Nothing's Fine

• 58: Tables Turned •

The cafeteria was quiet. There was no laughter, only whispers. Whispers and long stares, which are all directed at me. I saw Tiffany, Kayla, Holly and was surprised when I saw Phoebe standing with them. They were all looking at me with evil smirks. I swallowed hard and stood up.

Part of me wanted to flee, and another part wanted me to march over there and punch each of their smug and snotty faces in. I settled on somewhere in between both, and stomped over to Satan's favourite child and her evil friends.

"Hey, Charlie," Tiffany smirked. I stopped a couple steps short of her as her eyes narrowed slightly.

"What's the matter with you? My father's death is nobody's business! It's disgusting of you to share that and tell people it was my fault when it wasn't. He died when I was ten. You wanna call me a slut? Go ahead. Call me anything you want, but leave my father out of this!" I yelled, stepping towards her.

"So you admit it, you are a slut!" Tiffany sneered, loudly. A couple of gasps and "oohs" escaped the mouths of the students gathering around us.

"All this because you like the guy I'm dating? Newsflash, Mason isn't interested in heartless, tasteless bitches!" I jeered, raising an eyebrow. Everyone began "oohing" once again in shock and excitement. Needless to say, when Tiffany slapped me, I was stunned and furious.

It only took a second for the shock to wear off before I lifted my hand and I hit her back. Hard. I wouldn't even lie and say that it didn't feel good. After the years of torture and fighting, I finally got to smack the smirk off her face and she deserved it too.

Tiffany screamed and lunged at me. She tackled me to the floor with an animalistic scream and raised her fist. Luckily, Kayla and Holly pulled her off of me before she could follow through. I felt hands helping me up from the floor and I glanced up to see Emery and Mason.

"You better hold your friend tightly, or I'm going to slap her into last year's nose," I heard Emery yell from behind me. I put a hand out to tell her to stay back.

"Ladies! That's enough!" We heard. All of us look to see our principal, Mr. Wright marching towards us. I folded my arms across my chest and waited for him to say the words all principals say, "All five of you! To my office!"

***

"She came in threatening us –"

"Only because she made that video of Charlie and I –"

"I was only preventing Tiffany from –"

"Oh, my GOD HOLLY SHUT UP!"

"Don't yell at her because you're in trouble!"

"Okay, Kayla! Look who finally grew a pair of –"

"That's enough ladies!" Principal Wright shouted, silencing the bickering of Tiffany, Emery, Kayla and Holly. I, on the other hand, had been sitting here in silence since we got here. The only thing giving away my anger was the fact that I was slightly shaking. "Now, I want to know exactly what happened." When all of the girls opened their mouths to start speaking at once, he raised his hand. "One at a time. Starting with you, Ms. Ross."

"So, Tiffany made yet another ridiculous video – one with a fake version of very personal parts of my life – and she broadcasted it to the entire cafeteria!" I began. While I tried to remain calm, I was furious at Tiffany and the entire situation. As I explained, my attention was split between Principal Wright and Tiffany. "There's been videos, insults, lies, even dumping food on my head. Usually I retaliate with quick one-liners that are too intelligent for her to think of a response, but my God! It's constant bullying and torment, and at this point I'm fed up! It's been years since we were friends and I'm still on the hit list! I don't know why either." I turned to Tiffany. "I know I made the mistake of trusting her and opening up when I first moved here, but calling me a slut, with staged pictures that she orchestrated? Then telling everyone about my father's death while blaming me for it?"

I swallowed hard, feeling tears prickling in my eyes. I blinked them away before looking Tiffany straight in her eyes. "You knew how I felt when he died. Of course, I would have blamed myself, though he was killed by a stranger. I was a child. But for you to say it – especially to the whole school – shows how heartless you really are." I looked back at Principal Wright. "Yes sir, I did hit her, but I don't regret it. It was self-defence. She hit me first and my God, she had it coming."

Before Principal Wright could speak, Kayla spoke up.

"She's right, sir." Emery exchanged glances, our mouths partly open, our eyes wide with astonishment. We looked back at Kayla as Principal Wright motioned for her to continue, which she did. "I guess they were friends in the eighth grade, but I didn't go to their school. All I know is that in grade nine, when Tiffany and I became friends, she had some sort of vendetta against Charlie – and even dragged Emery into the mess too. And I feel so ashamed that for the past two and a half years, all I've been doing is standing by and watching this madness and sometimes even helping her do it. The video was all Tiffany and unfortunately, I let her use my new laptop to do it." Kayla looked me in the eyes and gave me a sad smile. "I'm so sorry. To both of you! You deserved none of it, and I regret not being your friend because you guys look like such a great group of friends."

I was only able to muster up a small smile in response, as I was absolutely shocked by her speech. I watched as Holly geared up to confess next and couldn't help but think that the tables had finally turned.

_____

Author's Note: Oh how the table turns keep table turning.... LOL! Finally Charlie gets to say her piece and Tiffany's friends are confessing! Are we happy Charlie got a smack in as well? Haha!

Stay tuned for a new chapter next week! 

In the mean time, don't forget to check out the Nothing's Fine Spotify playlist (the link is on my profile) and you can totally check my instagram @ brittany.p.w between chapters! <3