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.
“What is your problem?” I said, pushing Christina back. I heard a few people gasp and quietly root for a fight. I ignored them and turned to the girl, pulling her to her feet. I pushed her behind me and faced a furious Christina.
“She ruined my shirt.” Christina narrowed her eyes and stepped closer, grabbing a fistful of my top. “No one destroys my stuff.”
“Back off, Christina. Don’t be such a bitch. She apologised.” I slapped her hand away and stepped back. Indie rushed over and led the girl away from the crossfire just as Christina shoved me hard in the chest.
“You think you’re tough cause you’re dating Ryder? You think you can disrespect me like that?” As Christina laughed, the silence around us seemed deafening. “Ryder doesn’t care. He doesn’t want you. You’re pathetic, Bailey. Always have been. You’re just making a fool of yourself.”
She was wrong. She was pathetic. The sneer on her face pushed me over the edge, and I snapped. “You’re the one making a fool of yourself, Christina.” I lunged for her, making her fall to the ground, taking me with her. A mixture of orange juice and orange soda seeped into my jeans, but I didn’t care. Christina thrashed beneath me trying to buck me off. Her screams were wild, and her voice was hoarse, but the hall was silent except for Indie quietly cheering me on. “Picking on a kid like that. Really? Did that make you feel important?”
“Get off me.” She struggled, but I just laughed.
“You. Are. A. Pathetic. Bitch,” I said slowly. “I have no idea what Chace sees in you, but you deserve each other.” I pushed myself up and grabbed the books that were still scattered on the ground. Christina was still spread out in a pool of sticky orange drink.
“I may be a bitch, but you’re the pathetic one, Bailey,” she called after me as I walked away from her. “I’ll be the one who’s wearing the crown at prom. Where will you be? Crying into a tub of ice cream because your boyfriend ran away to avoid you. Ha! Why do you think I had the date brought forward? Because Ryder’s not here to take you. Do you even know where Ryder is or what he’s been doing?” she hissed, her voice venomous.
I stood staring at her, dumbstruck. I didn’t have a response. I couldn’t form a coherent thought. She had changed prom so I couldn’t go. Because…why? Was she worried I’d steal her precious crown? What a joke. I couldn’t care less about that piece of plastic. Was I pathetic, though, waiting hopefully for Ryder to return? I had no idea what he was doing or where he was. He’d promised to explain it eventually but left me completely in the dark for now. I glared at Christina, and in a real act of maturity, I flipped my finger at her and turned and walked through the crowd.
A few people clapped and cheered and slapped me on the back, but most just stood there in shock, probably trying to process the entire event. Indie and the girl caught up with me as I reached the front doors.
“Are you okay?” I asked the girl. She nodded slightly and sniffed back the tears. “What’s your name?”
“Lenora.”
“Well, Lenora, would you like a lift home to get cleaned up?” I asked her softly, handing her books to her.
“Thank you.” She smiled. “That would be great.”
“Come on then. Let’s go,” Indie said, ushering us through the door.
“Thank you for sticking up for me. I didn’t mean to run into her or spill my drink.”
“We know. It’s okay. Someone had to put her back in her place, and I couldn’t stand by and watch her treat you like that.”
“But everything she said…” Lenora trailed off, a look of determination crossing her features as she continued, “She’s going to pay. I promise.”
“It’s not worth it. Believe me,” I said.