Stranded

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Four

Aubrey's POV

"I go back to school next week." I say staring down at my ice cream cone.

We are sitting in the bed of Dean's truck a week eating the Dairy Queen we had just gotten and took back to his campsite.

"Wonderful?" He says unsure looking up at me.

"I don't know. If it was up to me I would never go back."

"You have to go though. You deserve an education plus you need to appease your parents remember?" Dean takes my hand.

"I know. It's just everything is going to be so different."

"I'm sorry." He says and kisses the back of my hand. "You got this babe."

I hope so.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Have a good day honey!" my mother says as she rolls up the window and drives away.

It's 8 in the morning and there are a million places I would rather be than here. I feel the stares before I even turn around. As I quickly make my way to the doors to enter the building, every head is turned toward me while they whisper as if I don't notice them. I keep my head up and enter the building. Dean had told me to act like myself and to not let them get to me but its harder than it seems.

"Hey Aubrey! I can't believe you're alive! Are you okay?"

I've never talked to this girl in my entire life yet her she is trying to pry into my life. Everyone is still staring, especially as I run into the nearest bathroom.

Two girls at the sinks gawk at me as I go into the nearest stall and lock the door.

As much as I try to hold it in, I start to quietly cry with my face in my palms. I don't want to be here and be the object of everyone's attention as they pity me and make up things they think I may have gone through. Before I realize it, I have my cellphone out and calling the only person who cares.

"Aubrey?"

"Dean..." I cry into the phone. I'm really hoping those girls have already left the bathroom.

"What's wrong? Aren't you supposed to be at school?" He asks.

"I am. I don't know if I can do this. It's all too much."

"Hey hey, calm down. Take deep breaths, what's wrong?" He repeats his question from before.

"I'm the freak. Dean, everyone is staring at me like I've grown an extra head and random people are coming up to me and they are talking about me and I just-" I start sobbing again.

"I'm so sorry Aubrey."

"I just wish you were here." I sigh and wipe my cheeks.

"I'm always just a phone call away. You know I would be there if I could." Dean is quiet for a minute.

"You still there?"

"Yeah," he starts. "I want you to know that I believe in you. You're such a strong woman and I know that you can do this. Graduation isn't that far away and I got a job to start saving. We can get through this together. I promise."

"Thank you Dean. I love you."

"I love you too but I have to go in for my shift. Being late on the first day may not look to good." Dean laughs and it makes me smile.

After we get off the phone, I feel like I have a new wave of confidence wash over me. I exit the stall and see that those girls are indeed gone. Taking a paper towel I wipe off my running mascara and with one last look in the mirror, I push open the bathroom door. The halls are still flowing with people and of course they are still taking in my appearance.