Mom sorted it all out. She called into the school saying I was sick and called into her work saying she was sick so she could sit at home with me, letting me sob into her lap, watch movies and eat chocolate and stuff I like.
Finally, on Sunday, Mom said we were going shopping. I was surprised when she bought me a ton of girly clothes and shoes and makeup and hair stuff.
"You are going into school tomorrow looking like the princess you are. If Fletcher doesn't want you, he's making the mistake." Mom said.
So on Monday, Mom made my hair curly, did my makeup, made me put on my black skirt (which stopped just above the knee) and my pink top, and I put on my pink and black wedge trainers. I ate breakfast, got my stuff and Mom drove me to school.
"Chyna will probably think I'm doing this to steal Fletcher." I said, as we drew up outside.
"Well stuff her." Mom said. "Fletcher doesn't only go for looks and he wouldn't cheat on Chyna."
"True. Thanks Mom, see you later. I'm gonna walk home, right?" I checked.
"Yeah, I gotta go into work." Mom told me, she kissed my cheek and I got out of the car, putting my bag on my back.
As I walked in, people stared. I tried not to smile and I managed it. As soon as I walked into the Ant Farm, I got the real reactions.
Angus and Fletcher looked up, and their eyes widened and their jaws dropped. Chyna smiled, the other girls did too and all the other boys just stared. I went to sit on the couch and was soon approached by Chyna. She was smiling nervously and standing in front of me.
"You look really great, Olive." She said.
"Thanks." I replied, arching a brow at her. "You're not going to blow up at me then? Accuse me of trying to steal your boyfriend?"
"Olive." Chyna said, sighing. "I wouldn't do that. You're not good enou-" Chyna's hands flew to her mouth but it was too late.
"Excuse me, bitch?!" I got to my feet and stepped closer to her, kind of in her face. "I'm not good enough for him?! How dare you?! How. Fucking. Dare. You?! He just happens to be my best friend and before you got here things were fine. You were the one who screwed everything up and you were the one who let him down so many fucking times, the one who rejected him for her popularity, and bam. The minute he's 16, and good-looking and popular enough, you want him! He's kind-hearted, sweet, creative, and a lot of other things that you'll never notice! So you dare to tell me I'm not good enough?!"
I was breathing heavily, anger surging through my veins. Chyna looked angry now.
"Fletcher doesn't want you, Olive." She said. "No matter what you try to make yourself believe he never has and never will want you. You're a boring, cold, smartass, ugly, emotionless bitch and the only reason you said you loved him is to get back at me. You're too fucked up for anyone, in more ways than one."
My fist swung out and I punched her, hard. Twice. Fletcher went to step in but Angus yanked him back as Chyna slapped me.
"I said I loved him because I meant it, bitch!" I said angrily. "As for fucked up, well, I'd rather be that than a slut and an attention whore."
Chyna pushed me, hard. It took me off guard and I fell backwards, and as someone opened the door behind me I got knocked into it and everything went black.
Later…
I groaned and opened my eyes. I was in the medical room. The nurse lady smiled down at me calmly.
"Can I get up?" I asked.
"Yes. You're all healed now. You just bumped your head a bit too hard." She said.
I sat up. "Who brought me here?"
"Two boys. One with light brown hair and paint stained clothes and the other one somewhat chubby with curly hair."
"Fletcher and Angus." I said, smiling a bit. Then I remembered what had happened and my heart tightened.
"Are you alright?" the nurse asked.
I felt tears start to stream down my face. "He doesn't love me back." I said. "He loves her but I hate her."
The nurse understood. She gave me a hug. "Then she's not worth your time. As for him, well, it's his loss, isn't it?"
"I have gym now…can I take something as an excuse not to do it?" I asked, as the bell rang. "My head sorta hurts."
"Sure." The nurse filled out a form for me and I left, thanking her as I went. "Come chat to me any time, Olive."
I gave the note to the gym teacher and sat out. The Ant farm kids came in as soon as I sat down and Fletcher ran up to me.
"Are you okay?!" he asked, concerned.
"I'm too fucked up for you too care, Fletcher." I said, as Chyna started coming up the stairs.
Fletcher turned to her and shook his head. She backed off. He looked at me again.
"That's not true." He said, sitting beside me. He asked for 5 minutes and the gym teacher nodded, while the other boys and girls ran and did warm ups. "Olive, she doesn't…she really doesn't think that."
"Yes she does. And I bet you do too." I said, my voice cracking.
Fletcher put an arm round me and I sunk my head onto his shoulder.
"That's not true at all, Olive. You're my best friend and I really care about you. I love you."
I know what way he meant it and when he realized, he tried to explain.
"It's okay. I know what you meant. It's mutual, as well as the…other one that I feel…" I said.
Fletcher rested his head against mine. Chyna looked up at us and called out.
"Fletcher, come play volleyball." She called. "You can be on our team, you're good."
Fletcher looked at me as I sat up from his shoulder. "It's okay." I said softly. "I'll be fine."
"Olive…" Fletcher began. "I'm so sorry."
"Me too." I said, my voice cracking again.
He gave me a long, long hug, and when he pulled away, he pressed a kiss to my cheek.
"I can't let her down."
And as he retreated, I realized that, even if Fletcher did like me (which he didn't), he couldn't let Chyna down, because even if she'd do it to him in a second, he was far too decent.
For some reason, I love that about him, among everything else.