The Secrets We Keep (Formally WAIT)

Chapter 20

I walked into school Monday morning feeling like a zombie. Sunday, my day off from work, was spent hiding in my room and only leaving to eat and use the bathroom. I slid my dresser in front of my door each time until Darren started threating to remove my door completely. I don't think I slept but a few hours the whole weekend.

I opened my locker only to jump backwards when a mass of pamphlets came spilling out onto the floor. I picked one up reading the title: Safe Sex – The FACTS!

I tried to scoop up as many as possible to throw them in the trash, but it was too late, people were already laughing in the hallway. As I walked back to my locker to pick up more, I noticed Avery and several other dancers laughing with some of the jocks. I locked eyes with Ryder and glared at him.

Typical. Of course he would act like nothing happened this weekend.

"Hey!" I hear someone shout.

I turn to see a fuming Becca holding one of the pamphlets in her hand.

"What the hell is this about?" she huffs.

I sigh and take the pamphlet from her hand and continue to pick the remaining few off of the floor.

"Don't worry about it," I say. "Just a stupid prank."

She crosses her arms and yells at the few people still staring to move along.

"What the hell is hottie jerks problem? First he saves your ass at the party, and now he's throwing stupid stunts like this. You were right, he is a jerk."

"Thanks," I say finally retrieving my books and following her to our first class of the day.

Becca was really protective and kept flipping anyone off that brought up the incident that morning. It was finally the last class of the day and I was so bored. I raised my hand and slipped out to go to the bathroom to kill some time. As I made my way out of the bathroom, I was bombarded by Avery and two of her friends. They linked their arms with mine and started pulling me along with them. In the opposite direction of my class.

"Avery, wh-what are you guys doing? My class is the other direction?"

"Shut up," she says nastily.

The halls are empty now, everyone in their classrooms. She opens the door to the basement level, which I didn't even know was accessible to students. I'm such a rule follower. They push me down the stairs and open another door to a closet shoving me inside. I slam myself against the door trying to prevent them from locking me inside. Their weight won in the end and the door slammed shut. I heard a scraping sound and laughter fading as I yelled and banged on the door for them to open it up.

The only light in the room was what seeped in from underneath the door. It smelled like mildew mops and after the shock wore I off, I realized that I could just call Becca to come let me out. I reached for my phone in my back pocket, suddenly remembering that I had left it on my desk back in my classroom.

Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no. This cannot be happening. Not again. Not at school. I tried banging on the door and yelling but anxiety was setting in. The walls felt as if they were inching closer every time I breathed. I crumpled onto the floor and brought my legs to my chest.

"Stop squirming!" Darren shouted throwing me inside the closet.

No. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to ground myself. One. Breathe in. Two. Breath out. Three.

I pause when I hear something. The distinct sound of footsteps on the floor are growing louder and louder...

F*ck! My nails are digging into my thighs as I try to bring myself back into reality.