Chapter 5:

We were all at lunch the next day, which was Wednesday, going over to our table. Our ex friend Miranda was sitting at the table, crying.

I looked at Kate, who said; "despite everything, she's still a person, Lizzie, just like all of us. And from what I've seen this past week I'm ready and willing to give anyone a chance."

I nodded; "yeah you're right."

We walked over and sat down.

"Hey Miranda," I said.

Miranda looked up.

"Oh sorry. I didn't realize this was your table," was the first thing she said; she said it bitterly.

"Well, it is," Kate began.

"Oh well then I'll move. To……..nowhere."

"But, if you need some place to sit, then it's fine," Kate finished.

Let me explain; in middle school Miranda and I were as close as Kate and I are now. But then Miranda started hanging out with Kate's friend Anastasia who I didn't like at the time. And that is how Kate and I became friends.

"So whats up" I asked Miranda.

"Well…"

"Yes?"

"Idinno. Everything, it seems."

"Yeah it's going around," Vanessa replied.

"Really?"

"Oh yeah."

"Um, well, this may be a stupid question to ask but are you ok?" Kate asked Miranda.

"Well no, not really. They ditched me."

"Who?" I asked.

"Anastasia and Belle. This morning. Guess they saw my cuts and then that was it."

"Anastasia I can see doing that but Belle? That's a little surprising," Kate said.

"Yeah well she did. They both did."

"Because of your cuts? I'm sorry but that's just not right," Reba said.

"Yeah, I know. I'm Miranda."

"Yeah I figured. I'm Reba."

"The world's so unfair sometimes," Sierra said.

"Well doesn't that seem to be the quote of the past 24 hours," Lila replied and we laughed.

"So now, I don't know where to go or what to do. I'm just so overwhelmed."

"I can understand that," Lila said.

2 girls walked by; "oh look if it isn't Miranda," one of them said, Anastasia. "The cutter."

I stood up. If we had been sitting on chairs instead of benches I would've pushed mine back in the process.

"Alrite, look. The both of you."

They looked at me.

"Lizzie is that really…?" Kate started to say.

"Yes yes it is."

It takes a lot to get me angry.

"Yes Miranda may cut, but so do I. It's more common than you know. Don't judge someone for their scars because they are so much more."

"I thought you hated Miranda," Anastasia said.

Kate stood up; "we could say the same thing about you with the way you keep acting."

"And we don't hate her we couldn't hate anyone," I added.

By that time the whole cafeteria was looking at us.

"Too much has happened to us for us to be mean," Kate put in.

The girls just stood there, shocked.

"You weren't expecting that that's why you're so surprised," I said.

"And, being mean may be your cover but its not a very effective if all it does is bring others down and make them feel bad," Kate said.

The girls left and the entire cafeteria clapped.

We sat down.

"Wow," Morgan said.

"Damn girl," Reba said. We laughed.

"Thanks," Miranda said.

"You're welcome," I told her.

"So, you guys don't hate me?" she asked.

"Miranda, look. A lot of things that happened between the 3 of us in middle school neither of us liked. But we're ready to put the past behind us and moved on," Kate replied.

"And that was Anastasia and Belle," I explained to the others.

Pause.

"Has anyone seen Lacy?" Sierra asked.

"No no I haven't," Karen replied.

Lacy came rushing to the table.

"Hi ladies sorry I'm late," she said.

"It's ok sit down," Jessica said, which Lacy did.

I could see Anastasia and Belle sitting and talking a few tables over.

"Serena got sick during the night so I had to take her to the doctor which took forever. But anyway hi."

"Hi Lacy. Is she ok?" Reba asked.

"Yah she's fine. She's at home sleeping. But thank you for asking."

"You're welcome."

Pause.

"By the way Vanessa how did that go?" I asked her.

"What?" Vanessa was obviously distracted by something or other.

"Last night."

"Oh. Um, well, the usual arguments."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Pause. At the other table Anastasia and Belle were standing up and walking over to our table.

"Hi," Miranda said.

"Hi Miranda," Anastasia said.

"Um listen kate. And Lizzie. And the rest of you," Belle began. We looked at her.

"Yall are right. Miranda's not the only one that has scars it's just our way of dealing. So we're sorry."

"Well thank you, ladies," Kate said.

"Can we sit with you?" Anastasia asked.

"Sure."

We all introduced ourselves then decided that we were all going to Vanessa's after school.