|| 3 Months Ago ||
Ok. I thought for fourteenth time while wandering before the principal door. Grin wide, hold their hand and be the nicest person alive.
I mentally face-palmed myself once more for having joined the welcome committee. It seemed like such a great idea to get extra credit last year, but now... I was just terrified at the thought of having to interact with total strangers.
I cursed Brett again for putting me in that situation. If he hadn't messed everything up then I wouldn't had been forced to get that extra credit. It's been almost three months and I still felt my palms getting sweaty and my stomach twist whenever I thought of last day of junior year before summer...
I pressed my eyes close forcefully, struggling to keep my mind out of that nasty memories. Damn, Brett. It's because of him that I had to be the guide of Clayton High School for new students. I fought back an anxious grunt.
I was a shy girl. Actually, I was beyond shy. I get sick when I had to talk someone I didn't know. But it'd get me points to get a letter from the principal when I apply for USC.
USC, I reminded myself frantically. USC it's right on the corner. Just be nice and get your recommendations. One more year to go and you're out.
My biggest dream had ever been going to University of South California and study veterinarian science. I almost, almost, got an scholarship with the photography contest and also joined the summer course. That must had been a dream come true...
But he had to mess everything, as always. 'Cause that was what Brett Ryder always does. We used to be friend, best friends actually. But than he changed. Just like that. One day he decided he got enough of me and made his resolution in life to make my existence a living hell. This past few years he'd been always there, always bothering me. But three months ago he went way too far.
I tried to made my way to the homeroom but he obviously wasn't going to make things easy. He blocked my way and I started shaking, still avoiding those piercing blue eyes.
Why couldn't he just leave me alone? Especially today. Browsers will be there in less than an hour and I had to prepare everything before the contest.
"Please, Brett." I begged and hated my trembling voice."L-let me through."
He took a step closer and I immediately matched it backwards, with my heart pounding wildly on my chest.
"Aren't you gonna ask me for my summer plans?" He totally ignored my plead and I watched as his black boots made another step closer. I quickly backed. I could almost sense his smirk though I know he was getting angrier each second it passed. "Very bad behavior. What would your mother say about that?"
I gasped, baffled that he use her memory to hurt me. That was a low blow even for him. This time I did raise my head without thinking and met his cold eyes. They shone and he seemed pleased that we finally made eye contact.
Before I could react, he moved forward closing the distance between us and I felt my back being slammed against the lockers with a loud metallic crush. I whimpered from the sting on my spine.
The principal's office door squeak pull me out of my flashback and I struggled to focus on what I had in front of me. The sweet middle age secretary, Mrs Loopson smiled at me.
"Miss White?" I immediately stood up as she moved so I could pass. "You can enter now, darling. They'll be out soon."
"Thanks." I forced a smile and follow her short yet stuffed frame inside.
I felt my limbs weak from those awful memories and I took a sit on the waiting rooms previous from the offices. Mrs Loopson offered me a glass of water and I gladly took it but seemed like my mouth was way too dry. I didn't want to think about the end of last year. I been blocking it the last months, but apparently being here again brought it back from the back of my mind, whether I wanted or not.
I felt a hot breath on my face and when I could focus again he was right in front of me, with one hand each side of my head and only inches away. My stomach twisted in fear and I felt my knees weakening. I could never know what he was about to do, he was unpredictable. But one thing was sure: Brett always find a way to hurt me.
"So?" he asked with his rotten smirk and I felt sick at his stupid pet name for me. "Aren't you gonna ask me, Giggles?"
Ask him? I thought frantically, not knowing what his next move might be and expecting the worst. My lungs didn't seemed to work and neither did my brain. I just got lost in those deep blue eyes so full of evilness.
He frowned impatiently.
"Have you become deaf? Or are you just trying to provoked me?"
God, no!
"W-what p-plans do you h-have?" I stuttered breathlessly.
He grinned brightly and I got shivers.
"See? Wasn't that hard, was it?"
Stop. I was not going back there. Not now. Some students were about to meet me and expected me to show then the school, so I couldn't be this mess.
Mrs Loopson gave me a concerned grin. "You're okay, honey?"
"Yeah." I pretend to sound cheerful but I did quit a poor job. Instead I cleared my throat. "Just a bit nervous, that's all."
"Oh, darling. It's not that bad. You'll see. They are two, a boy and a girl. And they seemed lovely, I promise."
"I promise." he had said before he told me he won't forget about me. Not that I cared, though.
I just nodded, avoiding his gaze once more. I was twisting my camera on my hands, anxiously hoping he get satisfied with his little game and let me go to get my stuff ready. This was a big chance for me and he was just annoying me. How couldn't he see it? How could he be so selfish?
I felt like kicking myself and mentally rolled my eyes. It was Brett Ryder. He was selfish and egocentric. Asking him not to was like asking him to stop breathing.
But instead of getting bored with this whole thing he was putting me through he seemed to get frustrated and angry.
"Are you listening to me?" he snapped and I instantly stiffened, frozen. Had he said something I missed? What was it? Was he expecting me to answer to something?
Two fingers lifted my chin and our gazes met. I immediately shuddered and he sized my reaction. His piercing sky blue eyes became darker than ever and I bit my lip to prevent it from shaking. Why was he so mad now?
"Will you chill?" he spat, frustrated by my attitude. "We're just talking."
"I- I have to be somewhere else." I forced my voice and hoped I sound confident.
