What if?
Chapter 1 – Pain
Lauren
I loved that top. That colour was so cheerful. Made me forget why I was hiding. Then Sam tried to follow me into the cubicle. I'd let my guard down for a few minutes and nearly blew my cover. I was caught up in the excitement. Truth was, I liked Josh. A lot. More than a friend. I should've told Sam earlier. After all, she's my best mate. But she is a blab mouth. I trust her but… This was my biggest secret. I hated this part of me. That stupid mark. Red, inflamed, ugly. As the curtain fell down around me, I froze. Not now. Please. I heard the silence. Then the comments. Then the laughter. Male laughter. I turned slowly. And then I saw him. Laughing along with Finn. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. I waited for the black. Waited to wake up. Waited for anything. But when nothing came, I knew that I wasn't dreaming. Then I moved. Sam came over.
I dug around the folds for my blouse… but I couldn't find it. When I did, I heard Josh. His voice seemed isolated, louder than the rest. I didn't register what he said. Miss Fry sent the boys away and as the rest of the school walked off, I felt their eyes burning holes into my back.
"Nobody saw it." Sam said, lying through her teeth.
"Don't lie!" I snapped back. She was hurt by my words, but I didn't care.
"I'm not lying!"
"Shut up and just leave me alone!" I ran. Past the group of boys who laughed at me. Josh was with them. Josh was laughing. I took shelter in the toilet and cried.
Josh
We all laughed at the fight. It was a pair of jeans for godness sake. The girls tumbled into the changing room and the curtain ripped. Lauren stood there. There was a huge red mark on her back and everyone was laughing. Finn nudged my shoulder and I forced a laugh. At the same time Lauren looked at me over her shoulder. She saw me laughing. Don't look at me like that. I'm sorry. The guys were making comments. "That is absolutly disgusting" I didn't care to tell them to shut up. I just saw the hurt in Lauren's eyes. I stepped forward to help but decided against it when the guys looked at me. "I thought you two were, like, going out" Finn's voice was critical. 'I WISH!' I screamed mentally. "As if" I said. Miss Fry noticed us standing by the door and sent us away. The guys carried on laughing and as Lauren bolted past us, I saw the tears streaming down her face. "Laur-…" I started… But she carried on running. We went outside and most of them had forgotten by the time we'd got into a game. But I didn't forget… I'd been cruel. I really liked her and I'd blown my chances. I was the worlds biggest idiot and I had to make it right!
