“So what are you sitting with us for and not with the robots inside?” Indie asked, sitting up and staring at Greg and Lizzie. Straight to the point, Indie. Well done.
“If I have to listen to Chace or Christina go on one more time about how you and Ryder will regret it, I will punch them both myself,” Greg said.
“They are driving us crazy. All they can talk about is you and Ryder, whether it’s about the fights or just you guys being in a relationship in general. It’s draining. Christina is such a bitch. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. And Chace. Don’t even get me started,” Lizzie complained, making both Indie and I laugh.
“Look, we just want to apologise to you, Bailey, for the way we’ve behaved. We knew what Chace and Christina did to you was wrong, and we wish that we’d never picked a side. We really do regret ignoring you, and we hope you can forgive us, and maybe we can be friends again,” Greg said. I was tempted to say: No, go screw yourselves. You all ditched me for them. But I had forgiven Indie, and I understood how hard it could be to go against the hierarchy in a school where social status meant everything. It would have been social suicide had anyone picked me.
“Of course.” I smiled at them. I may have forgiven them, but I wouldn’t trust them. Not yet. How did I know it wasn’t one of Christina’s plans to get back at me by making me think I had friends and then taking them from me again? I would be careful this time. I didn’t trust anyone anymore. Except for Ryder.
The butterfly effect at its finest. A fight, a kiss, a fight, a hot make-out session including sponge bath, and another fight, all leading to two more friends for me and two fewer friends, hopefully, for Chace and Christina.
Chapter
Eighteen
I spent Easter at home with my mother like always. It was quiet and nothing fancy. Just a small dinner for two. It was nice to have a break from school and from seeing Chace and Christina every day.
Indie was practically bouncing out of her seat when she picked me up for school towards the end of our first week back after Easter break.
“Guess what?” she squealed as soon as I got in the car and closed the door.
“No idea.” I tried to muster up some enthusiasm for her, but I was struggling. Ryder had been gone so long, and I missed him. I was starting to feel insecure and awkward at school again. Chace and Christina weren’t helping, either. It was the first week back, and already they seemed to be spreading rumours and gossiping about the fact that Ryder skipped town after Chace’s party and wasn’t home for Easter.
“Jayden finally asked me to prom.” She clapped in excitement. She and Jayden had really hit it off at Chace’s party, and they’d been talking and texting all through Easter.
“The dance is months away, Indie.” I frowned, emphasising that it was a dance and not a prom. He was getting in awfully early.
“Ah…no, it’s not.” She sighed at me, shaking her head as she pulled her car into the parking lot.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Her Royal Whoreness,” she paused and then giggled at her nickname for Christina before getting out and slamming her door, “has managed to convince the prom committee and the school to bring it forward. It’s the middle of next month.”
“What? You’re kidding?” I followed Indie into the school. “Why?”
“Cause she’s nuts. I don’t know. Anyway, I mentioned it to Jayden last week.”
“Last week? You knew then?” How was it Indie knew at least a week ago and I was only finding out about it now?
“Yes. As I was saying, I told him about it, and he asked me last night. Isn’t it great?”
“That’s great, In. He’s a nice guy.” I smiled at her, hoping that she didn’t notice how down I was getting without Ryder. Would he ask me to prom? The dance? Did I want to go? Yes. Maybe. But not without him. When did I become so dependent on him?
She began rambling on about the dance and wondering what she should wear and if she could wear pants. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
“You cannot wear pants to a dance, Indie. How can you be prom queen if you’re not in a gown?” I laughed at the disgusted look on her face. She was such a tomboy sometimes. I had never seen her in a skirt or dress. It was always pants, except for that one time last year when she had a wedding to attend.
“I do not wear gowns, crowns, or heels, and I sure as hell am not going up against Her Majesty. She’s your enemy. You should go for queen, Bailey.” Indie spun around to face me with an evil smile.
“No. Definitely not. I’m not even going.”
“Don’t be stupid. Of course you are. You have to go. Just imagine it. You’ll be the girl who took Ryder Jones to prom.”
I screwed up my face. I wanted to go to the dance, but I wasn’t going to get my hopes up. Who knew if Ryder would even be home by then? “Whatever.” I shrugged, not wanting to discuss it further.
Indie pulled the doors open and followed me into the school building. The halls were bustling with other students trying to make their way to classes. We were headed for our lockers when we heard the screeching. Shrieking. Screaming like a banshee.
“What the hell?” Indie asked and pushed her way through the small group of people forming just ahead of us.
“Look what you did!” someone screeched, the sound high-pitched and grating on my nerves.
Christina.
I followed Indie to where she was standing. She was staring dumbstruck at Christina, who was towering over a girl and screaming at her. The poor girl couldn’t have been older than fourteen. She was tiny, which made it all the worse as Christina continued to stand over her and insult her. The girl was apologising profusely and trying to pick up the books that had fallen to the ground in a puddle of what appeared to be orange juice. She had tears in her eyes as she looked up at Christina, trying to explain that it was an accident.
“I don’t care if it was an accident. Watch where you’re going. Are you dumb?” Christina stomped her foot onto one of the books the girl was trying to collect.
“No, I’m sorry.” She sobbed. “Really, I was just in a hurry, and I didn’t see you. I’ll pay. I swear.”
“You’re damn right you’ll pay. You’ll buy me a new shirt and…” She trailed off and looked around at the students that had gathered. Her eyes landed on a boy with glasses. In his hands was a can of orange soda. She…No…She wouldn’t.
“Mind if I borrow this?”
She would. I’d seen and heard enough. I was not going to let her embarrass the poor girl anymore. I pushed Indie to the side and stepped into the circle.
“What are you doing?” Indie hissed from behind me, grabbing my arm to hold me back.
“I’m not letting her get away with it, In.” I shrugged off Indie’s grip and turned back to Christina and the girl. But I was too late. The girl shrieked, and Christina cackled like a maniac as she poured the orange soda over the girl’s head.