Chapter 7: Me Against Myself

Chapter 7: Me Against Myself

Charlotte's POV

I sprinted out of the class as fast as I could, debating if I should delete the dating app.

How could she say something like that and feel nothing. Hundreds and thousands of thoughts ran through my mind and I was about to just scream when Charles walked up behind me and tapped my back.

“Charlotte, are you coming to watch the game tonight”

What game? I hope it's not another game of truth or dare cause I officially hate truth or dare actually I hate all games and I strongly believe the government should ban or at least create some kind of restrictions on games.

“Umm what game exactly?”

“ Didn't Max tell you” “ Bridgehall academy is playing their first ever homecoming game and it's tonight” I could see the excitement written all over his face with the way he displayed his 36 teeth, maybe just 26 if you counted it from his tiny mouth.

“Homecoming?” I raised an eyebrow

“ Yes, Charlotte, I really think you should come, it's a distraction from the whole new girl problem”.

My eyes narrowed, was it obvious I was overthinking about the whole truth and dare shinanigan? “ Bet I'm coming, I thought it was tomorrow, damn”.

“ Wish me luck at the game today okay” he hurriedly says and heads over to meet Ethan.

Time to continue drowning in my sorrows and pain. I murmur to myself as Charles runs to the other side.

Wait where the hell is Maya, I haven't seen her since break, I can't even remember what she said before she left.

I pulled out my phone from my back, tied my hair into a bun to prevent the hairs from coming to my face and then I texted Maya.

“Where are you Maya??”

“Can we meet in my house by 6?”

“ Also we are going the homecoming game today so bring your oversized jersey for me”

As I was about to close my I*******m, a notification popped on my screen and I saw a follow request from: @Sophie world.

Why does this girl keep tormenting me, hot girls are always up to no good. She looks so damn hot, I scroll through her I* post .

Literally thirst trapping so hard, she doesn't even look like she's into girls. What was I thinking when I agreed to date her, I could have just buried my feelings the way I buried my five dollar bill on my 7th birthday.

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I sat on the chair close to my vanity mirror and I stared at myself.

I look so pretty, why do I have so many ugly problems? I grabbed my phone beside me to check if Maya has returned my messages.

“ Okay, sure I'll be there by 5”

Is it me or has Maya's replies become colder by the day? Did I do something wrong because the way she walked out the cafeteria…. a knock on the door disrupts my thoughts.

“ Charl Charl dear, max and cheese is ready”

“Okay mum I'll be down in a bit” I reapply my lip gloss and remove the scrunchie from my hair. I walk over to my cupboard, remove the cropped shirt I was putting on and I slipped into a more comfy tank top .

Damnit, I should run for Miss World next year.

I ran downstairs to eat and I spot mum setting up the table, of course we were just two in the house, my mum and I but trust my mummy to put seven different dishes and a hundred plates on the table.

“Mum, I thought you only made Mac and cheese?”

“Ohhh Charlotte, I made Mac and cheese with rice salad and tomato sauce with beef to eat with that” she said while dipping her hand into the tomato sauce and putting it into her mouth.

“ I'll probably be fat before I go to college” I sigh and sit close to the chair beside the stairs.

Five minutes later, the plates are almost cleared and dinner is going great as always. And my great i mean nobody saying a word while my mum scrolls on her phone watching tiktok.

“Ahem Ahem, can I get some attention here”

Sometimes I really wish I had a brother or sister or at least something to talk about with my mum.

“ Yes honey, do you want to say something?”

“ My school is hosting their annual homecoming game tonight and I have and by have I mean need to go”

“ Sure, be back before midnight”

Wow, I know I'm an ungrateful brat but I would also appreciate a little Strict parent in my next life.

I grab my plate and head straight to the kitchen.

Ding ding ding

I pull my phone from my left pocket and unlock it to see my messages.

“Babe, did I forget to tell you I'm playing at the homecoming game tonight?”

“ And the homecoming game is tonight, so come”

“ Maybe we could head over to my house after the game?”

Reading max messages makes me want to punch him in the gut and slap his face.

I scrolled to search for Maya's name and I was about to call her when the door bell rang.

Ding dong, ding dong

I ran over to the door, almost tripping.

“ Maya” I chant her name hugging her so tightly like I intended to hug out all my sadness to her.

She barely hugged me back and forced a smile then she walks over to the dinning

“ Hii mrs Tilbury”

“ Hi Maya, we have left over Mac and cheese and the fridge, do you care for some?”

“ No mrs Tilbury I'm good”

I pull her by her arm and drag her up the stairs to my room.

“ Did you bring the shirt?”

“ Shirt? No I forgot” she smirks and turns around my room. “ Just kidding, it's in my tote bag”

“Aww, Maya you're so sweet” I jump excitedly and run over to rummage the tote bag close to me.

“ Where are you?? Aha! Found you my baby, did you really think you could hide from me forever ?”

Maya giggles while I remove my tank top to wear the oversized jersey shirt.

“ Are you changing in front of me ? Or do you want me to step outside?”

“ It's fine, my boobs are yours too” I burst out laughing.

Maya squints and still proceeds to turn around and close her eyes.

“ You are such a child, I'm sure you've never seen boobs like mine, maybe I should be the queen of boobs” I said half laughing.

I slip into the oversized shirt and proceed to head over to my vanity

“ Make-up time!!”

“Should I vlog? I'm sure my followers miss me”

Maya noods her head to affirmation with what I said her eyes glued to something outside my window

“Maya, pls come over and help me with my hair also bring the digital camera on my bed”

“ I'm coming queen Charlotte” she said and we bought begin laughing

“Are you done watching the movie?”

“What movie?The Queen Charlotte movie? She asks why tieing my hair in a bun

I'm so happy I have somebody like Maya in my life, life would be so unbearable without Maya.

Maya's finger brushed the back of my neck and instantly a flash back from when I first met Maya creeped in.

I remember the first day she walked into our class, tiny, quiet, and clutching her backpack like it was the only thing she trusted in the world.

Everyone else was loud, tossing paper balls, arguing over pencils, doing normal chaotic kid things but Maya stood at the door like she wasn’t sure this place would like her.

She sat beside me because that was the only empty chair. She didn’t say a word for almost the whole day. But I noticed how her eyes kept darting around, studying people, like she was trying to figure out where she fit.

During break, while everyone ran outside, she stayed inside the classroom, doodling stars in her notebook. I walked up to her and asked,

“Why aren’t you playing?”

She shrugged.

“I don’t really… know how to talk to people.”

That was the first time I saw the real her, soft, unsure, but trying.

Weeks passed, we became friends,real friends. The kind that shared snacks, complained about homework, and laughed at jokes that weren’t even funny.

And then one evening, years later, it happened. We were sitting on the swings at the old playground, our spot. The sun was setting, the air smelled like dust and Maya kept digging her shoe into the sand like she was scared of her own thoughts.

She whispered,

“Sophie… I think I like girls and I don’t know if something’s wrong with me.”

My heart didn’t drop. It didn’t change how I saw her. I just looked at her and said,

“There’s nothing wrong with you, you’re just Maya and that’s enough.”

She cried, but softly, like she’d been holding her breath for years.

That was the day she told me first, before anyone. Before even her parents and when she finally told them months later, shaking like she was telling them she stole a bank, they hugged her. Her mom kissed her forehead. Her dad said,

“You’re our child nothing could change that.”

She cried even harder that time.

And now, standing here in the present,feeling her touch the back of my neck. it hit me again just how much of my life she carries with her.