The next day at school seemed to be one of the most tense days that Candice ever had to go through. There was nothing immediately wrong with the day had started aside from the fact that a large majority of the school was leery of her and the rest of the freaks, as well as the popular kids.
"Guys, do you ever get the unnerving feeling that you are being watched?" Candice asked, while she and the others waited for the bell to ring to start class.
"It's not just some unnerving feeling, Candi. People really are staring at us and watching us," Maria stated matter-of-factly.
"Why would everyone be doing that? It's not like we've done anything wrong," Candice said.
"Earth to Candice. Do any of the events that happened yesterday seem to ring any bells?" Amy asked.
"By 'any of the events that happened yesterday', do you mean what happened with us, all of that paint, and Michelle warming up to us?" Candice asked.
"Exactly. Me and Matt were listening around at what some of the other kids here already were talking about and the minute they saw the two of us, along with Jeff, Ria, and Alex, their conversations stopped and then they just started to whisper about what went down between all of us yesterday," Amy said.
"That's a bit weird. You'd think people find it weird that Michelle actually has something resembling a heart underneath all of that bitchiness that she always lays on everyone," Candice said.
"It's just because of the fact that for the longest time people have gotten used to her being so anal about mostly everything in her environment. So actually seeing her doing something in the way of being nice to her polar opposites is a bit of a shocker to everyone," Trish said.
"I still think it's weird that everyone seems to be giving us the evil eye because of it. I mean, Michelle really isn't as bad as she initially made me think she was," Candice said, shrugging.
"Maybe it's just one of those things people will have to get used to. Like, when you first started going here and you stood up to Michelle and her friends," Amy said.
"I guess so. But that doesn't mean that I still don't like this one bit," Candice said, resting her head on her hand.
…
"I can't believe that idea Michelle had last night when she texted me. 'Let's smooth things over with the freaks.' Just the very idea of doing that makes me want to vomit," Layla said, sneering.
"Her head just isn't screwed on right at the moment. She really can't think that they'll just take her back, especially after what she had done to Alex," Kelly said.
"Even so, what if she does?" Layla asked. "We'll be without one of the only people that'd help keep this school in line."
"That's why there's still the rest of us. I mean, you can't be forgetting who it was that even invited her to join our group back in middle school, are you?" Kelly asked.
Letting what Kelly just said sink in, Layla said "You're right Kelly. So what if Michelle does end up doing something stupid? If she ends up without anyone to lean on, then that's her loss. Because if she even thinks about trying to do something like getting us to make friends with those freaks, then she's out of our group."
"Sounds like a good enough idea to me. But what do you think Nick will say when he finds out about Michelle's plans?" Kelly asked.
"Considering the fact that Michelle told him last night and gauging his reaction when he called me later that night, he isn't too thrilled about Michelle wanting to go through with this either," Layla said.
"And we're just going to stand by and let her try to do this?" Kelly asked.
"Nothing we do can get through to her, so I just say if she leaves our group, then oh fucking well," Layla said, shrugging.
…
The day seemed to be one of the most awkward day any of the freaks and popular kids had to go through. Whether it was due to kids talking about them or pointing at them whenever they were seen in the halls, everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing: Was there any truth to the rumors that were floating around the school? All during Mr. Adamle's class, students weren't whispering as much as they were in first period, but there was still discussion during the students, especially when everyone took notice of the fact that Michelle wasn't sitting near Layla like she always was.
"I guess maybe there was some truth in Michelle's words, after all," Melina said, pointing at Michelle and Layla.
"That's what I was trying to tell you guys earlier this morning. Michelle probably does want to change herself, it's just that not everyone wants to be okay with that possibility," Candice said.
The rest of second period passed in a blur and the same seemed to happen with third period. However, when it was time for everyone to go to lunch, most of the lunchroom was quiet aside from a few whispered conversations.
"This is even worse than this morning was. I'm getting really pissed at all of this talking about us," Candice said, feeling irritated.
"Just don't let it get to you, Candice," Punk said, trying to calm Candice down.
"Well, it is Punk. All of this gossiping about us is really making my stress levels shoot up," Candice said, rubbing her forehead.
"Pay it no mind. Everyone else is just trying to get a rise out of all of this drama going on between us and the popular kids. In my opinion, you should just ignore what everyone is saying and doing," Alex piped up, much to Candice's surprise.
"Umm, Alex, that's pretty much an impossibility since it seems like most of the student population is talking about everything that's been going on between us and Michelle's 'friends'. How the hell do you expect me to just ignore something like that?" Candice snapped.
"The same way that me and the others have, by just blocking out everyone and saying 'Fuck you' to everyone that questions us about what we've done," Alex said in retaliation.
"Yeah, well, sometimes that isn't exactly the best thing in the world to do. You can't always just ignore whatever's a nagging issue for you," Candice stated bluntly.
"I'm well aware of that, especially when it seems like some of those problems are ones that stick with you forever. And trust and believe when I say that I'm well aware of problems like that," Alex said, motioning to the various scars and burns on her face.
