The day goes by pretty slowly. Josh and I goofed off in our first class together and after that I was left on campus alone since he has a special schedule that allows him to go work. He works at the dollar store down the street. Fortunately for me, I get to stay at school until 3, perks of being under eighteen. Only a few more months, Capricorn season coming soon.
I really didn't want to go to the school bathrooms considering the cheerleading squad usually ditches and vapes in one. But when nature calls, and when it's a whole river , there's no option. I race through across campus, hoping I don't see Alice but my luck has never been kind.
There she is with Maddy, next years head cheerleader. They both are standing side by side, facing the mirrors and right in the center of the room.
"Well well, the girl who likes to play victim." Maddy says taking a break from powdering her face to stare me down.
"That shit yesterday ruined my face , you're such a bitch!" Alice says to me. She turns around and starts walking to me.
"Two against one? Now that's such a bitch move." I mock her voice.
"You mean three?" The bathroom door stall right behind me opens up. I see Stephanies reaction in the mirror. She's another cheerleader but she also happened to do softball for the past three years. Also a senior and I'm guessing my new replacement.
Stephanie puts her hands on my shoulder while Alice is two feet away and Maddy finally put down her makeup and came over to me. They circle me and I'm about to get hurt. I just wanted to change my fucking tampon and I am clotting. Stephanies hands trace down and hold my writer back while Maddy grabs my school bag and snatches my phone. She holds it up to my face to unlock it and from there she goes through my texts and searches Alan's name. She hands it to Alice and Alice scrolls through.
"Nice tits." She shows me. An old photo that was for his eyes only.
I spit in her face. She slaps me.
"They are so nice, I think the whole school deserves to see them!" She exclaims.
"No!" I beg. "Please."
"Finders keepers, losers weepers!" She smiles so evilly and I see her post them on my Facebook which she then somehow manages to lock me out of my phone for a whole four hours.
"When did you become such a stone cold whore!" I shout. I feel the back of my throat burn and my eyes getting watery. "So much for best friends forever!"
"Cross out Ari and Ali!" She says tilting her head. She then hands the phone back to Maddy who puts it back in my bag.
They pull their hair up and start swinging. Stomach and face. Every swing hurts more than the last and I feel so numb. They switch turns. Eventually Stephanie can't grip me anymore and I fall on to the floor. They start kicking me. All of Stephanie's kicks hurt the worst, they were all through out my back.
"Let's go." Stephanie says once she's kicked me about fifteen times.
Maddy grabs all the makeup and slides into a small pouch and into her backpack.
"Don't forget what goes around comes around." Alice says as she crouched down to me. She spits in my face before she leaves. Her squad follows.
I can't stand. I feel so week both physically and mentally and I'm reminded of the bullying from my old school. At least in South, I was never hurt like this. Taunted? Yes. Humiliated? Sure. But beaten and defeated? Never. Not even by my own mother. I start to sob and I can feel my blood boiling and my heart tearing.
Flashback:
It was almost the end of lunch time. Katie asked me to meet her in the abandoned bathrooms across the back of the library. I thought it was super suspicious at first but then it turned to worry. I knew how her mom was and I worried she might've hurt her or said something to her that could've hurt her. We were best friends and we bonded over the abusive moms we had and the pain we shared.
I rush to the bathroom basically running across campus and I don't see anything or anyone.
"Katie?" I look around with my phone flashlight.
There's nothing here and the only sound is water dripping slowly. Drop by drop.
"Ariel," Mandys voice says from behind me. "What are you doing here?"
"Katie sent me. I don't know why. I think I'll just go." I turn to leave.
"Yeah that's probably best."
"Babe who are you talking to?" A guys voice too familiar says.
"Is that…"
I see his face so clearly. It's Alan. He's bucking his belt on. She gulps.
Katie comes out behind him with her hair all over the place.
"Katie.." I say in disbelief, shocked. I feel the back of my throat swelling up and my eyes getting irritated and teary. "You wouldn't…"
"She did." Alan laughs. "You could've too." I'm so disgusted. So hurt. He just told me he loved me for the first time three days ago. How could he?
"You said you loved me.."
"You said you'd fuck me?" He sounds confused. It clicks. "Oh shit I did." He laughs. "Oops. Sorry kiddo you know I can't date anyone." He puts his arms around Katie and Mandy.
"Why would you call me over here Katie?" I'm starting to cry.
"Are you actually crying?" She sounds annoyed. "God get a grip and go find someone who actually wants you! It's what the rest of us do." She laughs at me.
"A whole album of your pics could never actually satisfy anybody!"
"Oh no she's crying, that's so sad." Mandy laughs. Alan joins in on the laughter. He whips out his phone and shows me the picture he sent out of us.
"That was private! I never consented for you to show anyone else!" I try reaching for the phone but Katie shoved me down.
"Nobody likes you. God it's so annoying to try and pick up the depressed girl all the time. Either do us all a favor and go to therapy or get the balls to take yourself out."
"When did you become such a stone cold bitch?" I spit on her as she holds my wrists.
"Probably when I sucked your 'boyfriend who will never be yours' off for the first time." She smiles wickedly. "It happened back in October." It was already February.