Chapter 9

Why is Katelyn here now?

I look her straight in the eyes then walk lass her like she's not there. "Theresa please listen to me. Just hear me out."

"How did you even find me?" I ask.

"Find My Friend app"

"Yeah right I need to delete that." I say and start walking away. "You know what?" I turn around and start to smash her with my words. "Why should I hear you out? I was at the hospital, basically fighting. You didn't call nor send a text on my birthday. All you did was text Sophia, saying that you wouldn't be able to come to the airport. I didn't want you at the airport, I wanted you to be there for me! You ghosted me. You ignored my texts and s and never answered the door when I came around. Yes i only knew you for a short time but that was the best period of my life and you knew it an--"

Katelyn interrupts me. "I tried to kill myself Theresa.!!" Tears fall from her eyes. "Maybe if you had just thought of me once while you were in the hospital or called me once instead of waiting for me to call you then maybe you'd have known."

It's always crazy. Life is full of surprises. The strongest people can break. The toughest people can crash. We all have our weak point and even if by accident it is tapped, we can blow all out.

I move closer to Katelyn. "I'm sorry." I say with a shaky voice. I feel guilty. Maybe I'm actually a bad friend

"You think I ghosted you? No Theresa. I was in rehab. I cut myself in the tub and my parents came home from a business trip that day and found me almost lifeless in the tub. They rushed me to the hospital and I had to be put away in rehab." Katelyn concludes.

I move closer to her. " I'm sorry that happened to you and I'm here now."

"Let's stop being sad now please." Katelyn wipes her tears. "Get in the car, I'll drop you off at home." Katelyn says.

We get in the car and Katelyn starts driving. "I see you dyed your hair. Why?" She asks.

"Nothing. Just trying something new."

"Okay ma'am. You look good though." Katelyn says

On our ride to my house, we talked about a lot of things and I told her how Charlotte is like the only human being nice to me in the whole school.

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"Bye!" I say as I wave at Katelyn.

"Bye. I'll text you." Katelyn drives off.

I enter my house and immediately go up to my bedroom to rest.

I hear two knocks on my door and my door knob twists open. I flip my body around to see who it is.

"Hey sis." Sophia says.

"Hey."

"You good?" She asks.

"Yes. I'm good." I sit up and fold my legs. "I saw Katelyn today. She came around."

"Yeah? What did she say?" Sophia asks.

"Nothing much. But we're good now." I say.

Sophia comes into my room and sits on my bed.

"Be careful. I don't want you to get hurt." She says and I nod. "And why did you dye your hair."

"Nothing. I guess I look better like this and people will like me more if I'm blonde." I say.

"If you need to change your look before someone would like you then you don't need them in your life. " Sophia says and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks. Noted." I say and Sophia leaves my room.

She doesn't understand. I mean she was the most popular girl when she was in high school. She doesn't know what it feels like to be looked down on.

I go to the bathroom and stand in front of the dressing mirror. I'm looking at myself and think, maybe I need a little more changed. I pick up the pair of scissors and cut my long hair to shoulder length then I pick up the hair straighter and straighten my hair. Blonde, short and straight. Beautiful.

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It's the next day and I hear the birds chirping. I slowly open my eyes. Hopefully today will be good.

I take off my clothes and hop in the shower. I come out of the shower and look into the mirror. Is this really me?

I'm looking into the mirror and all I hear in my head are voices saying; "she's so fat" "she's disgusting"

I walk downstairs and immediately head to school.

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"Hey Theresa." Charlotte says as she approaches me immediately I walk Into the school.

"Hey!"

Charlotte runs her fingers through my hair.."Whattt??? Your dyed your hair? Cool!!"

Charlotte starts talking about a lot of things and I'm really not interested in what she has to say. I slowly zone out and my mind starts thinking about something else.

"Theresa are you even listening?" Charlotte snaps me back to reality.

"Oh I'm sorry. Uhm, I have to use the toilet. Bye." I leave and go to the bathroom.

I enter the bathroom and lock the door. My warm tears dropping on my off shoulder top. Someone pushed the door open and I turn around and see a Boy??

"What the fuck are you doing in here? It's the girls' bathroom." I say with a shaky voice.

