"Your words have so much power. Everyday, if you tell yourself 'I love you,' if you give yourself one word of validation, it will change your mind." - Ashley Graham.
"I'M GETTING SICK and tired of her." Someone said agitatedly as I heard people walk into the restroom.
I froze in place, my hand still on the lock of the stall I was about to open. The voice sounded so familiar but it was taking my brain awhile to place it.
"Me too."
I recognized the voices. It was Bianca and Betty – Brittany's minions. I wondered who they were talking about.
"She's so infuriating. She acts like everybody's beneath her. We are supposed to be friends but–"
"She treats us like we're her puppets." Bianca cut in, completing her sentence. They both let out groans.
Brittany. They were talking about Brittany.
I could have bet that they were standing before the mirror, touching up their makeup as they talked about her. I wondered where their puppet master was, that they were here badmouthing her.
Is it bad mouthing if they are just telling the truth?
I withdrew my hand and stayed still, trying as much as possible to not make any sound. I didn't want to imagine what would happen if I was caught.
"I really hate it but I don't think there's anything we can do about it." Betty said.
"She'd ruin our lives if we try shit. We'd become social pariahs." Bianca commented.
They both visibly cringed. I could tell from the sounds that they made.
"The thought of that freaks me out more than anything."
"I'll keep putting up with her till high school is over to avoid that. I mean I even changed my name to be here. I've come too far to give up now." Bianca sighed.
"But God, I hate her. I hate her so much." She added.
"Me too, girl. Me too."
A few beats passed and I started to fear that they knew I was here until they started to talk again.
"What's her deal with Avery, though? She's trying so hard to befriend her. It's kind of embarrassing."
"Brittany is just scared that Avery will usurp her role as the queen bee. So she's trying to bring her into our circle so that she can put a leash on her, I guess."
I was definitely not wrong about that.
"She's something."
"Avery's really cool though."
"Yeah. And her brother is so hot!" Betty exclaimed.
"Yeah... So damn hot! When he was drinking from a bottle of water during lunch, I was so jealous of the water. I wished I could be it." Bianca said.
I scrunched my face at her words. How did she even think of that? Betty laughed.
They proceed to start gushing, fawning and fangirling about Alex. I rolled my eyes at that, wondering how long they'd continue to talk for.
When they'd managed to stop fangirling and get their shit together, I heaved a soundless sigh of relief.
"I've always wanted to date a British guy, you know." Bianca sighed.
"Forget this one. Brittany will never let that happen." Betty told her.
"I know, B. I know."
"Let's go before the bitch comes badging in here demanding why we're taking so long." Betty said.
I heard their footsteps as they exited the restroom.
"Thank God!" I mumbled, relief flooding through me.
Still being cautious, I opened the door slowly and peeked out to see if they were really gone before finally stepping out.
I thought it was really stupid of them to not have checked the stalls before proceeding to badmouth Brittany.
I mean, I could have easily recorded their conversation if I wanted to but what would I even do with it?
And it was because they were stupid enough that I didn't get caught.
School was dismissed about twenty minutes ago. Alex and I were meeting at the same café we met the last time to conclude everything about our assignment so that we can get the report printed and turn it in before the deadline.
He asked for about 30 minutes because he needed to drop Avery off at home for an appointment. I spent that time waiting in the classroom and scrolling through TikTok, watching K-drama edits. Then I came to use the restroom before heading there, only to witness this.
I walked to the sink and washed my hands, their conversation replaying in my head.
What a friendship they have! I'd prefer to be lonely than be in that type of situationship or have friends like that. But can you really blame them?
I shook my head as I dried my hands. That's their own problem.
Because I was paranoid, I opened the door a little bit and peeked into the hallway to see if the coast was clear. When I saw that it was, I walked out of the restroom.
I heard voices when I was close to the boys' locker room and all of a sudden, someone popped out. I halted my steps and recognised the person when he turned to face me. It was Ray, Brittany's ex.
I stiffened, not knowing what to expect. I regained my composure and tried to walk past him.
"Hey."
I froze.
He couldn't be talking to me. Right?
I scanned the area but we were the only ones in the hallway. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion and I pointed my index finger at myself, wordlessly asking if he was talking to me; because there was no reason whatsoever for him to want to speak to me.
"Maybelle, right?" Of course he'd get my name wrong.
"Maisie." I corrected him.
"Oh, sorry. My bad. How's your nose doing?"
