Part 2 of my fabulous story.
I went home later that day, feeling very exhausted. I had just dealt with the worst day of my life...so far. I had been forced against my will into hanging out with this guy in school who can’t seem to stand the sight of me. Then, I was teased by a group of horrible bitches for being a spoiled New York princess . It was not my fault, I was simply raised that way. Anyhow, it was that day I came to think, was it me? Was it what I looked like? How I dressed? Where I came from? It must have been one of these categories. But either way, I was going to stay the spoiled New York princess to them...and that wasn't’t about to change.
“Morning Daddy!” I chirped, feeling warm and cosy in my pink gown and fluffy slippers.
“Hey princess, you seem happy. Want me to make you some breakfast?” He offered. He pointed to the frying pan. I could not think of anything more revolting than that at 8:30 in the morning, so I passed.
“Nah. I’ll grab something later, not so hungry.” I went to take a seat beside him at the round wooden table in the wide kitchen. I took one look at the paper, and got hooked. It always happened to me when I looked at the paper. I was just so amused at what was going on in the lives of everyone else. Strange you might say, at how selfish I was. No, I was not selfish. Vain? Yes, but not selfish. I drank my tea, and went to get ready for school.
I wondered rather I should or shouldn't’t wear something more casual, to blend in. But I decided against it. That would be like something I wasn't’t. I would not give in, to be in. Why would I want to be in at a school like theirs? A hick school was all I saw.
I drove my silver porsche to school, in my sexy black top and denim jeans, designer of course. I wore my hair curly today.
I entered the building, I stuck out like a sore thumb. All the other girls were wearing things I wouldn't’t go to bed in. All the guys were staring at me, no surprise. Pity, some of them were cute. But I didn’t date anymore, after what happened with my ex. Don’t think of it Bonnie. Don’t remember it Bonnie. I thought to myself.
I went through the morning routine. Locker, etc. And I then went to my classroom. Where all my class mates from yesterday were. Of course, I only really remembered one. Nick. He looked up, not looking surprised that I was once again late for class.
“Miss Hart. Why are you late?” A different teacher called as I took my seat beside Nick.
“Uh...”
“Go on, humor us.” He said sarcastically.
“Oh , I understand.” I said. I got up and handed him a hundred dollar bill. The entire class started laughing. I could hear a bunch of guys saying things like wow she has nerve.
“I will let that one slip Miss Hart, as you are new. But be on time got it?” He looked up from his round black glasses. His chubby face warning.
“Actually sir, I go by Bonnie.” Crap. Me and my big mouth.
“Sit!” He snapped. I did as I was told. Nick looked at me from just inches away, and skitted.
Class was long and boring. All I could hear were ticking pens and yawning. When it ended, much like yesterday, Nick and I were held back.
“Ugh, what now?” He muttered.
“I have been informed that you were both assigned to be together every lunch for the rest of the week, and Nick , as you are one of the best students that is why you were asked. Now, in future don’t disobey me kids. Go on now, and no arguing miss.” He looked at me, a knowing look. As if to say he knew what I was like or something. Well he didn't’t and neither did Nick.
“Come on brat.” He said.
“God, I hate you.” I said.
“Well, believe me. The feeling is mutual.”
I had to walk with him. All the guys were staring, like as if what was he doing with me. The girls did the same thing. I hated Nick.
“What it doesn’t bother you to have every person in the school give you horrible looks?” He asked, as we took a seat beside the window in the cafeteria.
“No. They don’t know me. I don’t want to know them.” I replied honestly, as I flicked my curly blond hair behind my shoulder.
“So, you don’t look like the kind of chick who was ever unpopular. What are you disappointed nobody likes you here?” He was being very rude.
“No I am not. I’m tired of popularity anyways. It’s pointless. Every person thinks they know you. Like you for an example.” I threw him a glance.
“I don’t think I know you. I just know your type.” He looked at me now, but I don’t think this time he meant to be insulting...just honest.
“OK, so I can tell you what I know you are thinking. I am spoiled, selfish, bitchy and a horrible person. Get in line pal, I’ve heard it before.”
“No. I think you try to make people think you are. I think you don’t like that nobody really knows you. “
“Well...knowing me might just scare them off.” Once again, me and my BIG MOUTH!
Lucky for me, he did not respond. He looked down at his spaghetti.
A tall good looking guy came over to me.
