NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24: The Sidekick and the Volleyball Game (Part 3)
Swiping some sheets of paper towel from the dispenser, I patted my face dry. My lip had ceased trembling and my face regained some color, giving me some semblance of my former self. Enough that I felt comfortable slipping out of the bathroom. Especially since an older gentleman had just entered, making his way toward the stall. I didn’t need any more shit to deal with if I was being honest.
Pacing in front of the bathroom wasn’t much better of a prospect, but it allowed me a moment to weigh my options. I could head back to the gym and attempt to ignore Sara for the remainder of the game. This option made my stomach do a flip, so I decided against it. The other option was to head home and beg Nora for forgiveness later. My stomach also rebelled at the idea, so it was tossed too. But where did that leave me?
My phone vibrating against my leg dragged me away from the unanswered question. Tapping through my lock screen, I pulled up the text from Ethan.
Ethan: I know you didn’t expect to see Sara but remember who you came here for. Don’t let her being a bitch ruin what you have right now
It was the most well-written message I had ever received from him, and I couldn't help the small grin blossoming across my face. I let out a bark of a laugh, startling the man emerging from the bathroom. That only added to my mirth. He hurried away, probably having dealt with enough teenagers for today, but that was fine. In fact, everything seemed like it was going to be fine.
Ethan’s advice was simple, straightforward to a fault. Yet, that was perfect. It was exactly what I needed. Time to stop wallowing about what happened last year and let the past be the past. How long was I going to allow her to control my life? Like Ethan said, Sara was a bitch. Nothing more, maybe even less. Her opinion should mean nothing to me, especially when I had friends who I valued. Friends who I wouldn’t have made without beginning to move on in the first place.
My stomach had settled, and I went back toward the gym. I wasn’t full out sprinting like earlier, but still moving at a good clip. And why won’t I? People were waiting for me there–both those watching the game and those who needed me to cheer them on. I couldn’t idle around and let them down. So, I carried on. My steps almost felt airy, and I held my head high as I rounded the corner. I could do this. I’d watch the game, support Nora, ignore Sara, and then get the hell out of this place.
No big deal.
Sara waiting outside the doors to the gym was a surprise, an unwelcome one at that. Rika was beside her, and they were clearly arguing based on the amount of talking they were doing with their hands. Their actual conversation was kept low and constrained, not loud enough for me to make anything out. I stood rooted in place, observing and debating my next move. Neither one of them had noticed me yet, too absorbed in their own dealings. My legs were tense, and I sucked in a breath, forcing myself to relax, wondering what business the two possibly had together. Nothing good, since it had to do with Sara. Normally, I would’ve tried to slip past her had I not been concerned for Rika’s wellbeing, meaning I had to disregard the flight response kicking in, a more appealing solution than fighting as usual. But, it felt like that was all I had been doing recently–between Ethan, the girls, and Sara. I needed to stand my ground for once. I had to fight.
“Yo.”
It was funny how differently two people could look at you. One with relief, and the other with outright disgust. I waved to the former and dipped my head toward her. “Ready to go back in?”
Sara stepped ahead of her. “Not until we talk.”
Rika hurried toward me, spreading her arms wide. “There’s no way I’m letting that happen!”
That didn’t phase her at all. In fact, Sara somehow managed to look smugger. “I get it. You’re jealous, but really, your man’s got nothing to offer me. So there’s nothing to worry about. I have no intention of being near him any longer than I have to be.”
“You know that has nothing to do with this. You stupid–”
I placed myself in front of her. “Enough. Both of you. We’ll talk, but the minute you try to pull any crap, we’re done.”
“That’s fine. She”–Sara hiked a finger over my shoulder–“can even act as a chaperone if it makes her happy. I have nothing to hide.”
The way her lips pulled back into a snarl indicated such a concession did not make Rika very happy. But that was fine for now. Whatever it took to end this conversation quickly. Sara didn’t seem to agree, though, sauntering over to us with her arms draped behind her head.
