The House
No one didn't even try to hide the fact that they were talking about me as I walked into school the next day.
Gah, I knew I should've stayed at home.
Whispers turned to silence as I walked through the hallways, to my locker.
I had never liked attention; it was one of the contributing factors to my horrible stage fright.
And now, almost all eyes were on me.
Obviously, the news of what had happened yesterday had gotten around.
I ducked my head and walked quickly, sighing in relief as I saw Trish standing next to my locker, waiting for me.
She took my hand and squeezed as I approached her.
"You okay?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in concern.
I opened my mouth to talk, and then looked behind me to where a group of girls were staring in our direction, obviously listening.
"I'll talk to you later," I muttered under my breath.
Trish glowered at the group of girls, and then nodded at me. "'Kay,"
I pulled my Chemistry books out of my locker, grimacing as I remembered that I sat next to Elliot in that class.
Trish gathered her books in silence, and I tried to ignore the feeling that I was being watched, when suddenly, I felt someone tapping my shoulder.
I spun around, looking in surprise at Cassidy Erikson, one of the most popular girls in the school.
She was the one that had hosted the party that Elliot had invited me to, a few weeks back.
She had a huge smile on her face. "Hey, Ally! What's up?"
I blinked. I was pretty sure the only time Cassidy had ever spoken to me was when I was in the seventh grade and she had pulled my bra at the back and asked me why I wore one when I didn't have anything to put in it.
We weren't exactly friends.
"Um. Nothing, I guess." I muttered, looking away and putting my books into my bag.
I noticed her small group of worshipers standing beside her, giving me equally bright smiles.
What the fuck?
"So, you came to my party a few Saturday's ago, right?"
I nodded, still dazed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Trish scowl.
Yeah, Trish didn't really like Cassidy, either.
"Wasn't it the best? I heard you came with Elliot. Speaking of Elliot, I heard you two are over now,"
She cocked her head to the side, pouting, looking sympathetic.
I grit my teeth. I really didn't want to talk about this. Especially not with her and everyone else listening.
"Yes." I said, my voice hard.
She held up her palms in defense. "Okay, okay! Calm down... Look, who was the blond cutie you were walking out with yesterday?"
Oh.
So that was what this was about.
"A friend." I told her, slinging my bag over my shoulder. I hoped she'd get the hint that I didn't want to talk anymore and leave me alone, but she just took a step closer to me so I couldn't escape.
"Just a friend? That's great! So could you hook up up? My number's-"
Hold the fuck up.
"You want me to set you up with him? You don't even know him."
"So? He's cute, and-"
"I'm not going to set you up with him, Cassidy."
Her blue eyes blazed.
"Listen." she said in a low voice. "Elliot's told me all about your little crush on him, and it's obvious he's not interested in you at all, so if you could just-"
"What little crush?" I demanded. Trish elbowed her way past Cassidy to grab my arm.
"Okay, that's enough." Trish said, pulling me away.
Cassidy grit her teeth, and grabbed my other hand.
"You stay away from Austin." she said, her mouth twisting into a scowl.
"You don't even know him!" I repeated, incredulous
What even was going on?
"I know enough," she said, shrugging. "Elliot told me he saw me when he came to pick you up from school, and that he wants me-"
"Elliot is a fucking spastic." Trish cut in eventually. "There is nothing going on between Austin and Ally. There is nothing going on between you and Austin, either. You're crazy."
Cassidy's bottom lip quivered and her eyes filled with hate.
She wasn't used to being rejected. Ever.
"I'll believe that when I hear it." She locked gazes with me. "And as for you... Stay away from him. I mean it."
Trish gave me one final tug and my legs started to work again, as I let her pull me in the direction of our class.
"Can you believe her?" I spat, furious.
"Can you believe him?" Trish replied, shaking her head. I realized she was talking about Elliot.
"What the fuck is he thinking, telling everyone I have a crush on him and that he doesn't like me back?!"
I felt my face start to get redder, and I willed myself not to cry because it was something I did when I got mad.
The way it even sounded; 'little crush'. It made it sound so sad and demeaning and I knew Elliot was a total shit sack but I didn't think he could do this.
Elliot's eyes met mine as I walked into class.
Like when I had come into school, the room went silent and I knew they had just been talking about me.
There was no teacher, and I could hear someone behind me whisper, 'slut' and then a whole other bunch of people laughing.
I knew coming back would be bad, but I had no idea it'd be as bad as this.
Elliot smiled slowly, and creepily, the way The Grinch did in that Christmas old movie.
"What's wrong, Ally? Still trying to get Austin into bed with you?"
I flew at him. I couldn't help it.
I didn't even know what I wanted to do to him. I just wanted to hurt him. So much.
Suddenly, though, arms were around my waist, tugging at my arms, holding me back.
I turned around, my heart nearly stopping as I saw him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded.
This was bad. This was really bad. He couldn't be here, not now.
He held up a brown paper bag.
"You forgot your lunch money..."
I hadn't even realized.
"Ally?" He said, looking, releasing me. "Why does everyone look like they want to kill you?"
I gulped. "It's nothing, Dez, just go home,"
I heard a few whispers.
'Is that him?'
'No, that's her brother.'
'Do you think he knows?'
Dez heard that last one.
"Know what?" he demanded.
"Your sister's a whore," came a voice from the back of the class. Laughter followed.
"Shut the fuck up." Dez yelled, instantly silencing them.
I looked down, wishing I could just die.
"Ally?" he said again. "What are they talking about?"
What do you think?