Once the bell rings, I grab my bag and head out the door, turning to go outside to hang out with friends during lunch. I practically run through the halls, not even stopping at my locker to put my books away. I don’t watch where I am going and suddenly, I’m stepping backwards to avoid falling.
“Ow.” I hear a girl say. “Watch where you’re going,” she mumbles before stepping around me.
As she’s walking away, I turn around to see Alexia Jamieson, the richest girl in school. She’s changed. When we got back from winter break during our freshman year, she came back with shorter hair and it had been a dark red, such a difference from the long, light brown hair it had originally been. Her hair is still red, but it’s longer now, and I see a streak of dark blue hidden under the curls.
Alexia was the head cheerleader and popular girl in our friend group at the beginning of freshman year, but then something changed—not only her hair, but something else—and she stopped hanging out with us and dropped cheerleading. I noticed that everyone in our group started being mean to her and bullying her. Why? I have no fucking clue.
As though she feels me staring, she turns around and starts walking back toward me.
“What is your problem? You practically run into me and then don’t even apologize and then you stare at me?” She waits for a second for an answer, but I don’t even get a chance to say anything when she starts talking again. “What happened Owens? Cat got your tongue? Do you even know who I am or are you like everyone else who just calls me names?”
She is on the verge of tears and yelling. I am so glad everyone is at lunch and nobody can see this exchange.
“Lexi,” I start saying quietly while lifting my hand up towards her. She shies away and I drop my hand.
“Don’t call me that,” she snaps at me.
I don’t know what to say. She closes her eyes and I can see tears in the edges. She turns on her heels and runs away from me, not giving me a chance to talk.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper into the air, knowing she doesn’t hear me.
Amanda is a Colorado native who hates the snow and loves the heat. She loves spending time inside with a book in her hands, music in her ears, or Netflix playing on the TV while she crochets or writes. Her cat Luna is her baby and doesn't care for cuddles, but loves laying on fuzzy blankets on Amanda's lap.
