HER
Hot tears fell down my face in rivulets. I couldn't hold them back. And Jake. Stupid Jake was making it all worse. A moment later, Jake was gone though. I looked through watery eyes to see Alonso, pulling him away. But that's all he did. He pulled him away from me and then walked up to my shaking self. Before I could turn away, I was in Alonso's arms. My face was hidden in his chest and my shaking limbs were partially supported by his arms around my waist.
I couldn't see anything past Alonso and honestly, I didn't want to. I decided to take comfort in him for once and closed my eyes, leaning in against him. I was glad he'd come but... this was only going to complicate things. I couldn't tell him about... that. I couldn't tell anyone. Jake was the one who wanted everyone to know. I... I just wanted to get past it and try to live as best without knowing... If only he'd just forget about it...
"Jake, leave. I don't care what happened between the two of you, but that's enough."
Jake's bitter laugh filled the hallway. "Mr. Cruz, you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into. I mean, before I might've accepted your apology, but now you're siding with a killer. Killers and their accomplices will never be forgiven." I winced; my body began to shake again, and the sobs returned, full force. Alonso's arms around me tightened.
"What's going on out here?" Someone stepped out of their class, and by the sound of the heels click-clacking our way, it was a female teacher. I felt relief wash through me like waves washed away sand prints. "Why aren't you in class?"
Alonso answered before Jake could, his voice hard. "Jake here had cornered Renata and has been harassing her. I only pushed him away."
The teacher click clacked her way to us, and then spoke softly, "Renata, is it? Is what he said true?" I nodded against Alonso's chest, refusing to look at Jake. I knew that if I were to look at him again, I'd be reduced to tears. Again. "Aright, you, take her to the bathroom to get washed up. Jake, I want you to follow me to the office. We're going to have a little chat." I heard them walk away, and slowly I pushed away from Alonso but he kept his arm around my waist. He was trying to protect me, I could see that but it wasn't going to work.
We walked to the bathroom in silence. By now the tears had stopped but my arms wouldn't stop shaking. Whenever I remembered, they didn't. "I'll wait for you here," Alonso said, stopping beside the bathroom door. I walked in, trying not to acknowledge him and went straight for the sinks. I splashed my face with water, not bothering to look in the mirror. I wiped away the water with a paper towel, glad I wasn't one of those freaks who wore ten pounds of makeup. If I had been one of those, I'd probably look like a dead clown now. No joke.
I sighed, looking in the mirror. My brown eyes that were already big as it is stood out more than usual. They were swollen. My cheeks were flushed though the rest of me was so pale. I felt sick to my stomach and wanted to do nothing but hide away in a dark corner. But Alonso was outside the door, waiting for me. I walked out, wrapping my arms around me.
As promised, Alonso was there, still waiting. His eyes lit up but clouded over when I walked away from him. I was only glad he didn't try stopping me again...
HIM
I stood there, waiting for Renata. Adrenaline still pumped through me from the earlier events. I was so ready to punch the living daylights out of Jake. I don't really know what stopped me, but I'm glad I stopped. I can't risk fighting if it'll get me in trouble.
The sound of running water comes from within the bathroom, and a moment later Renata steps out, arms wrapped around herself. Looking at her, I wanted to do nothing but bring her back in my arms- and maybe beat the life out of Jake. But then she walked away from me, acting as if I'd never been there in the first place. I bunched my hands into fists but didn't go after her. If Renata needed her time alone, I'll give it to her.
I walked back to class, took my tardy and sat down at my usual seat. The two girls sitting across from me batted their lashes, acting like that slut "Cathy" had when we'd met during gym. I ignored them, thinking to something else. To what Jake had said in the hallway. He'd called Renata a 'killer.' But why? People don't just throw words like 'killer' to make someone feel bad. That just doesn't work.
But had what happened that'd make Renata be so isolated? I had an epiphany about then and looked straight to the girls. If everyone was avoiding her, than that means everyone knows what happened, right? Well, if these girls want to talk to me, they'll have to answer my question. "Hey, I have something to ask you."
Both focused all their attention on me immediately, thinking I'd ask them something else entirely. Hopefully this doesn't backfire on me. "We're all yours. Just ask away," one answered, twirling a blonde lock of hair around her index finger. There's still people who think that's flirty? Not even!
