Second Chances Come With Side Eyes

ONE WEEK LATER

They say time heals, but no one mentioned how slowly it crawls when the world you once lived in turns it back on you.

It had been a long, slow draining week for me as I had lived in rewind— replaying every mistake, every word and all the moments that led me here.

My mum never mentioned what had happened. Not even for once. I don't even think we have exchanged glances since then. Well, apart from the normal daughter-to-mother greeting that we exchanged.

It was funny how I was living with my mum and still felt like a ghost to her.

I guess I deserved it since I disappointed her and myself too.

And yet here I was, brushing my school shoes on this Monday morning, standing in front of the mirror even when I wasn't sure I was ready to show my face after all the mess I had put myself in.

But somehow in the middle of that mess, I found a little strength to rise again. It wasn't just because I was trying to be that perfect girl everyone knows, I just had to move forward. This wasn't going to be how my story would end.

I took a deep breath, grabbed my bag and left our door.

As I reached the school gate, I was quite shaken a bit. I was still fighting with the thousand thoughts going through my mind when I heard someone call my name.

“OliOli, please wait for me!”.It was Lola, panting heavily as she ran across where I was standing.

Before I could reply, someone else called.

“Hey Oli !”Andrew shouted out from the other direction.

Something inside me just calmed down the moment I saw them. Lola's smirk and Andrew's calm eyes made me shake a little less.

“Are you ready to go in? “Andrew asked.

Then, I nodded.

“Let's go in together,” Lola said, bumping my shoulder gently.

So I walked in bravely not because I was strong but because I wasn't alone.

*********SCHOOL CAFETERIA

Lunchtime was the only time the school ever felt a bit less serious. The chatter, clattering of trays and the occasional burst of laughter felt like background noise.

I sat at the lunch table beside Lola and Andrew with my tray in front of me. My eyes kept scanning the cafeteria as I tried to catch some familiar faces. Some of them looked away, some nodded slightly while others whispered. I didn't care though.

Not until one face caught my eye. That was Nora's table and clique.

And that was when Lola began her usual chaos again.

“I am just saying”, she started ranting with her mouth half–full. “If that stinky mouth asks me out again, the blow I will give him will be better than what the ears hear”.

She reached across our table, took a sip of her drink and mine too.

“Lola !” I said as I looked at my already sipped juice.

“You are now drinking like a mouse right?”

“One should eat according to one's size”, she teased as she continued to eye my own tray.

I rolled my eyes as Andrew chuckled behind me.

Laughter and noise from the opposite tables grew louder. Nora and her minions were giggling, pointing at our table like they were watching a show.

Before I could take a sip of my drink, there was a splash of juice on me. I felt cold and embarrassed. I blinked my eyes trying to make sense of what just happened now.

Everyone near us went quiet for a while and then laughter broke out like wildfire.

Nora stood still there with her hand over her mouth, her face was painted with a concern of mockery.

“Oh my God, are you okay? I'm sorry. The juice slipped from my hand.

Is she just trying to act as if she didn't launch the drink across my table like a missile?

The people around her snorted and giggled, and some turned their heads away while holding back laughter.

I was still sitting down, stunned with my uniform already soaked and my food ruined.

Before I could speak, Lola sprang up like a wounded lion. She snatched the same cup she had sipped from earlier and poured it straight over Nora's head. It dripped from her hair down to her expensive blouse.

Gasps and roars filled the cafeteria.

“Oops, it slipped from my hand too, “ Lola said with a sarcastic smile. Then she raised her hand and made a threatening gesture.

Nora and her girls flinched. One of them even shifted her seat back. With all their loud mouths, they weren't ready for real smoke.

They got up quickly, whispering curses as they hurried to clean themselves.

I laughed just a little as Lola came and sat down again like nothing happened.

“Fair enough”, I muttered under my breath.

“Did you see her face?”Davis, who now came over and sat behind me, whispered with a laugh. “She looked like a wet cat”

“She deserved more than that”, Lola growled.

“Next time she tries it, I won't hold back either”, Andrew said with all the serious face he's had.

The silence afterwards was so weird that I had to break it.

“Wow, you sound so cool Andrew”, I said while doing a little side clap for Andrew. He gave a soft smile.

It wasn't long before we heard a bell signalling that lunch time was over. Then we all hurried off to our various classes.