After Everything

Chapter Nine: First Game

Cassie was in a bad mood that Friday morning. She didn't have the strength to have a conversation with anyone. She hid behind the door of her locker, praying that no one would see her.

As she put her algebra textbook into her locker, she heard Giovanni's guffaw echo across the hallway. She closed her eyes, hoping he wouldn't approach her.

"Alivia!" He called out from a few lockers down from hers. She was thankful she wasn't the one being talked to. "You still haven't told Cassie."

Cassie froze at the mention of her name. Her anxiety started to rush through her body as her heart was rapidly thumping in her chest. She had no idea what Alivia was keeping from her - but the only thing she knew was that it wasn't good.

"No," Alivia said softly, trying to keep her voice down. "I will. I'm just trying to find the right time."

"Well, hurry up," Giovanni demanded. "I just want to see shit go down."

Cassie was shaking with fear when she watched them pass her locker and turn down the hallway. After overhearing their conversation, she felt conspired against. She feared for her life, not knowing what to expect from the news. She was having trouble calming her nerves as she put the last book in her locker.

It was safe to say she really didn't want to talk to anyone after hearing Alivia and Giovanni discuss of her. Her morning just became ten times worse. The only thing she wanted to do was snuggle up in bed and try to forget her worries.

She closed her locker, preparing to walk in the direction of the library for study hall.

"Good morning!" She heard the high-pitched voice come from her best friend, who was sporting her cheerleading uniform and a smile on her face. Cassie jumped out of her skin, not thinking she would be standing there. She tried to recover from the jump scare as Brittany started to talk. "I got you an iced coffee," she said, handing her the drink in her left hand. "Consider it a gift after your iced coffee incident."

Cassie smiled at Brittany's act of kindness. She was starting to feel a little bit better all because she was gifted an iced coffee - and it was from the best coffee place in town, Isla Coffee. "That's so nice," she said as she beamed down at the drink. "Thank you so much."

"Of course!" She exclaimed as the turquoise and white bow in her hair bounced with her every move. "I'll see you at lunch," she waved as she backed away. "Oh! And happy game day!"

Brittany walked down the hallway, making her way towards her biology classroom. She held her iced coffee in her right hand as she waved to those she knew who walked past her.

"Brittany!" Trevor called out, pointing towards her as he walked down the opposite side of the hallway. He was sporting his turquoise football jersey. "What day is it?"

She laughed. At least she shared the same energy as one Mendez that morning. "Game day!" She exclaimed, her eyes staying fixed on him as they continued to walk down different ends of the hallway.

Once turning around, she bumped into someone in front of her. Some of her coffee spilled out of the sippy cup lid, instantly giving her the fear that she would end up like Cassie and see her iced coffee covering the floor.

She felt terrible that some of her coffee spilled on the cardigan of the person in front of her, but when they turned around, her remorse quickly vanished. It was Lola.

"Watch where you're going!" Brittany shouted in a bitchy tone, wiping off the few droplets of iced coffee on her hand. "Did anyone tell you that it's rude to stand in the middle of the hallway?"

Lola smiled. "Did anyone tell you it's rude to act like a bitch?" She questioned, watching as Brittany's jaw dropped. She was disgusted that the new girl had even the slightest bit of audacity to voice that to her. "And for the record, I wasn't standing in the middle of the hallway. I was signing up for clubs."