Page 58 of Diverge

“I’ve always been told it’s my worst quality... you know... scares people off.” She fiddles with the fork on the table. “But I always think people would be a lot happier if they just said what they were thinking, instead of harbouring it inside themselves like a huge secret.”

Her words get me thinking, and it’s true what she says. Why do we always filter our words like others are made of glass? Purely for their sakes, we shelter them, almost walking on eggshells, because we are afraid to say something that offends or hurts them, and there is something truly freeing about being able to say whatever comes to mind.

We talk about her life in America and how she moved here from the Netherlands when she was two with her parents and her older brother.

She talks about how she doesn’t remember life outside of America because she was just a baby. She asks me about my life, but I don’t want to give her too much, so I say Noah and I moved here due to his desire to become a professional basketball player, which is true.

The night goes on as she mostly talks about herself. I smile and nod at some things but my interest in this date begins to fade, bringing my thoughts back to Billie.

Chapter Eighteen

Billie

Billie – Aged 16

My books tumble out of my hands and sprawl over the floor of the hall in the school building as the jackass laughs.

“Watch where you’re going, you freak.” He chews his gum like an arrogant prick as he kicks one of my books, making it slide further away from me. Connor is known as the school bully. He did it purely for fun, and since he is the biggest and tallest boy in school, no one really fights back because they are too afraid. Sighing, I kneel and begin placing my books on top of each other, gathering them from the floor. As I reach out to grab another book, he kicks this one as well, catapulting it.

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further away from me. Others hastily walk past, not wanting to be his next victim, not even giving me a side glance as I kneel on the floor. His friends all snicker behind him as they watch me get up and walk over to grab the books he’s kicked. I pick up my stack of books and begin to turn away from him, but he pushes me from behind. My foot gets caught on someone else’s as I trip, plummeting to the floor. I feel a wet, warm stream of blood on the side of my mouth as I sit up, wincing at the pain. God knows how many people Connor has hurt. The school’s principal never seems to expel him, even with the amount of shit he’s put people through purely because his parents are powerful, and he comes from a well-known family. I look up and see Finn at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes widen as he no doubt sees the blood trickling down my chin. Rushing up the stairs, he helps me up and asks me if I’m okay. I nod as I gather my things while Connor and his friends laugh, as if they had just told the funniest joke ever. Finn’s jaw clenches in rage as he looks over to Connor, guessing exactly what’s happened.

“Find someone your own fucking size to pick on Connor.” He pushes him against the wall.

“Isn’t this a bit basic for you?” Connor’s eyes fill with anger at Finn’s opposition. He reaches for his collar and rams Finn into the wall. I try to get between them as I yell for them to stop but Connor’s friends pull me back.

“Don’t you know what happens to people who cross me?” Connor punches Finn in the ribs. Finn immediately hunches at the impact, but he doesn’t let out a sound.

My arms burn as Connor’s friends hold me back. Finn gathers his composure and headbutts Connor, causing him to topple back and fall on his ass.

Connor reaches for his mouth and covers it with his hand, blood rushing out of his mouth, down to his chin.

Shrugging out of their hold, I rush to Finn’s side and check him, making sure he’s okay, and there are no visible signs of hurt.

“I’m fine,” he says as he holds my hand. He centres his gaze on Connor.

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