Chapter 005

NOVA

I ran over to the abandoned bathroom to try to clean myself up without any interference, I stared at myself in the foggy mirror and tears ran down my eyes. There was a thick green smoothie flowing from the middle of my head and it covered my clothes, I took off the shirt I wore to see it also stained the white tank top I had on. It was just half of the day and everything was a mess.

How was I going to go on with the rest of the day?

I let out a loud cry as I tried to clean my hair with a tissue but it didn't do anything and just made things worse leaving clumps of soaked-up tissue on my hair.

“Hey so sorry” I heard someone say startling me as I didn't hear anyone walk in. I turned to see it was Maisie staring at me with pity in her eyes and I hated that look so much.

Of course, she followed me

I wiped off the tears in my eyes quickly and looked away carrying on with making a mess of my hair

“Let me help,” she said using a towel to wipe my hair

“You don't have to” I muttered

“Well I want to,” she said and continued cleaning the mess

“Thank you” I whispered and she gave me the sweetest smile

Others just watched and walked away or they stayed and enjoyed the show but she always found me and helped me and I didn't know how to act every damn time.

“Your shirt is ruined,” she said that was when I realized I was standing with just my tank top, I shifted uncomfortably trying to cover my body with my hands

“Your curves are beautiful, I would give anything to have those boobs,” she said, making me let out a giggle. I didn’t know if she was saying it to make me feel better or if she meant it but she said it at every chance she got. I didn’t feel that way about myself even one bit and she knew that pretty well.

“We could try to wash off the stained part and dry it with the hand dryer” Her face lit up as she spoke

“That would take hours” I laughed at her idea

“We could just hang here till it is done” She smiled picking up the shirt to get into action

“We?” I asked taking the shirt from her

“I appreciate but you don’t have to spend your lunch here I am fine May,” I told her wearing the most convincing smile

“I would go when I want to go, now give me that” She yanked the shirt from me and began to wash it while I stood there and just watched

“You know you don’t always have to help me,” I told her

“You call this helping? I am doing what anybody would do” she said as she squeezed the shirt

“You know that is not true,” I said under my breath, she hung the shirt over the hand dryer and then took a seat on the floor

“Sit with me” She patted the spot beside her and I did as she said

“Thank you,” I said to her

“I think I have heard that enough” she joked and I just smiled

“There is this new coffee shop do you want to go there after school?” She asked trying to change the topic

“If Kelsey is down then sure,” I told her

“Where is Kelsey?” She asked looking around

“I could swear she was behind me,” she said

“She probably missed you,” I told her and she nodded, I stared into the distance getting lost in my thoughts

“Don’t let them get to you” she said squeezing my arm

“I won’t,” I told her, fighting back my tears, I had to put up this strong facade when I was around them. I hated when they had their eyes filled with pity whenever they spoke to me.

“You don’t have to confront anyone, I am fine,” I told her

“Don’t get yourself into all this, do you hear me May?” I asked because I knew how stubborn she could be

“I don’t care I am not going to watch you get bullied by those assholes. You are my friend” she said firmly, as much as that warmed my heart, it would kill me if Amelia made her into one of their victims.

“Please May” I begged

“Okay okay I promise,” she said but I knew deep down I couldn’t trust her

“Did you send the audition video you told me about?” She asked changing the topic once again

“No, I couldn’t” I breathed out

“Why not?” She asked almost disappointed

“It wasn’t good enough” I lied

“Can I see it?” She asked, hesitantly I pulled out my phone and brought out an audition video of myself

“Oh my God this is perfect,” she said staring at me in shock

“How could you say this isn’t good? This is Florence Pugh's level of acting” she gasped

“Stop exaggerating” I rolled my eyes trying to take my phone from her but she pushed my hand away rewatching it again

It was a video I wanted to submit for a screenplay audition but I chickened out as always and didn't send it. Acting has always been something that I have had a passion for but was too afraid to act on it, the only people that have seen me perform were my mirror and my phone then Maisie and Kelsey after they came across draft one day. I wanted to die of embarrassment that day but they wouldn’t stop talking about how good it was and honestly yet again I just feel they are trying to make me feel good about myself.

“You are really good Nova, you should do something about this,” she said in awe

“Like what?” I asked laughing

“You should audition for the play, I saw the banner plastered around the hallway,” she said

“You must be joking. Just give me my phone,” I laughed

“I am serious Nova,” she said

“It is your dream, don't let anything stop you. They might laugh but they would be blown away by you trust me” she said with a sad smile trying to convince me

“Maybe one day” I lied through my teeth, I always said that to make them leave me alone

As much as her words resonated with me there were a lot of reasons why it could never happen.