Page 67 of Losing the Rhythm

“Bryan!” Paxon snapped at him.

I finally drew in a breath and snatched it from him, also grabbing my bag. “I already said no, Bryan. Just leave it.” I got up from the cafeteria table. “I’ll see you all later.”

I walked away, my heart still thudding for some reason. Swirls of anger tightened inside my chest, making it a little harder to breathe. Why? Why did that piss me off so much?

I wasn’t sure and that only made me more mad. Everything just felt wrong since Lindie put me in the hospital.

During homeroom, I didn’t talk to Bryan when he got there. Our homeroom teacher came in, looking bored. He announced that last period was going to be in the gymnasium for a special assembly. Students whispered.

The principal didn’t wait long to set up her assembly.

I snuck through the rest of the day, not really talking too much unless I was spoken directly to. I just didn’t have the energy. I had to turn off my phone by the end of the second period. I’d started getting text messages.

By the time we got to the assembly, with Toby waving us down from the stands, I was ready to whip my phone at some of the girls who had been smirking at me. Turning my phone on to hundreds of missed messages was ridiculous. And they were getting nasty and graphic.

I tried to not let it get to me. I really did. But being told to spread my legs for the guys in the men’s locker room after school was just sick. And that was one of the less nastier messages. There were other ones. Way too graphic.

I wanted to throw up.

“Are you done being stubborn yet?” Bryan asked.

“No,” I answered in a thick voice, blinking furiously as I tried to keep myself from screaming. It was there though—an endless scream of rage and frustration and fear.

“Why? I don’t get it.” He looked about as frustrated as I felt.

“I wish I understood too,” I admitted. “Just leave it.”

Bryan grumbled something and then moved to the other side of Toby, making sure to sit as far away from me as possible. And for some stupid reason, that hurt even more.

As soon as the assembly started and the students realized it was our annual no bullying threat, they began grumbling. And sneaking glances at me. At this point, everyone knew that my locker had gotten trashed, and most of them probably now had my phone number with how many numbers kept calling and texting me.

The longer Principal Calgary talkedatthe students, the tighter the fear in me became. I was quickly realizing this wasn’t helping. Students were pissed, and the looks at me became harsher. I squished in against Paxon, wishing I could be swallowed whole. I was the one who had my locker destroyed and yet somehow, it was like everyone was making this my fault. Like I did it to myself for attention or something.

Justin grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. I squeezed it back, letting my eyelids drop down a little as I focused on the feel of his grip. Steady. Supportive. There.

Paxon leaned back enough to be able to rest his hand on my lower back. He began rubbing it, letting me know the same thing. He was there for me. I wasn’t alone.

Without words, they told me that no matter what, they were by my side and they’d help me. It was the only thing that got me through the assembly.

Chapter Twenty

It was the boys’ turn to call and text me like mad. After the assembly, I high-tailed it out of there. Even when I ran into Micah, I just tossed out some excuse and kept walking.

The thing, though, was that I wasn’t in a rush to go home. So instead, I went to see Lindie. I hadn’t seen her in a couple of weeks. It was hard after the kidnapping.

But with Dad around, I couldn’t hold off. If he hadn’t found out yet, he would soon. And he should probably hear about it from me. Being an inpatient at Higginham Memorial Hospital was kind of a big deal that couldn’t be hidden. People knew. People talked. And my dad knew people. He’d find out.

Me:I’m visiting Lindie. Be back later.

Just to get them to stop, I sent a message in the group message. I also sent one to Micah once I had time for it to settle in that I had completely brushed him off.

Me:I’m sorry for brushing by like that. Heading out to see my mom.

Micah:Are you okay? You’ve been quiet all day.

Me:Yeah. I’ll admit, I don’t think that assembly helped anything.

Micah:Well, remember, I’m willing to darken my squeaky clean school record for you.

---