BESIDE YOU

Chapter 10

DEMI

I enter the library and I am quite relieved to find that there are only a few people around. The place is quite large.

I am about to sit on one of the chairs when the librarian gestures to a board. It says "Shoes to be left outside". I nod at her and quickly go out to remove my shoes. After placing them on a rack I come inside. I grab a book from one of the racks without so much as reading the title.

I settle on one of the seats near the window and start reading the words without paying much attention to it. I mechanically read and turn the pages.

I hear my phone ping repeatedly so I take it out of the bag. There are almost a hundred notifications. I see messages from many of my friends. I open one of them

"Hey! Where are you? Check twitter!!", it reads.

I open Twitter to be bombarded with notifications. I have been tagged in hundreds of tweets.

Just take a look at Georgina Claire's locker! Who did this? @Demiclaire something is wrong!

#whoisgeorginaclaire #georginawasaslut? #SONOTAHERO

A dead girl never lies but looks like she used up all the lies when she lived! @Demiclaire are you shocked to see that she's exposed now!

#georginaexposed #vandalismisgood #SONOTAHERO

I shut my phone in shock. It is too much to take. I don't know what happened to her locker but I am disgusted by the fact that half the people are justifying the people who did it.

Unable to control my rage, I throw the phone inside the bag. I clench and unclench my fist a few times in an attempt to control my feelings.

I try to focus my attention on reading the book but I'm unable to do so. My mind is going haywire, my thoughts are running loose.

What on the earth happened to her locker?

What are people talking about?

How do I find out?

My head feels like it is going to explode with unanswered questions. I take a deep breath and tell myself that I am going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay.

I clutch my pills for reassurance. At least they will make me calm and happy when everything else is messed up. I must have loosened my hold on them because the placket slips and falls.

I curse myself for drawing attention. I am about to lean down to pick the packet when someone slides it into my table.

"These are yours I guess", I hear a boy's voice.

" Yup. They are", I turn to see his face.

I see a tall guy staring at me. He looks good. Well, he looks really good. He is smiling pleasantly at me.

Well, a complete stranger is smiling at me. Must be a creep, I decide.

"Those pills are strong", he says.

That confirms my suspicion about him.

So he is an annoying know- it- all and a creep, I think.

"I know. I'm not dumb", I say.

He seems a little taken aback. But he bounces back almost immediately.

"Lemme guess. You have problems"

I stop myself from laughing out loud with some effort. He is asking the person with an extremely problematic life if she has problems!

"Ha! Congratulations you have made the understatement of the year. You may collect your trophy later, from someone whose not as fucked up like me", my voice is dripping with sarcasm.

"Look there is nothing in this world that can't be solved", he says.

He sounds very understanding and he looks like a proud kid who has won the lottery.

Just wait till I drop the bomb, I think.

I stare at him hard.

"Really? My sister is dead. Now solve that"

I did it. I just dropped the bomb. Now let's see the reaction, I think.

He looks stunned. His eyes are wide and his mouth opens a little. I can feel his stare as I start to walk away.

I make my way out of the library. I am about to slip on my shoes when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I just turn and slap hard without thinking.

"Owww! What was that for? ", it was the same boy from inside.

" Oh my god! I'm sorry. It was just a reflex", I say feeling very guilty.

"I just touched your arm for God's sake", he looks at me like I'm insane.

I have my reasons for being insane, I think.

" I already apologized"

"Yeah sure"

"Why did you come here? ", I say in an attempt to change the topic.

"Oh yeah. I know your sister"

It's my turn to be stunned.

"As in you go to the same school?"

"Yes and we were friends"

"I never saw you at the funeral", my voice is blunt.

I see pain flash through his face.

" I never came. It was just too much.. ", his voice trails off.

I can feel emotion building in my eyes.

" Sure. Nice to meet you",

I want to escape from this person before he opens all the wounds. An awkward silence fills the air.

"I'd better be going. Bye", I say.

" Wait. I wanted to talk to you about something that happened at school today"

"Yeah. What happened? I didn't know whom to ask"

"Some people wrote hurtful things about your sister on her locker"

"Oh my god! Why would someone do that? ", I can feel the rage in my voice.

" I know. I just thought you ought to know it"

"Thank you", I say.

"I'm sorry for whatever happened" he sounds very genuine

"It is not your fault"

He nods.

"You never told me your name"

"Oh! I am Demi"

"Haydon"

We share our numbers just in case something happens. Just before I am about to leave he says.

"What's the deal with the pills"?

" Can't take real drugs so I might as well be happy with these drugs", I say.

"Stop talking in riddles", he shakes his head.

"Remember that I barely know you", I say.

As I walk back to my car I hear his voice.

"Your life's messy", he shouts from a distance.

I feel like I got punched in my stomach. It didn't feel nice to hear other people say that. The truth always hurts.

"I know", I shout back

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