"Oh I'm sorry. I'm new and I didn't see the signs outside. I'm really sorry." He says with his deep husky voice. His eyes are ocean blue and I could drown in them. His chin is so defined and bold. His lips are rose pink and look really glossy. He has the perfect white teeth and aligned teeth. He has very visible tattoos that look like they have deep meaning and his left ear is pierced and he has a diamond earring on.

"It's fine. I'm sorry too. Go." I say and he exits the bathroom.

I wipe my tears, fix my hair and exit the bathroom like nothing happened.

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"Your assignment for next class is to write a poem about how you feel. Just put your feelings on paper. Let it be spontaneous." The English teacher says and the bell goes off immediately. "Don't forget to do the assignment. It's for extra credit."

All the students pack up their bags and leave the class. I walk through the door and I see the boy I saw earlier in the bathroom. "Jesus. Are you following me?" I ask.

"No I'm not...but I might need to though." He says

"What?"

"You are Theresa Charlot right?" He asks.

"Yes why?"

"You're my tour guide." He stretches out his hand for an handshake. "I'm Jason."

"Okay Jason. This is the second hallways. Follow me let me show you the restrooms so you don't get them mixed up again." I say as a joke.

"Oh yh I'm really sorry about earlier." He says and gives a really bright smile.

"Like I said earlier, it's fine. I'm just messing with you."

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"This is the football field and I guess that concludes the tour for today." I say to Jason.

"Good girl or bad girl?" He asks.

"What?" I sound confused.

"Are you a good girl or a bad girl?"

"Uhmm." I hesitate to answer and I start feeling very uncomfortable. I think he means it in an inappropriate way.

"Oh chill. I don't mean it in the way you're thinking. I mean are a good girl or a bad girl. Good girl that always attends classes, does her assignments and always keep the hallways clean or bad girl that's very rebellious. Which are you?"

"I'm a very very good girl. I always try to stay away from trouble." I tap his arm. "Let's go big guy."

"I'm sorry you had to miss a class to give me a tour."

"I've actually been thinking of a way to not go to Biology class. The man is so annoyinggg. So thank you." I say

"You're welcome my lady."

We both laugh and head to our next classes.

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The day is over and I just want to go home.

"Miss Theresa, please report to the principal's office." A voice from the hallway speaker says.

What did I do now?

I immediately make my way to the principal's office.

On getting there, I see Charlotte sitting in the office already.

"You may go Charlotte." Charlotte leaves. " Theresa, sit!" The principal demands. "Your locker mate saw a bottle of drugs in your locker and you know we have zero tolerance policy when it comes to having drugs on school ground."

"It's not what you think ma'am." I try to explain myself.

"Then what is it Theresa? A bottle of oxytocin was found in your locker and that's apparently what every teenager takes these days."

"It's my pain killer. I had surgery done a few weeks ago."

"We'll have to call your parents to confirm that. You may leave." She says.

I try to grab the pills on my way out. "No. This stays with me until we confirm your claims."

I feel really angry and annoyed and I walk out of the principal's office and people start staring at me. "I heard it's because she's depressed she takes the pills to make her feel good." A voice in the crowd says. Tears start to flow down from my eyes. Charlotte could have at asked me before going to the report to the principal or at least kept her mouth shut and not told anyone.

I see Charlotte from a distance talking to Jason. I rush up to her and push bed "What the hell Charlotte?" I say with tears in my eyes.

"I didn't do anything wrong. I just reported a drug addict to the principal." Charlotte says. Jason is standing there, just watching. He must think I'm a drug addict now.

"I'm not a drug addict. The reason I take oxy is because I had brain surgery done a few weeks ago and I need it for the pain. It's prescribed. You should have asked me or at least kept quiet about it. Now the whole school thinks I'm just a depressed drug addict."

Charlotte facial expression changes and she looks sorry. "I'm sorry Theresa. I'm really sorry." She comes close to me and touches my shoulder.

I slap her hand away. "Don't fucking touch me. So much for 'we'll get along really well'" I say and wipe my tears dropping. I walk out of the school door with tears packed in my eyes. Jason must think I'm crazy now.

This is the thing about friends. It's hard to find the real ones and even when we do they end up being blind or not being what we want. Not everyone gets to have best friends they can have sleepovers with or dress up together for prom. Life is not a movie. This is real life and it sucks.