"My nose?" I touched it, feeling self conscious.
"Brittany's aim was pretty strong. I'm surprised you didn't pass out from the force."
I continued to stare at him in confusion. How does he know about that? She couldn't have told him 'cause last I heard, they were broken up.
My blue eyes met his green ones. "How do you know about that?"
He watched me with an incredulous look on his face. It looked like he was finding it hard to believe I had just asked him that.
"We're in the same gym class?" It sounded more like a question than a statement.
"Oh."
"Wow. Here I was thinking I'm really popular and my presence is always noticed in a room. Guess I was wrong then." He chuckled.
Was I supposed to laugh?
Okay, this conversation was becoming even weirder by the minute.
He was popular. Of course he was, I mean he was the captain of the football team and he was blessed with good looks and good physique. But I never really paid him any attention. Maybe it was because he was Brittany's boyfriend before they broke up. He never bullied me directly but he never did anything when Brittany did. He'd just watch it all happen and even look bored. He never said a word to me before but now, here he was, speaking to me.
The almost non-existent conversation was interrupted when the locker room door opened, revealing an equally good looking guy with black hair and grey eyes. He was Jax, Ray's best friend and the quarterback.
"Dude! What are you doing…" He trailed off as his eyes landed on me.
He locked eyes with Ray and raised an eyebrow. But he didn't question the arrangement after.
"Get your ass in here, man. Everyone's waiting for you." Jax told Ray and then went back in.
"Duty calls." Ray smiled. "See you around, Maisie."
I managed to nod in astonishment.
What was that about?
I didn't have time to dwell on that because I remembered that I was meeting Alex. He could be waiting for me already. I increased my pace as soon as I stepped off the school premises. I thought about running but I didn't want to draw attention to myself so I stuck to walking. I was really grateful that the café was close to school.
The friendly chime of the bell announced my presence as I walked into the café. I spotted Alex almost immediately and my face fell, feeling bad that I had kept him waiting.
"I am so sorry for keeping you waiting." I quickly apologised as I pulled out the chair to sit in front of him.
He smiled. "It is okay."
He watched me settle down and bring out all the stuff I needed.
"I already ordered drinks for both of us. Is a latte okay?"
"Yes, thank you."
When our drinks were ready, he didn't have to get it for us because a blonde waitress brought it over.
"Here you go." She transferred the cups from the tray in her hands to the table. She had a huge grin on her face.
"Thanks, Mia. I appreciate it."
I looked at her nametag and that was indeed her name.
"You're welcome. If you need anything else, I'll be over by the counter."
"Of course."
She walked away and Alex placed the latte in front of me.
"Thank you."
We spent the next few minutes taking our drinks in silence. When we were done with it, we continued from where we stopped the last time we met.
Alex excused himself a while later to use the restroom. The bell chimed as people walked in. I stiffened when I recognized one of the voices.
No way! It couldn't be them.
I prayed desperately that it wouldn't be any of them. I'd had enough of them today.
The exact time I looked towards the entrance to confirm my suspicion, my eyes locked with Bianca's. And she wasn't the only one. She came with the whole clan. She called the attention of the other two and motioned her head in my direction. Now, I had to deal with all three of them.
They marched towards me like soldiers heading for the battlefield. It occurred to me right there and then that the universe was out to get me.
I lowered my head and tried to stop myself from freaking out. I glanced in the direction of the restrooms but unfortunately for me, Alex wasn't out. I knew they wouldn't bring out their claws in front of him.
"Well, if it isn't the fattest girl in the whole of Brookside High." Bianca jeered.
"What are you doing here, Piggy?"
I had decided that I'd start standing up for myself earlier today and I wouldn't let anyone walk all over me anymore; but that was easier said than done. "Uhm… nothing?"
Brittany grabbed the cup that once contained my coffee but was disappointed to find it empty.
"She's obviously with someone." Betty pointed out, her eyes lingered on Alex's stuff on the table.
"Wait, are you on a date?" Bianca scoffed. She said it like it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever had to ask anyone.
Brittany scoffed. "Who'd go on a date with her? It'd be easier for pigs to fly than that happening. But then again, she's also a pig."
Now would be the perfect time to talk back, Maisie. I told myself but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. Instead I anxiously bit on my lower lip.
"I'd like to see who she's here with."
"Me too."
"I guess we'll just have to wait and –"
"What is going on here?"