“Hey new girl. I’m Josh. Wanna go out sometime?” He grinned at me, with his dark surfer hair covering half his face. Cheek, I did not even know him.
“Sorry, I uh...not interested.” Nick looked at me skeptically.
“Huh, tease.” He said, and walked off. What a jerk.
“What? He is a nice guy! Most girls here would kill to be asked out by him. That was harsh.” Nick sighed, taking a sip of his soda.
“I don’t mean anything personal. I just don’t date anymore.” I said.
“What do you mean anymore?” He asked curiously.
“Nothing, never mind. Change the subject.”
“OK... so, uh, I got nothing.”
“Don’t worry. I’m wasting your time.”
“Yeah you are.”
“You are really mean.” I said, with no humor in my voice.
“And you are a brat.”
“Whatever. I’ m out.” I said, taking my Channel bag and getting up from the table.
Of course, after lunch I had to see him again in class. Gr!
I sat there, day dreaming. I was a little annoyed I had been given a big assignment. I folded my arms and stared at the blank pages.
What are those scars? Nick asked on a note. Oh no. No, no, no, no! Nobody could ever know about those scars.
What scars? I replied. He scribbled down something again.
You’ve got scars all over your arms, and legs and everything. He said. Only my ankles were showing, but my scars were still noticeable.
Nothing. Don’t worry about it. It’s personal. That gave him the message. Ha! He looked at me apologetically, before returning to the paper and scribbling down something else.
Sorry. Didn’t mean to pry. He said. For the first time, I thought he was OK.
It’s alright.
Later that day, when I returned home my father was once again out. I watched a double bill of Sex And The City, before going to bed.
My dad was also not there when I woke up. He left a message. Sorry sweetie. I was out late at a party last night and was running late for work, I’ll make it up to you. Xx x x
Whatever.
I went into class a while later and sat beside my sort of arch enemy.
“Hey. I have better things to do today so uh, sorry but looks like you’re gonna have to go lunch alone.” Nick said as I had only just sat down. I could hear the brunette ahead of me bitching about me...again.
“Whatever!” I snapped. I was not in a good mood, my dad had pissed me off.
“Gees, what’s your problem?”
“Nothing.”
Our maths teacher seemed to go on and on forever about things that made absolutely no sense to me. However, I would nod every few minutes to make it look like I knew what he was talking about.
When lunch came around, I went to the cafeteria for a glass of water. When I came back into the small ish hallways, I heard a voice.
“Bonnie Hart.” It said. I knew that voice. I never wanted to hear that voice again. I hated that voice.
I turned. I was right. It was my ex. Derick. He was controlling. He used to treat me very badly. He made me feel awful about myself. That may be hard to believe, but it was true. He was indeed the cause of my scars too, I had started...cutting. I hadn’t told anyone. Being the reason I no longer dated. The result of a very dysfunctional relationship. But it wasn’t just the way he would put me down, or even the things he said. It was his temper. I did not dare re think the times I had encountered with his terrible rage. He’d hit me, well...beat me actually. Just a few times, but still never forgotten. All these bad memories flooded through me now. I was afraid of him.
I had to face it. He was here, the one place I thought I was safe and here he was. Standing right in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” I croaked. My throat was dried up.
“I uh, got transferred. You look good.” He said taking a step towards me.
“I know.”
He laughed. “Same old Bonnie.”
“Yeah. Same old Derick. Always the same old Derick...always.”
“No. I’ve changed Bon.” His eyes were sincere, but I knew him. I would never fall for his crap.
“It’s Bonnie. And I don’t believe you.”
“C’mon. Let’s go for a little walk.” He took one step towards me and I flinched and dropped my glass.
“Don’t come near me. I’m not going anywhere with you.” I gave him what I knew was my dirtiest known look.
“I know I messed things up...messed you up.” I was officially hearing the biggest bull I had ever heard in my life.
Nick turned around from his group of friends, and stared over.
Derick touched my hair.
I flinched again, and jumped back. How dare he touch me.
“Yeah. You messed up everything. Except for me. You wish, you have no impact on me and I hate you.” I began taking slow steps back.
“I’ll prove it to you Bonnie. I’ve changed.” He didn’t try to come near me this time.
“You’ll always be a sleaze to me.”
With that, Derick walked away. Leaving me standing in the school hallway, with about 300 hillbillies staring, as my hands shook. Clearly I had been frightened.
