Despite All Obstacles Part V

Mad World

WARNING: MENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND SELF-HARM

BARBARA'S STORY (1ST PERSON)

This morning.

Today's Day B.

Music is intense. Patt and bro only speak to Shortcake, pretending they never met me. I'm too scared to speak to them just in case they ignore me. Shortcake reassures me that she still has my back. The boys let Shortcake still talk to me. They don't interrupt our conversations or insult me, like I'd expected. It took me strength to come to music on time, knowing they'll be here.

"Did you get my message on Facebook?" Shortcake asks me. I nod.

"Yeah, I did. But I had to do homework and study, then get ready for today. I'll get to it after school. I promise," I tell her and see the boys trying their best to not notice me. It hurts that I sadly sigh, causing Shortcake to hold my hand.

I continue sitting with Chastity, instead of my crew. The table I used to sit at is now the band table, and I'm not in the band. This's my table for now on.

This afternoon.

Between lunches, I told Chastity that I'll catch up with her later. I rush to Shortcake, and while I do, I see all of them three brushing Matthew off. They walk pass him like he doesn't even exist, and their band members are along with them.

I squint my eyes at him, blaming him for this. He pretends that I don't exist and almost ran me over. I really wanna hurt him for not excusing himself. Who fault was this, Matthew? Yours.

I fight through the crowd, knowing all five of those cheerleaders have the same lunch time as that jerk. I search for Shortcake before going back to advisory. She's not on the second floor, so she may be on the third floor. I continue walking through the crowd. I see her standing with the boys, in front of a door. This may be where her advisory is.

"Shortcake!" I shout to get her attention, and I do. I also got the boys' attention. Because the boys aren't talking to me, I decide to gesture to her to come here instead of going to her. She says bye to the boys and they both hug her and mess with her hair before walking away. She walks to me. This is gonna be quick.

We walk into the girls' room. I'm a little traumatized of public restrooms, now. I wanna lock the door so bad. I needa tell Shortcake something urgent.

"Hey, Gracie. 'Sup?" Awwww. She still calls me Gracie! Yes!

I would want to tell her what happened to me in the girls' room on my floor, but it's too traumatizing, and scary enough I don't have any proof, so I tell her what I know about Goldilocks, instead.

"I know why Goldilocks's so cruel to everybody." She's surprised to hear this.

"Why is she?" She wants to know, a bit curious.

"She gets abused at home, by her poppa. And her momma committed suicide when Goldilocks was only three, pregnant with her baby brother, who could've lived. I think the constant abuse was what caused her momma to end her life, leaving Goldilocks to suffer her poppa alone, as his new partner, instead of his own daughter."

Shortcake covers her mouth from this story, horrified. She uncovers it to say, "Wow. No wonder she's so vicious. She deals with stuff like this at home and takes it out on us. She needs help."