Chapter 7: Super Shy Friends Forever

(End of Class)

Trevor and all the other students left the room on hearing the bell. He headed down the hallway, lost in his own thoughts, to his next class which was English. Suddenly he heard what sounded like laughter from a lot of people coming from down the hallway and went to investigate what was going on.

Arriving at what was happening, Trevor was shocked to see the words: "CARRIE WHITE EATS SHIT!" spray-painted in silver paint on some of the locker doors, one of which no doubt was Carrie's. He felt his blood boil on seeing the hurtful words that were aimed at the girl he had sat with earlier on. Then Carrie appeared and tried to walk on by, while trying to fight back tears as she headed to the girl's bathroom and trying to ignore the laughter directed at her.

Then one of a group of three jocks: Billy Nolan, Jackie Talbot and Kenny Grason standing by the lockers along the other side of the corridor stuck his foot out and tripped Carrie. She was able to put her hands in front of her just in time to break her fall. However, the jocks didn't stop there and continued with their fun tormenting the outcast as others in the corridor laughed.

"Please…someone help me, please." Carrie deep down, wanting the ground to swallow her up.

"HEY! WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!" And almost instantly, silence fell in the corridor as an angry Trevor walked towards Billy, Jackie, and Kenny, having never felt such anger in his life. His angry shout had shut everyone up as they watched him face the tormentors.

The jocks were a bit shaken from the unexpected shout and even more shaken when they saw the Irish foreign exchange student was a little taller than they were.

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING?!" Trevor called, with venom in his voice.

"Hey man, look we were just having a little fun with Creepy Carrie. She deserves it, so don't get worked up." Billy said, as Trevor felt his blood boil.

"And did she ever do that to you? HUH?! The only people who should be yelled at are you three!" Trevor angrily exclaimed at the jocks, who cowered back a little.

"And what about all of you?! You just record it on your mobile phone and laugh instead of giving help to someone who needs help?!" Jackie exclaimed, glaring at all the other students gathered round. Most of the said students dropped their heads in shame as a few turned away and left, thinking Trevor would turn his rage on them.

However, Norma, who was watching from a distance having heard everything, was very impressed Trevor was standing up for someone who needed help; not many people here did that when it happened.

Trevor then turned his attention back to the three, now rather nervous, Billy, Jackie, and Kenny.

"I assume you three sheets are the ones who spray-painted that graffiti on those locker doors over there?" Trevor asked, glaring angrily at the three.

"Yeah, we did it, with cans of spray paint in our lockers and there's no way that you can prove we did it." Kenny said in a mocking tone. Then the smugness of the three jocks was suddenly interrupted by an "Ahem!" from a person with authority. The faces of the jocks turned white from shock when they heard that voice; they turned round and saw Principal Morton standing there, his arms on his hips and a frown on his face.

"Oh, so you three did that, huh?" Morton said, glancing at the vandalized locker doors while looking none too pleased. Billy, Jackie, and Kenny stood in shock for a moment, as the principal glared at them for what seemed like an eternity. Morton then looked into the open locker beside him; sure enough, inside were four spray paint cans of silver or white paint. He turned his glare back to the now worried jocks.

"You three…in my office…NOW!" Morton said in a sharp tone, as Billy, Jackie, and Kenny headed off to the office, hanging their heads in shame. Morton watched them go as he took a calming breath, and then looked towards all the other students who were all milling about, including a few who just turned up to see what was going on.

"You lot, get to your next classes…now." Morton said, in a somewhat softer tone as he turned and walked back to his office, very eager to have a good tough talk with these jocks who had committed a clear act of vandalism on school property.

The students dispersed from the scene and headed off to their next classes of the morning, all still somewhat surprised and astonished by what they'd just witnessed a few moments before as Trevor bent down to help Carrie up.

"Are you okay?" Trevor asked, with some concern as he reached his hand out. Carrie, a bit distrustful of Trevor's genuinely sincere concern, nodded a little and Trevor took hold of her hand and gently helped her up. Carrie felt herself blush a little as she stood up, helped by Trevor's strong but gentle grip.

"Thanks, I'm feeling all right." Carrie said, as she brushed her uniform and arranged her books.

"I'm glad you're okay. Those three had no right to do what they did to you." Trevor said. After a short silent moment, Carrie just about managed a small smile on her face.

"Thanks, but I'd best get to class. I really don't wanna be late for it." Carrie said with some concern and a hint of fear in her voice, as she headed down the corridor and Trevor followed behind, as his next class was English. They both entered the room following behind the other students who had just entered and took their seats.

(The Gym Class…)

Outside the school football field, Chris Hargensen and her class group: The Mortimer Snerds, consisting of her friends: Tina Blake, Nicki and Lizzy Watson, Heather Shyers, Rachel Spies, Anissa Chen, Jessica Upshaw, & several others stood outside waiting for gym class. Rita blew her whistle drawing the girls' attention. The boys races off the field as the girls lined up. Rita seemed pleasantly cheerful today.

"All right, stand up, line up please." Rita ordered. "You have a big week coming up. A big month, actually. Probably the biggest month of your lives. Prom and then graduation. Are you excited?"

All the girls smiled and laughed in agreement, as Rita smiled toward them.

"Probably all have your dresses, have your dates by now." Rita said.

