In the Open

"What is going on here?"

Have you ever felt like crawling into a hole and just laying there until the air thins out?

That's exactly how I feel in this moment. Everyone is staring at me; most with disbelief, but there is more than a handful who are shooting daggers into every part of my body.

Shaming me for something I didn't even do.

I don't think I've ever felt so cornered; so alone. It feels like very single person in this room is against me for something, and no one will step in to help me.

"Answer me bitch!" She sends a hard kick to my stomach, and if I weren't already on the ground, that definitely would've knocked me down. I sputter and cough pathetically as I attempt to hold my hands up in defense.

Then, I see a figure across the hall. He looks livid and ready to kill, but he stands still, his hands balled into fists at his side. I look at him; silently pleading for him to stick up for me.

He turns around, and my eyes follow his back as he retreats farther down hall, turns a corner, and vanishes from view.

I feel a pang of hurt in my chest, but it shimmers into indifference as quickly as it appears.

Why did I think Nick Simmons would stand up for me?

Because I saw him smile and act unburdened?

Because for just a second, I saw a portion of Nick that goes against every part of his portrayed self?

I brought this upon myself.

It's about time I learn that the only person that's ever going to be there for me, is me.
I get myself into these situations, and it's no one's job but my own to get me out.

I quickly stand up, ignoring the pain that radiates through my body as I do so, and tilt my chin upward.

Jennifer looks taken aback by my newfound confidence, and I see hers falter for a moment before she smirks at me.

"You gonna fight me?" She crosses her arms and leans back, knowing that I won't.

I want to hit her. I want to take out all of this anger and frustration on her. Mess up her perfect makeup and nails and make her know that I'm not a toy to play with.

"I didn't do anything with your boyfriend. He came onto me, so maybe you should make sure your boyfriend isn't a cheater before you come up to me with the intention of fighting." I cross my arms and glare at her hard.

"My boyfriend is completely faithful and he loves me! It's whores like you that are at fault!" I see her fist flying towards my face, and I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the impact.

"What is going on here?"

I nearly cry in relief at the sound of Mr. Reed's booming voice.

Opening my eyes, I can see Jennifer's fist retreating quickly, trying to pretend that it wasn't just about to pummel my face.

"You," he points towards Jennifer with stern eyes. "Principal's office."

Jennifer gives me one last hate-filled glare and stomps off to the office, shoving away anyone that is in her path.

"Nadine, what do you have to do with all of this?"

My attention snaps back to Mr. Reed and I fiddle with my fingers as he gives me a questioning look.

Sighing heavily, I decide to just get it over with. "She thinks that I hooked up with her boyfriend so she came to fight me I guess."

I can tell that he's not at all surprised by my answer, which can only be expected since most girl fights are about boys anyway.

"And did you hook up with her boyfriend?" He looks uninterested with the topic, but his question says otherwise. The question is totally unnecessary, not to mention intrusive.

"Of course I didn't hook up with her boyfriend. But someone took a picture of me and him at this party in a rather compromising position, thus causing Jennifer to start a petty fight."

He was about to reply but his response was cut short due to the crackling of the intercom.

A woman clears her throat, and her raspy voice rings out among the chatty halls, "Nadine Reynolds to the principal's office. That is Nadine Reynolds to the principal's office, immediately."

I quickly say goodbye to Mr. Reed and rush to the office, internally praying that I don't get into any trouble. My parents would literally kill me.

As soon as I enter the office, the woman behind the desk points me to the principal's door, and I walk to the entrance with sluggish feet and a hanging head, as if I'm a child who's prepared for the ultimate scolding.

Which, I kind of am.

"Ah, Miss Reynolds. Glad you decided to accompany us. Now, take a seat."

I keep my mouth clamped shut as I slide into the vacant seat next to Jennifer. A small smirk adorns her lips, and I want nothing more then to smack it off.

I focus my attention on Mr. Reagan, who is leaning against his desk as if this encounter will be over in no time.

"So, Jennifer here tells me that you approached her, and said some very inappropriate words that will not be repeated. Then, you slapped her across the face, and when Jennifer was about to defend herself, Mr. Reed intervened. Have anything else to add, Miss Reynolds?"

Yeah. I have a lot of things to add. Such as that Jennifer is a dirty, evil, conniving little bitc-

"I'll take your silence as a no." He circles his desk and plants himself in his awaiting chair.

"Mr. Reagan, I don't intend to sound like I'm innocent in this whole ordeal, but that story is completely wrong. I've never gotten into any trouble or any drama at this school, and now all of the sudden, I'm the girl that curses and starts harassing another student. Does that sound like me?"

He looks as if he's really pondering over my question, no doubt realizing that I'm right.

I sit patiently in my seat as I wait for him to dismiss me. I just want to leave and curl into a ball in my room while listening to Panic at the Disco. Is that too much to ask for?

"Okay, I see your point. I will not suspend you for this."

I exhale and say a grateful, "thank you sir", at the same time that Jennifer snarls a "what?!"

"But," he says, making my gratitude slightly diminish,"You will have detention for the next week."

I shoot up out of my seat, slightly panicky and with sweaty palms.

"Mr. Reagan, please. I'll do anything. I cannot have detention, my parents would literally kill me. I didn't even do anything! Are you honestly going to condemn me to a week of detention, when you haven't even bothered listening to my side of the story?"

"The story is irrelevant at this point. The bottom line is that you were involved in a fight that took place on school grounds. I'm being lenient on you. Now, I have some business to take care of, so I think we're done here."

Knowing that I can't possibly persuade him into letting me off with a warning, I walk out of the office and into the now empty hallway.

As I begin walking to class, I hear hushed voices from around the corner.

I don't intend on eavesdropping, but once I hear my name brought up, I dash into the closest corner, and strain my ears to pick up on the conversation.

"Why the hell did you bring Nadine into this? She has nothing to do with us." The voice is oddly familiar, but I can't place my finger on it because the voices are muffled due to the distance between us. It's clearly a boy, and judging by the harsh tone they're using, I'm assuming that they're talking to a boy as well.

"I told you. I won't stop until your life is miserable. And even if the little nerd isn't significant to you, I can tell that you don't completely despise her. So, I will make her life a living hell."

Any normal person in this position would be scared shitless. But I'm not. Honestly, I'm just confused. Why is someone using me as a way to conquer some unknown vendetta?

And why was that voice so familiar?