“Talk I don’t have all day.”
My tone was clipped and measured. I sounded a lot more confident than I felt, but I held my ground, gaze steady.
“Oh, wow. Maybe you do have a little more bite than bark now. Impressive. And here I thought you would be hiding away until I left.”
I ignored her taunts, sidestepping her, only for her to copy the action. “Either tell me what you want or get out of the way, Sara. I want to watch the rest of the game.”
“Or what? You’ll push me? Look at my boobs some more? Anything to get your hands on me, right?”
“I might,” I replied, not bothering to clarify which question I was answering.
“Creep. Your little friend”–the way she spat the word told me she didn’t believe it–”says you’ve been meddling with more girls and Ethan again. You never seem to learn.”
“Maybe I don’t, but that’s our concern, not yours.”
She chuckled. “You know, I never hated this side of you. I might’ve come to like you if you were more like this instead of acting like such a pussy around me.”
It was a bold-faced lie; we both knew it. She saw me as nothing more than a convenience back then, and that hadn’t changed. But if she was trying to upset me, it wasn’t working.
“Enough with the games. What do you want?”
An easy smile played on her lips. “Nothing much. It’s just a bunch of people at school are upset with me because Ethan told them what I did to you. I kept trying to explain that it was all a big misunderstanding, but nobody believes me. Anyway, I figured this would be the perfect time to pretend to apologize. They all saw me walk out after you, so all I need you to do is keep your mouth shut about what really happened here.”
That was news to me. Ethan never told me he did his last week of school, but apparently, he made certain to ruin her reputation on his way out. I’d have to thank him later.
Rika huffed, her breath washing over the back of my neck. “You’re a real piece of shit.”
“I am, but at least I say what I mean.”
“Is that all you want?” I asked.
“That’s it,” she said.
Rika clamped a hand on my shoulder, forcing me to face her. “You can’t be serious. Why would you agree to this?”
I gently peeled her fingers off and regarded Sara with a scowl. “I’ll go along with this bullshit apology if you stay away from us. Me, Ethan, Rika, and anybody else I’m close to. You don’t come near us, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”
“You… hahaha!” Grabbing the sides of her stomach, Sara stumbled over to the wall and smacked it with her palm. Her cackles came out unrestrained, almost maniacal enough to set me on edge. “Sorry, but threatening me? You’ve got a set of balls on you. Like anyone would take your word over mine, but whatever. That’s no problem.”
A loud cheer erupted from the auditorium, causing the floor to rumble from the excited shouts and stomping. Either the game was nearing its end, or one of the players pulled off some incredible feat. Even the shrill whine of the whistle was no bother compared to the girl across from me. For her part, she was content enough to watch us, her face giving nothing away about what she was thinking. Or it may have not even be that deep. She probably just found pleasure in antagonizing us through whatever means she could.
“Hurry up and go back,” Rika said, ending the tense stand-off. “You already got what you wanted.”
She pushed off from the wall. “You’re right. No use hanging around here. Have a good life~”
The double doors swung shut behind her, and a sigh escaped me. All the energy drained from my body, and I slumped. My bravado faded, but I couldn’t contain this bubbly feeling in my stomach. I managed to stand up for myself. Finally.
“You did good.”
“Really? Cuz’ it feels like I’m about to pass out,” I said.
My lame attempt at a joke didn’t land well. Her eyes roamed over my slumped form, probably wondering how anyone could be so pathetic. “You and me are going to talk on Monday.”
“That’s fine, but first the game.”
“That’s about the only thing we can agree on right now,” she grumbled.
Her arm interlocked through mine, and she tugged me along. I allowed myself to be guided, only stopping to hold the door open for a few kids on the way in. We sat in the same section of the bleachers as earlier. Ethan stared at me in concern, but I doubted I could entirely set him at ease until the chance to fill him in on all the details arose later. For now, there was only one thing to say to my best friend.
“Thanks.”