"Then why do you think telling me to ignore everyone around is going to help?" Candice asked.
"Because I'm positive it will. Life is just way too short to have to keep worrying about what it is that others have to say when they make an opinion about you and the things that you've been doing," Alex said, before returning her attention to the book she was reading.
Taken back by what Alex just told her, Candice took some time to think over what she was just told. She took time to mull over everything that she had just been told while she tried to formulate a response. Before she could say anything, her attention was ripped away by the sounds of an argument going on.
…
Michelle entered the lunchroom to the same treatment that she had been getting all day from her schoolmates. She didn't let this get to her and instead made her way over to where Layla and the other popular kids were sitting. When Layla say Michelle walking over to them, she immediately let her attention go towards one of the people she had come to see as a best friend.
"Well, looks like you finally decided to come see us. I take it that you've come to tell us your final decision," Layla said.
"Lay, I still don't get why things have to be like this between us and the freaks. They really are just awesome people if you look past the fact that they don't really seem to act like normal people," Michelle said.
"Look, we all have our own reasons as to why we can never want anything to do with them. In case you haven't noticed Chelle, one of them happens to be possibly the biggest basket case in this whole state," Layla snapped.
"Don't say anything like that about Alex again," Michelle said, her voice going cold.
"Why the hell does it matter what we say about them or not? If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you actually want to go back to being one of them," Layla said.
"Well, maybe I do. I mean, after all, they've been better friends and nicer people than you guys try to make it seem like you all are," Michelle said, angrily.
"I should've known that something like this would happen. After all, you never really have been the group leader that we've needed you to be. And now, you just want to go back to being on the lowest rungs of the ladder after being with us for so many years now," Layla spat.
"I just don't get why the hell it is that we can't all just be friends with each other. I mean, at some point, before being the popular kid even mattered, you guys were all friends. So why the hell do we all have to act like there's some kind of unspoken mutual hatred between all of us?" Michelle asked.
"Because that's the way things are. They've always been this way and nothing that any of us can do will ever change things," Layla said.
"Then why don't we just try to start now by making amends with them? I'm so tired of always being such a bitch whenever we're even within talking distance of them," Michelle said, reaching her breaking point.
"Not going to happen. End of story," Layla stated bluntly.
"So now Michelle, you have a choice to make. Either you stay being a popular kid with us or you can go back to being one of the mental institution escapees," Kelly said, on Layla's behalf.
Standing her ground over what she had just been told, Michelle looked all of the other popular kids in the eye, trying to find someone to come to her defense. But when no one, not even Nick would say something in defense of her, Michelle said "Fine. Since things have to be like this, I think I'll go back to my real friends instead of the fakes sitting in front of me. And Nick, take this as a sign that we're over," before she turned on her heel and started to make her way towards where Candice and the others were sitting.
"Fine. Go back to those losers! We never really thought you would amount to much as one of us anyways!" Layla shouted, as the other popular kids cast numerous glares in Michelle's direction.
…
When Michelle finally made her way to the table the freaks were sitting at, she noticed that they were all having a group debate about The Walking Dead.
"Oh my god! How can you say that Lori did nothing for the show?" Amy asked.
"Anyone paying attention could tell that she had it bad for Rick and Shane. After all, she was one of the major liabilities to the group," Punk said.
"Yeah, until part of the way through season two when she really showed that she could hold her own as one of the group," Chris said.
"Then you get to some of the other people in the group that were pretty much anchors until close to the end of season two," Maria said.
"Name one of the characters that was like that, Ria," Candice said.
"Does the name 'Carl Grimes' ring any bells?" Michelle asked, laughing.
One by one, the freaks turned to see Michelle standing behind them.
"Umm, exactly how much of our debate did you hear?" Candice asked.
"Not much. Just all of it," Michelle said, smiling.
"I take it that things didn't go so well with your friends," Alex said.
"They're not the friends I thought they were if they can't seem to handle the fact that I wanted to patch things up with all of you. Plus, you should've seen how fast they just turned their backs on me," Michelle said, taking a seat at their table.
"They're all just a pack of assholes anyway. Do you want me to go run over them with my wheelchair?" Alex asked, with an innocent look on her face.
Hearing Alex ask this had Michelle and the others laughing at what she asked.
"No, Alex. You can't run over people just because they make your friends upset. That could get you thrown in jail," Jeff said, trying to hold in his laughter.
While Alex tried to defend her reasons why she would be able to get away with it, Candice tapped Michelle on the shoulder and got her attention.
"You feeling OK?" Candice asked.
"I suppose I am. I'm just thankful to finally be free of Layla and the others. At least now, I'll be able to work at making amends to everyone that I've hurt," Michelle said around a sigh.
"Just give it some time. People can't hold grudges forever. After all, like a good friend told me: Life's too short to have to constantly deal with what it is that other people constantly think about you," Candice said, smiling.
"Sounds like good advice. I just hope other people can be as forgiving as you and the others have been," Michelle said.