Toxic: A Sociopath Novel

Chapter 12

I developed a heavy anxiety everytime I heard the smallest giggle fromsomeone in the waiting room, assumingthey were talking about me. I clutched myphone tightly and hid in the bathroom. I took a selfie in the mirror that showed Lyn'ssoggy hospital potatoes covering me.I posted the photo to my social mediaaccounts, with a caption talking about howignorant I thought Lyn was for this and howkarma was going to smack her like a freighttrain. I then proceeded to call my AuntMeghan, telling her about the wholesituation, leaving out the most importantdetails."She was eating mashed potatoes, Iwalked into the room, and she just pickedup a chunk of them and threw them at me!""She didn't give you an explanationor anything?" Aunt Meagan asked."Nada.""That doesn't sound like Lyn at all.Are you sure that's all that happened?" Isighed at my Aunt's comment because Ijumped to conclusions."Are you suggesting that I dumpedmashed potatoes on myself the framed Lyn to make her look like a snoot?" AuntMeghan gave off a more stern tone."No, I just think you're not telling thewhole story." I felt a rush in my heartknowing she was right, but I didn't give in.After trying to convince her that the story Igave was the truth, I left the bathroom. Iwasn't paying any attention to mysurroundings, and I bumped into a boy."Sorry," I paused when I looked athim. He was cute, like the kind of cute saidabout new born babies and puppy dogs. Hewas tall and fit. He looked nerdy withcrooked glasses that lay on his face and hishair was a messy wad of brunette on top hishead. He was smiling at me."I'm William," he said."I like your name." I was still staringat him. He chuckled."Thanks, I like your...mashedpotatoes?" He asked, puzzled. I stared awayfrom him for a moment before giggling inembarrassment. I hurried back into the bathroom. I must have been so caught up intalking to Aunt Meghan that I completelyforgot I was covered in food.I blushed at my reflection and thengrabbed some paper towels, dabbed themin soap, then lightly tapped on the spotsthroughout my outfit. I wet my hair nextand cringed at the tangles that had formed.After removing all the potatoes from myhair, I pulled it into a messy bun, and exitedthe restroom again.I tried not to look at him, but I feltWilliam's eyes on me as I walked aroundthe waiting room looking for a seat. I foundone next to a shaky old couple and watchedWilliam travel to the seat directly acrossfrom me."Are you from around here?" Heasked."Kind of, I'm from Lincoln." He gaveme a confused look and shrugged hisshoulders."I don't know where that is." "I thought everybody from Augustaknew where Lincoln was." I shrugged."I'm not from here. I live in Atlanta." Ifelt my face light up at the mention ofGeorgia's capital."Do you know Lyn Griffin?" He shookhis head. "How about her brother,Christopher Griffin?" I was once againanswered by the shake of his head. "Thenwhy are you here?" I asked, being nosey."I'm here for my aunt. She has Cancer,and for some reason her doctor is here inAugusta, so she basically lives here.""Yeah," I started. "I too had an auntthat suffered. She died though." Williamdidn't say anything to that; he just noddedhis head instead. He pulled out his phoneand smiled at it, and just when I thoughtthe conversation was over, he turned thescreen towards me, showing me a meme. Ilaughed despite it not being funny because Iwanted to show good character. After minutes upon minutes ofpretending to be entertained by pictures onWilliam's phone, he had to leave. We endedup exchanging numbers and stayed in touchthat way. He texted me the second he leftand we continued to communicatethroughout the night.At some point, I must've fallen asleep.I was awoken by a tap on my shoulder fromChristopher. It was daylight. Lyn and theirmom were standing in a corner waiting onme. Lyn was in her regular clothes with ahospital band still on. The purple bruise onher neck was still visible"What's going on?" I asked in asleepy voice."She's been discharged. We're goinghome.""She's stable enough to go homealready?" I think I sounded a little toodisappointed."As long as she's on suicide watch,she is able to come home. She has been removed from school for a little while."Christopher explained, offering his hand. Itook it then gathered my things, walkingbeside Christopher to his car. I occupied aseat in the back next to Lyn. She shoved herearbuds in and leaned her head against thewindow. I tried to keep from staring at her,but that bruise on her neck was hideous.She didn't talk the whole car ride,none of us did. The radio played at a lowvolume. I kept myself from boredom bymessaging William, and before I knew it, wewere sitting in the driveway ofChristopher's mom's house. Lyn climbedout of the car carefully, her mom followingclosely behind. Christopher waited for themto make it inside, as usual, before asking if Iwas joining him upfront. I was too lazy toactually get out, so I climbed over thecenter console, the front of my foot makingcontact with the back of his head."Fucking hell, LeighAnn!" He yelled inpain, holding the back of his head. "Suck it up, you big baby!"Christopher started to drive before I wasfully adjusted in my seat."Jesus Christ, Christopher!" I holleredat him. He started laughing."Karma's a bitch." He said. I finallygot situated and pulled out my phone."Who has you smiling at your phonelike that?""Nobody." Christopher knew I waslying and slammed his breaks, turning on hishazards in the middle of the road. Hesnatched my phone from me and skimmedthrough my messages with William. Iwatched his face get red with anger. Hethrew my phone back at me, beforeslamming his fists on the steering wheel."Christopher, calm down.""No, Cathlyn." I looked at him indisgust when he called me her name."Who," I screeched. "Are you still inlove with her?" "No, LeighAnn. I did that to mess withyou because this is how you'd act if I wastalking to her the way you're flirting withthis William boy.""Well good, maybe we shouldbreakup so you can pursue her.""Would you stop LeighAnn?""No, we're done." Christopher rolledhis eyes and left his car, entering theapartment. I stayed hurdled in the car,calling his mom in tears. She told me thatwe were both wrong and that we needed tostop being childish. I then went on to callmy grandma and tell her that she needed topick me up. She denied, and so I was left atthe apartment, with my ex.I decided to go inside, but I wentstraight into the bedroom, givingChristopher the silent treatment. I didn'thave to use much effort because he wasshowering when I got there. I still hid in thebedroom, locking the door behind me. When Christopher finished hisshower, he didn't even try to open thebedroom door. Instead, he opened thefront door, and I listened as his heavy bodyran down the concrete steps, then a fewseconds later, I heard the engine of hispathfinder roar.I didn't know where he was going,but at this particular moment, I did not care.