"About Renata, why does everyone ignore her? She seems like a normal girl."
One girl gasped. The other glared. "Listen here and listen well," where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, the douche bag, Jake. "Just because she looks innocent now, it's all an act. I suggest you get as far away from her as possible. Leave the girl alone." A smirk formed on those thin lips. "Why don't you hang around us?"
I leaned away, shaking my head. "Sorry, not interested. But maybe you'll boost your chances by telling me what happened between Jake and Renata?"
The other girl quipped, eyes wide. "Give it up! You'll be tainted by that girl- that murderess!" Again. She was being accused of being a murderer. Why? I frowned, looking away. This wasn't what I wanted to hear at all. I know things are never what someone expects, but this? It's just over the top. This whole situation isn't normal.
I mean, I've heard of a group of kids ganging up on some kid 'cause he did something - because I did something- and then maybe most of the school ignoring that kid because he was 'dangerous' but Renata was not dangerous. Sure, she pitched a good throw with a good aim and hard hit but that's it. Her balance is nonexistent. She's a complete klutz. I think a door is more dangerous than her! And she is hurt daily by the simplest of things.
It just doesn't make sense...
"Hey, do you really want to know what happened between that girl and Jake?" The guy who sat beside me - I think his name was Ryan- leaned forward and his silver rimmed glasses tipped down a nose that looked like it'd been broken once upon a time.
I raised my eyebrows. "Why do you think I'm asking?"
"Oh, well, I can't tell you the full story now, but if you want, I'll tell you it after school. Sound good to you?"
I nodded, extending my hand to shake his. "It sounds perfectly fine to me."
I stood outside the school building, leaning against one of those large trees they had working as shade for the tables. A summer breeze hit, and I could just imagine myself at the pools or something, diving into the water. If only I could be doing that right now, but this stupid school gives you homework on the second week.
"Hey, you actually waited!" Ryan ran over, his backpack flying with every step he took. I wanted to groan at the image of him. He looked like a puppy running to his master with a bone in his mouth. Not exactly a great image when it's two guys, may I add.
"Y-yeah... Can you tell me the story quick? I don't want to stay here any later than usual."
"No problem!" Again, puppy dog and his master. God... 'Well, from what Jake said-"
"Wait right there. From what Jake said?"
"Yeah. He's the one who told everyone what happened. So, as I was saying, it was around nine, ten years ago, when Jake and Renata were about five or six. Supposedly, they'd been the best of friends. But it wasn't just them two. There was this other girl names Caroline, but I think everyone called her Carol. Anyway, the three of them were like three pees in a pod. Inseparable.
"One day, they-"
"One day, we were hanging out at Carol's house," a voice I very much hated said as Jake came into view. His blue eyes were storming with anger. "Nice to see you want in on the little story. But I think you should hear it from me and not someone who just happens to claim he knows the story." He looked at Ryan and smiled. "Scram." Then he returned his attention to me without paying attention to Ryan, who was already running away.
"So we were at Carol's house, playing around like kids did, normal stuff. But for some reason, Renata didn't agree with me in a game. She threw a tantrum. Grabbed a knife. She had aimed for me but for some reason, Carol got stabbed. Carol got internal bleeding. Carol got her life taken away. By Renata." I stepped back, just as Jake stepped forward, the air around him menacing. A smile touched his lips out of nowhere, and he looked over my shoulder. "Hey, killer, did you come to see your last friend leave your side?"
What? I turned around and there she was. Renata stood by another tree, almost completely obscured in darkness. Not shade, darkness. Her eyes looked blank, emotionless. Jake laughed from beside me. Renata began to walk away, going deeper into the trees beside the school. I began to walk forward but a hand on my shoulder pulled me back.
"I don't think so. You may be crazy enough to still want to befriend a killer after all this time, but I'm not willing enough to let that bitch get a taste of anything good in life. I'm going to make sure she suffers, and you're not going to get in the way." Jake shoved me back against the tree, laughing once more before he walked away.
"No..." I turned back to the trees but any sign of Renata was gone. I was alone now. My only friend here thought I was turning my back on her. "Shit!"
HER
It's all over.
He knows.
They all know.
I can't stay.
I can't stay.
I can't stay...