Time Limit

Brooke

BULLY TO FRIEND

I slung my bag back over my shoulders, surveying the area. The attackers was gone, but AJ was still on the ground, panting. I walked over to where Camille was kneeling beside her, checking to see if she was alright, and apparently deep in conversation.

Feeling a bit like an intruder, I contemplated the situation for a moment, looking around awkwardly. Deciding that I was no longer needed, and more than a bit unwelcome, I crept away, hurrying to my next class, and hoping one of them would go contact authority, seeing as I honestly wasn't in the mood to do so myself.

Arriving outside the homely classroom, I took a deep breath, calming myself down. Knowing that I was late, I could already feel another anxiety attack coming at the thought of going in after everyone else.

Alright Brooke, writing is your home turf, you'll be fine...

Closing my eyes, I opened the decorated door, and stepped inside the brightly-lit classroom. As I expected, all heads swivelled around to stare at me, as I slowly made my way to the front of the room, staring straight ahead and pretending I didn't notice that the whole class was looking at me like I'd just killed someone.

"I'm...I'm sorry I'm late, Mr Payne," I muttered, staring hard at the marker stain right behind his back.

He nodded. Thankfully, he was a pretty cool teacher. "Okay Brooke, we've only just started, so you're not getting a detention today. But if it happens again, I won't be as lenient, okay?"

I nodded gratefully, and sank down on a chair in the back, beside Brittany, who gave me a once-over, probably wondering why I was late. I absent-mindedly nodded at her, signalling that I would explain everything later. Propping my bag on the ground, I turned my attention to the front of the room, where Mr Payne was talking.

"Okay, so since we've all been working on original fiction for the last few weeks, today we'll be starting on fanfiction. I know a lot of you guys write fanfics already, and I do want to see how you write when you're writing about things you're really passionate about, so this time there won't be any restrictions — no word count, any fandom you want, it doesn't have to be your main one, any ship — anything is welcome. All I ask for in this assignment is you putting your heart and soul into it, and presenting a piece of work that truly reflects yourself, through already-developed characters, alright? You can start working now, if you have questions, feel free, and the due date will be next Wednesday. Good luck!" Mr Payne said, talking really quickly as usual, saying everything in one go, and not really stopping to breath.

Nodding to myself, I opened a new Word document, when a familiar mop of messy blond hair caught my attention.

Lucas.

My breath hitched in my throat, as I continued to stare, at the adorable tuft of blond hair bouncing up and down as he fidgeted in his seat, probably concentrating on the assignment, like I should have been.

I was broken out of my trance as someone nudged me, making me jump momentarily. "Pssssst, you're staring," I glanced at Brittany, who was grinning like a Cheshire Cat. "You faaancy him," She grinned in triumph, as I punched her arm softly.

"I do not," I huffed, turning my back towards her.

After a few moments of silence, suspicion took over, and I cautiously looked back, only to see Brittany slowly creeping towards Lucas, an idiotic grin on her face.

"Brittany, no!"

Too late. She tapped his shoulder, making him turn from away from his work and look at her. I buried my face in my hands. This was so not happening.

"Hey, Lucas, just a quick question — how do you feel about Brooke Evans?" I buried my face in my hands. This was so not happening.

Even not looking at Lucas, I could practically see that toothy grin as he lit up, "Brooke? She's great! She's a wonderful friend!"

Friend.

Quickly grabbing all my stuff, I hurried out of the classroom, which was already closing around me like an iron fist, distantly seeing Brittany's worried face and Lucas' confused whispers of was it something I said?

"I'm sorry," Ten minutes later, me and Brittany were both back in our room, sitting cross-legged on our beds.

"Yeah," The look she gave me was so pitiful I audibly winced, and uncrossed my arms. "It's fine, it's not your fault. My life just sucks, that's all."

"Well, still, he might have told you himself — that probably would have been better," She said softly, picking at her fingernails like somehow that would erase the things Lucas said.

"No, what I don't understand is why in the world would you think asking a boy whether he liked me or not would be a good idea — I mean, it's not like I told you to do it." Somewhere inside, I was vaguely aware that I was being unfair, that this wasn't her fault, but right now, I just needed to take this messy lump of hurt and anger on someone, and Brittany seemed more than happy to take it.

"I don't know, maybe I wasn't thinking. Just — girls usually don't say things so directly to your face, you know?"

"Wait, what? Girls?" I thought Brittany was straight?

Brittany's face shifted from apologetic to horrified so quickly it could have been funny. "That...was not how I was planning to come out."

Okay. That was fine. However, there was still one issue. "But...what about the guy you took to the dance? Jackson, right? From TMI fandom?"

At this, if possible, she grew even more uncomfortable. "Yes...he...umm...was...uh is...my brother?"

I stared at her. Hurriedly, she continued. "I didn't have anyone to go with me...actually, uh, a few guys asked me, but uh, you know, I didn't want to lead them on, so, uh, he didn't have a date either so he took me?"

Oh. My eyes widened in realisation as I looked at her, suddenly feeling the pain she had been covering up for weeks, and feeling like a horrible friend. Not only did I not realise she was lesbian, I didn't even notice how hard things must have been for her! And I was supposed to be a sensitive person — at least, that's why everybody told me.

She seemed to have guessed my thoughts. "Don't be. I've gotten pretty good at covering things up, and to be honest, I was a bit overly excited about Hayden asking you to the dance to think about other things at the time," She ended with a smile, her honey-coloured eyes blinking mischieviously.

I giggled too, remembering the crazed sessions of her pulling me to shops to choose for dresses, and gushing about how hot that boy was every chance she got.

Then, as if all the awkward tension and hurt feelings were suddenly transifigured into something new, we started laughing uncontrollably, rolling on our beds as our stomachs started to hurt. Suddenly, I sat straight up in realization.

I'd forgotten about Camille and AJ! Oh well, that could wait.

And really, it was fun, just feeling pure happiness as you forgot about everything else, laughing on your bed with a good friend, feeling as though the world was perfect.