"Say goodbye to yesterday,
Those are words I'll never say.
Don't hold on to the past,
Well that's too much to ask."
-- Madonna
First Part : Light Misting
Section 1
In every school, there is at least one person like Cassidy O'Branigan. You know the type; quiet, shy, always made fun of for their clothes or behavior. Sometimes they come from foster homes and sometimes they live in one of those fancy houses on the "posh" side of town. Usually, their entire life has been one mockery after another. These are the types of people who grow up to become school counselors or who discover the gene that makes school shooters suddenly snap...
Degrassi Community High School
Monday, October 3rd
"Can you believe this?" Paige Michalchuk exclaimed to Hazel Aden. The two high school juniors had been eating lunch peacefully in the cafeteria until Paige had spilled ketchup on her brand-new white shirt.
"At least it's not chocolate milk," Hazel offered, referring to the time when a giant glass of the stuff had been thrown all over Paige.
Paige narrowed her eyes at Hazel and opened her mouth to say something sarcastic when she saw somebody coming down the hall. She elbowed Hazel and smiled.
"Well, at least it's not as bad as that," the blonde said loudly. The girl who had been walking by, ducked her head and clutched her books tighter to her chest. She hurried by, turning around the corner. Hazel and Paige burst into giggles, the bright red stain on Paige's shirt temporarily forgotten.
"You know, sometimes I kinda feel bad for her," Hazel confessed as she handed Paige more paper towels from the bathroom.
Paige used the drinking fountain to wet the towels before furiously rubbing at the stain.
"Why? If she wears that to school, she should expect to get teased," Paige asked, her eyes crinkled with disgust.
Hazel shrugged. "I don't know."
That was the truth; Hazel wasn't sure exactly WHY she felt bad for the girl in patched-up overalls and faded shoes. She radiated an aura of thrift stores and secondhand clothes, even though she rarely spoke. All the teachers seemed to adore her, saying "hi" to her in the hallways and asking about things at home. Of course, from what Hazel overheard as she walked past, things were always either "fine" or "good" at home and never anything else.
"Don't," a new voice said softly. Hazel and Paige both jumped, and Hazel gained some small satisfaction knowing that Paige had jumped higher.
"Don't what?" Paige snapped as she turned around to face the new arrival.
"Don't rub at it like that." The speaker was none other than the girl who had walked by a few minutes ago. Her books were gone, and Hazel guessed that they were now in the worn black backpack she had slung over one shoulder.
"And since when are you the Fashion Police?"
The girl shrugged. "Suit yourself. I'm not the one wearing ketchup."
She started walking away when Hazel grabbed Paige's arm and muttered, "I'm doing this for your own good."
"Wait!" Hazel called out, causing the girl to stop and turn around. The overall girl stood there, waiting patiently, her dark green eyes twinkling slightly.
Hazel shoved Paige forward a little more roughly than she'd intended, and Paige gave her a five-star Michalchuck Sneer. "Paige wants you to help."
The girl shrugged. "Follow me," she said over her shoulder and started walking towards the jaintors' closet. "Wait!" Paige hissed as Hazel pushed her after the girl. "I'm SO not going in there."
Fortunately for Paige, the girl told them to stop right outside the doorway. Using a key she'd pulled from a pocket, the girl disappeared inside the closet. Moments later, she emerged, carrying a bottle marked in large blue letters, "BLEACH".
And then the girl headed towards the locker rooms.
Outside the Guys' Locker Room
Five minutes later
"NO!" Paige stamped her foot for emphasis. "There is no way that I'm going in there."
"Paige," the girl sighed exasperatedly. "If you don't go in there, I can't wash your shirt. I've got an extra one in my bag that you can use."
That scared Paige even more than the though of accidentally walking in on some unsuspecting guy, and she doubled her efforts.
"Look," Hazel stepped in. "I'll cover your eyes with my hands. If there is anybody, you won't see." She got closer to Paige and whispered, "Do it and I'll give you twenty dollars."
"Forty," Paige whispered back.
"Twenty-five."
"Thirty."
"Done. Now move."
The trio made their way carefully through the locker room, their noses wrinkled at the horrid smell. Once the girl had safely locked themselves in the small laundry room, Hazel uncovered Paige's eyes. Paige mouthed, "You owe me," before turning to face the girl.
"So... Now what?"
"You'll need to take the shirt off, obviously," she answered, digging through her backpack until a bundle of green plaid came into sight.
"This was my brother's," she explained as she handed it to Paige. "It's been washed six times already," she added with a smirk.
Paige took the shirt, but would only undress if the girl turned around and Hazel stood behind her. The girl obeyed, and Hazel stood back-to-back with Paige, keeping a watchful eye on the girl. A squeal of delight was the sign that Paige had successfully re-dressed.
"Oh my God! This makes me look, like, ten pounds skinnier!" Paige shrieked as she twirled around. The shirt was almost 3 sizes too big, but it made Paige look elven and slight; fragile almost.
The girl smiled and picked up the discarded, stained shirt.
"I'll have this ready for you by the end of school today, if you want to meet me back here," the girl said with a smile. "I'll even leave the girls' side open so you don't have to try and cross the boys' locker room again."
"Thanks," Paige gave her a slight smile and started to walk out when she turned on her heel slowly. Hazel stopped, propping the door open and anxiously looking for a stray gym teacher.
"By the way," she added. "What's your name?"
"Cassidy," the girl replied quietly, her gaze locked on the painted cement floor. "Cassidy O'Branigan."
"Hmm." Paige seemed to consider the name for a moment and started leaving through the girls' side when she stopped and called over her shoulder.
"Thanks...Cassidy."
And the heavy metal door slammed shut behind her.
More to come, promise. This is going to most definitely be a multi-chaptered fic...