vanessa. After checking the time, I realized why.

          "Shit!" I jumped out of bed, cursing the entire time and threw an outfit on. I was three hours late for school. How come the maids didn't wake me? How come my mother didn't wake me? I didn't even bother to fix my hair before I grabbed my keys and dashed outside to my car.

       When I got to school I had to check into the office and told them that I had an eye doctor appointment that my mom forgot to call in, the suckers believed it too. I was lucky that when I arrived we were in between classes, as soon as I walked into the hallway Vanessa saw me and rushed over.

       "Where were you?! You had me worried sick!" She fussed with my shirt, readjusting it and glared at me.

     "Sorry, I slept in and no one woke me up," I kissed her head and she pushed me away.

       Crossing her arms she looked over her nose at me defiantly, "Well while you were sleeping we got a new student." I raised an eyebrow and started walking to my locker, waiting for her to continue as she followed me. "Her name is Gianna, she has been homeschooled for quite a while now due to an incident. Now, her face is... scarred and I've been put in charge to make sure she gets well adjusted. So she'll be hanging around with us often."

       I almost dropped my books in surprise, knowing exactly who the new girl is. Gianna Carter, the girl who I stabbed and scarred. Like my parents said, I hope she doesn't recognize me. It's only been four years so she might, but even if she did I'm sure my parents paid her enough to keep her mouth shut and smile. That's how it is in my family, you make a mistake you cover it up with bribes and blackmail.

       Vanessa had been talking and I hadn't even heard it. "Oh look! Here she comes!" Vanessa proclaimed before calling out, "Gianna! Over here!" Gathering my books, I took my time to turn around. When I did I saw a girl with bleach blond hair braided into a bun, her blue-grey eyes crinkled from how she smiled and her books pressed against her chest protectively. Her face was indeed scarred, and scarred quite terribly too, the different sized gashes and puncture scars creating different puzzle-like pieces out of her face. Even with the scars, she was still quite pretty.

       "Hello Vanessa," her voice was soft and timid, though she spoke with a gentle smile.

       Vanessa practically beamed, "Hey Gia, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Thomas."

       Gianna looked at me and waved before tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "Hello." She showed no signs of recognizing me or knowing who I was.

       "It's nice to meet you Gianna." I smiled politely, "How's your first day been so far?"

       She glanced around slightly and twisted her hands together behind her back, "Oh, it's been lovely. I haven't met this many nice people in a long time." Our conversation continued like that until the next class, polite question after polite question while Vanessa sat off to the sidelines watching us.

       When lunch time came around, Gianna was once again with us. Vanessa and her seem to have hit it off quite well since they talked almost the entire time up until Vanessa excused herself to use the bathroom. As soon as Vanessa left the smile dropped off of Gianna's face.

       "What's wrong-" She cut me off.

       "You motherfucker. You thought I wouldn't know who you were? You really thought I wouldn't recognize you?!" She spoke quietly but with venom lacing every word, her fists balled up.

     "I have no idea what you're talking about-" She cut me off again, really how rude.

      "Your face has haunted my nightmares everyday for almost five years! Do not play dumb with me." She sneered.

       I sighed and shrugged, "It was worth a shot. So, what do you want?"

          Her jaw clenched and she narrowed her eyes, "What. Do. I. Want?! I want my face back the way it was! I want my life back! I want you to suffer just like I did you- you insignificant son of a bitch!" Her face flushed and with each word she leaned closer and closer, until she was only inches from my face.

          I chuckled slightly, "Okay there petty princess, I would have said pretty, but we both know you aren't that. First of all, you're the nobody here. Second of all, you insulted me first, I was just returning the favor." I leaned closer to her so our noses were almost touching. "Don't start a fight if you can't finish it." Her face drained of color and I leaned back, smirking as I popped a Skittle in my mouth.

          She pushed the hair loose from her bun back, almost frantically and looked towards the bathrooms to see if Vanessa was coming back yet.

          "Oh, and don't mention this little interaction to Vanessa. We wouldn't want you sent to an asylum for insanity, would we?" Her eyes widened and she shook her head mutely. I couldn't help but chuckle at her sudden fear.