His look felt from my face to my hand hands clenched around my camera and something shone behind them. Oh, no. I barely had time to processed it before he smirked at me and took it from me. I panicked as my hands felt the emptiness between them.
"Something to do about this, right? Mind if a take a closer look?"
I rubbed my face with my hands. Memories were swallowing me and the fact that nobody was yet coming out for me wasn't giving me any kind of distraction. I couldn't stop them.
"Wait." I'd tried to reach for it but he just held it higher. Since he's almost one foot taller than me I had no chance. "G-give it back. You'll break it."
"You'll break it." he mocked me and my eyes became watery in humiliation. Why did he had to be so mean?
"Brett, please."
He laughed. He actually found it funny. That bastard.
"Come on, it won't break." but then he rose one eyebrow playfully. "Or will it?"
He tilted a bit his palm and my camera almost fell. An audible gasp escaped my lips and my heart literally stopped, my head buzzing, dazed. And he just grinned crockedly, satified with my reaction. This couldn't be happening. No camera means no college, not getting away from here. And I needed to get away from this hell of a town. I swallowed my pride, like always when I'm dealing with Brett.
"Please, please give it back. It's important for me and-."I gulped, unsure if reveling that was a clever move, he might use it to hurt me even more. Tears burned behind my eyes, from anger and helplessness. "Please" I repeated. "I- I'll do anything."
That made his eyes sparkled and something was telling me that a deal with the devil wasn't a good choice. It's my only choice, I bitterly thought and bit my lower lip forcefully.
I won't cry.
"Anything?"
"Anything." I slowly nodded, not liking his malicious smirk.
"Ok, then." his expression turned into a smug one. "Admit that you'll miss me."
That sucked the air out of my lungs."W-what?"
His grin was making me sick and I felt some eyes on us but nobody was doing anything. They'd never done anything to stop Brett. My cheeks burned.
"You've heard me well, Giggles. And we both know it's true." I think I'm gonna throw up. "But you know what? Don't worry, I'll wait for you to realize it. Just one tiny problem: I kinda get tired, you know? And then..." he pretended to lose the grip on my camera and it almost missed his hold.
"No!" I shouted and tried again to grasp it but was useless. He held it beyond my reach.
A traitorous tear ran down my cheek and Brett followed it with his gaze. His jaw clenched and and his brow slightly pursed. The back of my mind wondered if he felt guilty. What was I saying? Could he even feel anything at all? I truthfully doubted it. Whatever it was, it didn't stop him and my hatred grew more than ever.
I shut my eyes closed. This was beyond humiliating and I could stand the sight of him right now. Especially when I said the next words:
"You're r-right. I-I... I'll miss you." I loathed my-self for letting Brett win but I couldn't help it. More warm tears followed the first one.
"Really?"
"Badly".
I heard him sigh and when I opened my eyes again he was frowning to the ground, flipping his free hand through his hair. I couldn't read his expression, not that I wanted to. He seemed to be de in thought.
"Can-" my voice sounded husky and I coughed. "Can you please...?
I had my gaze locked on my camera, desperate to have it back. He looked at me and then the camera as well and sighed again. My heart started to pound hard when his arm began to lower but then the unthinkable happened.
The hallway still full of moving students and someone wasn't careful enough and smacked Brett's shoulders as he passed. His eyes widened as he stumbled forward, anticipating the tragedy but the damaged was already done. I watched in slow motion how my camera slipped through Brett's fingers and fall straight to the ground.
"NO!" but my scream couldn't stop the fall.
A painful 'crack' seemed to echo on the walls and I felt my heart squeezing. My knees failed me and I fell on them, still only focused on my camera and the nasty fissure crossing its screen. The case had been ripped of the rest and tore apart.
My precious camera...
I wasn't even aware that I started sobbing in the middle of the hallway and that now everyone was looking this way. I simply didn't care. I could only think of how much it cost, how I couldn't afford another anytime soon, and how this just ended any possibility of getting my scholarship. How was I supposed to impress the browsers without my camera and my project?
I saw it all quickly fade away. All my plans, all my hopes....
Everything.
I picked up the pieces with shaking hands, and pitiably tried to put them back together. This couldn't be happening. Blinded by my watered eyes I didn't realize I was making embarrassing crying noises I couldn't prevent.
It was broken.
Brett Ryder broke it.
Just like that.
He still hadn't move, watching me from above. I knew that he must had an evil smirk on his damn face and I didn't wanna face it right now. I just wanted to erase the last couple of minutes.
"Lys, I-" his voice filled the quiet hallway. He almost sounded... guilty. But it couldn't be. Must be some trick of my dazed mind. He loved to hurt me, and that was a great goal for him. "It wasn't supposed to-"
But I didn't wanna heard it. Lies, lies, always freaking lies! Not only he tormented me daily but now he also shattered my whole future. He'd already done enough. So I jumped on my feet and stormed away from there. Thanks God, the students opened me a way out of there like the Red Sea, so I didn't had to push anyone.
"Alyson!"
But I just ran faster.
Away from this hellhole.
Away from that awful course's end.
Away from him.
The door pushed wide open and joyful voices filled the quiet room. My head snapped towards the sounds and glimpsed the principal Jones with the two student Mrs Loopson had told me. I quickly recovered myself so they didn't see how weak I actually felt inside.
It'd been almost three months, I should get over it. Not forget, but not get this emotional anymore. I stood up as the principal pointed my way indicating me to approach them.
Ok. I thought for fifteenth while making my way to them. Grin wide, hold their hand and be the nicest person alive.
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