Okay, yes I'm a terrible person for not updating for months even after I said I would. I'm really sorry, I was going to but I've been going through lots of parent issues at the moment. And I'm struggling with depression which has literally sucked the fun out of everything for me, it's only recently I've been actually wanting to write and do more things. So, yeah I'm really sorry, hopefully this means I'm on the track to finishing this story off.
I know this chapter isn't really that long, it was more of a guiding chapter, to get it to the point I want it to be. But I do rather like this chapter despite the shortness of it, so I hope you all will too.
SkyFay: Hello there! I'm really glad you're enjoying this story, and just for you I'm going to try and continue. ;)
Miss-Understood: Ah it's you again, been a while hasn't it? I'm really glad you're still here reading my story honestly. I'm glad you like Carl and Denise. I just liked Carl in the movie and wanted him to be a bigger part of my story, and helping Alka get through things, and I really wanted her to have a mother figure almost with Denise. I think she needs more than nurses to help her through her illness. As for Bender sticking up for Claire? Well, read and you'll see. Thank you again. :)
Also, thank you for everyone who reviews, favourites and follows. It means the world to me.
Chapter 5: Not Today.
No one says anything for a moment. The only sound is Claire's sniffles while each of us just dances around awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
In the end, I decide to ask John what actually happened, because it seems like it really hurt Claire, and as her friends, shouldn't we do something about it?
"John..?"
My voice is small and quiet, I don't want to annoy him with heavy questions but, if it's annoying him as much as it is, and bad enough to make Claire cry, then maybe we can make them forget. Forget isn't the right word, but it's the only word I can think of.
John doesn't answer me immediately, he only glares at the ground before he grabs my hand and speaks low but in a violent voice. It's almost frightening how hard his tone is, and if I didn't know John more than others, I would be scared. But I know he isn't angry with any of us, so I just grip his hand back tightly.
"These people are fucking dildos, the lot of them."
"We've already gathered this Bender."
Andy's reply just makes John snarl. If I wasn't scared before, I feel like I almost am now as John's glare pierces into us all.
"John calm down, just tell us what happened, please?"
It's not John who answers me though, its Claire, who has now grabbed my other hand in a tight hold, as though she needs someone to anchor her down to reality. I can hear her sniffling as she speaks.
"They were just saying shit about us. I guess it got to me, more than I thought it would. I know I shouldn't be crying, but I thought they would be fine with you being my friends. John found me while they were saying things and dragged me away before anything else could be said."
She's started tearing up again as she's telling us what happened, and Brian's reached over and put his arm round her shoulders. If I wasn't so annoyed I would have smiled at brave little act on Brian's part.
"So you didn't say anything back to them?"
Andy's the one asking this question, to which Claire slowly shakes her head.
"I didn't know what to say, they just kept hurling stuff at me… And I don't know. I'm not good with that sort of thing. I couldn't do what Alka did…"
The sound of my name brings my attention fully to the conversation. I don't know what they are talking about until I remember what had happened the day before in home room. My little verbal argument with a girl that I didn't know. Was that one of Claire's friends? Is she the same girl who ragged on Claire?
"Claire, was it the same girl I spoke to?"
I speak up, my voice quaking slightly. If it is the same girl then I am going to have a word with her because honestly, what does she know?
Claire's eye reach mine just as she answers, "Yes."
That's all I need to know as I squint in frustration and quickly turn around, walking at a steady pace to where I know this girl will be. If she was one of Claire's friends, then that means she's be in the Cafeteria, at that stupid table in the middle of the room. I've never been one for confrontation honestly, I've always been a bit hesitant because I can't really say much without being a hypocrite mostly. But not today, today I'm feeling raring to go, as long as I'm putting someone in place for making Claire, my new friend cry, then I'm throwing caution to the wind. She gave up her friends for us, unknowingly and I wasn't going to let someone rag on her for it. I don't know where this courage is coming from, today and yesterday was surprising. I mean, sure I play a few pranks, but I've never gotten into an argument with a student before, I've always kept away.
I don't slow down when I hear my friends calling to me, I don't stop when people turn to stare as I angrily stalk down the hallway, I just keep walking.
And then I find her.
She's sitting there, laughing dumbly at something one of the jocks say. She sits there looking all perfect and fake that I just want to scrape her from the room and dump her somewhere else. Is that harsh? Probably. But that doesn't stop me from steam lining straight to her, ignoring the calls of John, or the slightly grabs at my hands. And when I'm a metre away I stop, just stop and stand there staring at her until she looks up. Her face is marred by a glare now directed at me, but I don't care, I just stand and stare until she gets up and moves to me.
"Yes, can I help you?"
Her voice is sugary, and I want to just gag at the perfume wafting from her. She's a typical Princess. Dressed head to toe in the most expensive clothes daddy can buy her.
"Yes actually. Just this once, I think you can help me. Or better yet I can help you."
I've never done this before this week. Stood up for someone, fuck, I've never even stood up for myself until yesterday. I guess with friends it doesn't matter what they do as long as they are happy, and right now Claire isn't happy, neither is John for that matter, but he's just pissed off, Claire's actually upset over this powder-puff ragging on her.
"Oh really? I doubt it."
Her snide comment riles me up further, but before I can say anything she glances over my shoulder. She's looking at the others, and obviously she sees something that makes her lip curl up.
"Oh I see, you're one of Claire's new buddies. Huh, well she downgraded a lot didn't she? She's nothing but a loser now. Just like you. She's nothing. Oh Claire are you going to cry? I would too, I mean you just lost all your friends for these… things."
Her voice is grating on my nerves now. I slightly turn now towards the others and see that Claire's shaking her head at me, though there are tears running freely down her face now.
"Listen to me Princess, don't you dare piss on Claire because she's doing something you don't like. Who cares what you think? Claire is ten times better than you could ever be just because she's standing out from the crowd she's so wrongly put in, she's looking outside the box. And you, well you're stuck hating on people because that's what makes you happy. Bullying people makes you feel on top of the world and that makes you the worst kind of person there is."
She doesn't say anything for a moment, and then she laughs, a nasally sort of sound, along with some of her friends. And I use that term lightly.
"Oh yes, that's it. No, I talk to people how they should be spoken to. Its school, and that means you either fit in or you don't. And well, you don't."
"I would never want to fit in with you just because you think it's either you or nothing. Why would I want to be friends with a bitch like you anyway?"
I don't even bother waiting for a reply as I turn away from her, confidently walking back to my friends.
I don't make it very far before I feel myself being dragged back, her grip in my hair is tight, unforgiving. And she's stronger than she looks as she pulls me backwards. Or is it just because I'm as weak as you can get?
Soon enough, my hair is being let go of, and I know this won't end well. My head bounces heavily on the floor. There's a crack sound that I hear echoing through me, and my head starts to pound something fierce. I can't even manage to get myself up as black spots cloud my vision. In the distance I can hear the faint voice of that girl nattering to me, but I take no notice as I realise my vision is tunnelling quickly.
Struggling to stand, I fall to the side, wincing and blinking as much as I can. The dark spots aren't getting smaller, if anything, they are getting bigger.
I can now feel someone grabbing me. Gently though. I look up with effort to find John staring at me with concern, his mouth is moving but I can't seem to grasp what he's saying. There are others surrounding us, people I can't see properly.
I don't have time to think about it anymore as the darkness encompasses my eyes in an instant, and then I'm drifting off in the unknown with just one thought on my mind.
That must have been some bang on the head. Shit. I hope I wake up.
And then, I'm gone.
I hope you enjoyed that! I'm just starting re-doing chapter 6 currently, so hopefully I'll be able to update soon. Thanks for reading. :)