I went into the girls bathrooms which, thankfully, were empty. I stayed in there until the bell went and I didn’t dare come out unless I knew Derick was gone. I looked in the mirror and saw...a coward. I saw weakness, shame and fear. I was not who I thought I was.
I quickly carried my things and rushed to class before I was late. I saw Derick as I passed, but didn’t look long enough for him to see me. So, I went into my class room for the first time not being late.
Ah. English class, I would be no good.
“Bonnie. Would you please read page eighty three?” Mrs. Martins asked me. They always asked me. It was so unfair.
“Uh.... There – is – a q-q-quiet l- light. That shines in every h-h- heart-t.” I stuttered. I was now aware of my body’s shakiness. I was shaking as if I’d seen a ghost. Which in my case, I had.
“Feeling alright dear?” The teacher asked kindly. Great, just great. Everybody was staring at me. I looked around the room helplessly, knowing Nick was looking, I decided to look down so he didn’t see my eyes watering.
“Um...y – y – yes, Ma’am. I – I’m fine.” I continued talking like this.
“OK. If you’re sure. Leslie read on please.” A red haired girl with glasses continued, making me seem thick.
I closed my eyes and lowered my head into my arms. I’d made such a damn fool of myself. But, why was nobody laughing? Were they worried? I wasn’t used to being worried about...I liked it. The idea at least.
I lifted my head and looked at my hands. They were still shaking like crazy. Cuts showing, as always. I was so mad at myself.
As soon as class ended, I collected my things and rushed out before everyone else. I wanted to get ahead of the crowd. But, someone grabbed my hand. I jumped, startled. I was being so paranoid. I had been running from my past for a while, now it followed me. It was making me like I was back then.
“Bonnie. Why are you crying?” It was only Nick. Great, he would never let this one slip.
“Never mind.”
“I won’t tell anyone. Are you alright? I saw you arguing with that guy.” His hazel coloured eyes were staring right into mine. I felt something deep in the pit of my stomach.
“I – wasn’t arguing. He’s – my – ex.” I choked on my words. THIS had been the worst day of my life.
“Crap. Was he giving you trouble?”
“He’s given me enough trouble for the rest of my life.” I couldn’t look at Nick. I was so frustrated, why did everything go wrong with me?
“OK. So...?” He clearly was not getting it.
“Um.. you know those – uh – scars...?” Still not looking at him.
“Yeah...” His eyes were very warm, like he was trying his best to be understanding.
“I um...he – made me – and I kind of started c- cut- “ I couldn’t finish, but he understood.
“Don’t. I get it. I understand.” He took my hand, making my head spin. I shouldn’t have been feeling like that, it was wrong. Nick and I were born to hate.
“Please – don’t tell anyone, please!” I begged.
“I promise. C’mon. I’ll put up with you for one day. If you don’t kill me first.” We walked along the street after school, and into the ice cream parlour.
“Aw. This is cute.” I said, looking around at the little country ice cream parlour. There was something about it that made it comfortable, could have been the people there. That was Tennessee’s kind of feeling, comfortable.
“Wow. She likes something!” He teased.
“Shut up.” I laughed, pretend hitting him on the arm.
“God damn it chick, I’m just kidding.” He grinned. He then walked up to the counter and got two strawberry ice creams to go.
“Hm. Nice evening.” I thought out loud.
“What, no nice views in New York?” Nick asked. He was right, there wasn’t.
“Not really. Unless you like buildings everywhere you look. Oh, and hearing traffic at night when you need sleep.” I kicked a little pebble along the path.
“Wow! Gosh that sounds like heaps of fun!” He joked.
“Hillbilly!” I laughed, tipping strawberry ice cream on his nose.
“Oh, now you’ve done did it!” He chased me along the bright green grass, which was just glowing from the sunset.
“Ah!” I pretended to be scared and came to a stop, giving up.
He grabbed my arm, but then we stopped laughing. I thought he would tip his ice cream on me. Before I knew it, we were properly holding hands. Like in the movies, when the two enemies begin to realise that they don’t really hate each other all that much.
There was a few seconds of just looking at each other, before we dropped our hands.
“I uh, should get going.” I said.
“Yeah. Me too...” I turned to walk away.
“See ya brat.” He teased.
“Nicholas...”
I grinned, walking away to the path to where I lived.
