After the Crash ✓

7| Breaking Silence

I hear Jared outside, high fiving someone. Jerk.

"Nicole's just so pretty and caring; it's a shame Bradley was in my way all these years."

In his way? From Nicole? I'm starting to think I was a blessing.

"I just have so much love for her, you know." Jared says, washing his hands.

I feel the urge to tell him. Just walk out of the stall and scream it at his unknowing face. I just need some courage. I breathe in- Jared's drying his hands. I need to act soon. I slowly unlock the bathroom door. Unfortunately for me, it squeaks open, meaning the packed toilet turns to me.

"Nicole-" I begin.

Just do it Bradley. He deserves to know. Yes, he does.

"Nicole was cheating on you, Jared." I blurt. Jared turns to me and the thick mist of silence falls on the cramped toilet. Taps are turned off. Cubicle doors are opened.

I push through the crowd and run to Trig.

"Bradley!" Jared calls from the bathroom.

I don't turn back. I just keep walking.

"Is what you said really true?" I turn to see Jared sobbing.

I wish it wasn't, but I nod.

"I'm sorry." I call down the echoing hallway.

"Me too, Bradley. I've been a jerk." He says, wiping away a tear. "Thank you for telling me."

I smile and carry on walking. The weight has been lifted off my shoulder and I feel free.

Jared is still a huge jerk in my eyes and we'll never go back to being friends again, but I feel like I'm a step closer to forgiving him. They say 'forgive and forget.' If only it were that easy.

●●●

After school, I call Murphy and Shauna. Shauna was banished to a Catholic school on the other side of town and Murphy is in the local reforms college. We decide to meet at the mall. We're kind of friends now, if you can call it that.

Jamestown's Mall was once a social hub. Now, the front sign is reflective of the inside. The flickering J is the only lit letter. The rest of the letters clutch onto the wall and look like they'll fall at any moment. The letters hope they don't end up like their fellow M, which is now a million shards of glass on the floor. Shauna, Murphy and I step over the unfortunate M, to gain entry into the mall.

Inside, most of the stores are shut. Graffiti adorns the sides. There are a few empty tables scattered about in the middle. We take a seat at one.

"How was your day, Shaun?" Murphy asks, sipping the can of coke Shauna bought.

"Bad. Those girls are so annoying. In front of Father John, they act so gullible. But. the stuff that happens in the dorms." Shauna says, rolling her eyes.

"What about you, Bradley?" Murphy and Shauna turn to me.

You know. The usual. Just told my ex best friend that my ex girlfriend was cheating on him. Oh and his parents are doing everything in their power to get me expelled.

"My day was okay." I say instead.

"Apparently, there's this dope beach party going down in 2 days. It's a bit of a drive and all, but worth it for the hot surfer-dudes." Shauna winks.

Murphy looks displeased.

"Well, I've got a date." Murphy says, tugging on the cuff of his shirt. It must be a nervous habit.

"A date?" Shauna and I snort.

"Yeah, the hot Target girl." Murphy retorts, annoyed at our disbelief.

Shauna taunts Murphy by spitting her coke out and falling into hysterics. Over Shauna's laughs, I hear something. A snuffle, like someone's crying.

I get up from the table; Murphy and Shauna are now too busy arguing with each other to notice me.

There's another sob from around the corner. I'm getting closer. Then, I turn and face her. A girl is sobbing on the floor. Her mascara is now splashed down her cheeks.

I have once again become the mediator.

Nicole looks up at me.

"He broke up with me."

I want to say: "well, it's your fault."

But, instead, I kneel down next to her and coax her. I don't know why I do it, but I understand how upsetting it is to be hurt, even if you brought it upon yourself.