Rita walked over toward Chris till they were able to see each other eye to eye.

"What about you, Chris?" Rita asked. "Who's the lucky guy?"

"Billy Nolan." Chris responded. "You don't know him. He doesn't go to this school."

But all at once, Rita's expression shifted from cheerful to accusatory in a matter of seconds.

"Are you gonna get him a boutonniere?" Rita asked. "Or are you just gonna pin a bloody tampon to his lapel?"

"I so don't need to hear this." Chris sighed with an eye roll.

Chris turned to walk away, clearly in no mood for a lecture. But she hadn't gone far when Rita blocked her path.

"You're not going anywhere." Sue said.

Rita walked Chris back in loon, then walked toward Sue.

"What about you, Sue?" Rita asked. "Are you and Tommy busy campaigning to be prom king and queen? I would have voted for you... Not now."

Without waiting for Sue's response, the teacher backed away to address the entire line-up of girls. The fury was plain to see upon her eyes.

"You all did a shitty thing yesterday." Sue addressed them all. "A really shitty thing. And one you had the audacity to post a video. Somebody made a video of it?"

"This is bullshit." Chris yelled out.

"That's it." Rita declared. "Thanks to Miss Hargensen, you can run suicides."

The groaned over the idea of doing suicide drills for a punishment. Basically, for those not familiar with the 'suicide drills': It began with a sprint from one cone to the next. Once there, the object was to kneel down and touch the cone. Then it was a matter of running back to the first, then running to the next farthest away till all the cones are touched. And as if that wasn't enough... they'd have to do the 'whole' obstacle course all over again!

"I'm not doing it." Chris said.

"That's up to you." Rita smirked. "That's up to all of you, but anyone who stops running is suspended. And if you're suspended, you don't go to prom."

The other girls faced each other in horror over what was just heard. Either they partake in the suicides, or they can refuse and miss their one chance to make high school memories 'forever'. And all because of 'one' prank. Rita soon turned and looked straight into Sue's eyes.

"While you're running, I'd like you all to think long and hard... about what it would be like to be Carrie White." Sue said.

All the girls began to run the suicides, as Rita drilled them along the way.

(At the School library…)

At a table in the school library, Trevor sat on one side of the table with Carrie sitting by herself reading a book. Among the group, Trevor felt bad for the girl. A child bullied her entire life just for being socially awkward, so different compared to everyone else. Something Trevor could relate with personally, like watching a mirror of her past playing out before her eyes. Eventually, she approached Carrie's side at the desk and casually sat next to her.

"What are you reading?" Trevor spoke.

"Nothing!" Carrie replied awkwardly, hiding the book. "I mean... you guys wouldn't be interested anyway. Just some research for homework-"

"Oh, I'm into research myself." Trevor replied. "Can we at least have a look?"

At first Carrie didn't know how to answer the question. It felt so unreal: These girls and a boy, a group she only met a few days ago, were speaking with Carrie as if they've known each other for years. Slowly Carrie turned her head toward Trevor.

"I don't normally get these conversations." Carrie spoke quietly. "I mean... who'd hang out with a girl who can't even have a normal life... or even be good at 'anything'."

The majority of the group started toward Carrie sympathetically. Trevor gently placed her hand upon Carrie's, the latter releasing a heavy sigh of sadness.

"I know what you are going through." Trevor said sympathetically. "Growing up, I didn't have many friends. Even when I had one, I still felt like I had no pon-no one to rely on... I felt alone most of my life."

"She's not exaggerating, Trevor." Carrie replied.

"I was there through it all when we were at school together. All those kids, picking on her just because she wasn't... strong as they were. I couldn't stand that behavior... so we know how you must feel." Trevor replied.

Carrie was rather surprised for several reasons. The first was clearly Trevor's own confession, and the next was how they all seemed to understand Carrie's upbringing. Trevor in general couldn't even imagine what the blown-haired teen had gone through, or if her condition were any worse than hers. Yet somehow, it felt exactly the same as the path Carrie had gone through.

"Why are you helping me?" Carrie asked in concern. "I know I asked the first time, but..."

"My mom told me helping someone in need is like caring for a flower." Trevor explained. "You can either ignore it and let it suffer... or you can take care of it to ensure it has a better future. And... Well, I'd like to help the S.S.F.F."

"S.S.F.F.?" Carrie asked, confused.

"Super Shy Friends Forever." Trevor translated. "And I'd like to be your friend... forever."

"Super Shy Friends Forever." Carrie replied.

"We'd all be willing to, Carrie." Trevor added. "You look just like the type of dear who can surely use some friends right now."

For whatever reason, the way they were speaking to her, Carrie felt this warmth she hadn't felt her whole life. It was like a pack of angels had come to her aid, seeking nothing more than mere companionship.

"Sure!" Carrie smiled happily.

"That's the spirit!" Trevor replied, with a smile.

Then she saw Trevor clench her hand into a fist, raising it slightly into the air. Carrie also clenched her fist and slowly raised it toward her level.

"Super..." Trevor spoke.

"Shy…" Carrie added.

Trevor and Carrie smiled as two fists collided with each other, and in the midst of their 'fist bump' the girls in question declared:

"Friends forever…" Trevor & Carrie both replied.

To Be Continued…