Their chatter dies away as they reach the other two.
The reason I focused on their conversation was to distract myself from the unwanted attention at my back.
And it’s not from the gawking students.
No.
The back of my neck prickles and goosebumps cover my skin due to that annoying awareness.
That unbreakable connection.
It’s like he’s invading every part of me and engraving himself under my skin.
I find Kim hiding beneath the staircase in the corner. Her eyes are bloodshot and swollen, and her hands shake as she grips her backpack tighter.
Her hair is in disarray, the mint-coloured strands appear like a lab experiment gone wrong.
“Kim…?” I approach her slowly like she’s an injured animal.
A part of me wants to shout at her and demand why she let Aiden hug her.
It’s like I don’t know her after she returned from her summer camp. Kim didn’t only change physically, it’s like she’s been building a wall around her.
My chest aches. She’s slipping from between my fingers and I don’t know how to keep her or talk to her.
Her dark green eyes meet mine. They’re filled with so many emotions, but the most prominent of all is sorrow.
Deep sorrow.
She throws herself at me, and I can’t help but wrap my arms around her. A sob tears from her throat as she buries her face in my chest.
I feel like a horrible friend for not detecting her breaking point and not being there for her.
This is probably why she cried in Aiden’s embrace. She only wanted comfort.
Like a shark to the blood, Aiden must’ve smelled it and stepped in like a white knight.
If he planned to rattle me by using her, then it worked.
“Kim… you’re my best friend and I love you, but you have to tell me what’s going on.”
She steps back and wipes her eyes with the heel of her palms. “Have you ever wondered if you could be the villain in someone’s story?”
“The villain? You? You’re the kindest person I know.” I laugh but she isn’t laughing along.
“Sometimes villains look so innocent, Ellie.” Her gaze is lost in the distance. “Actual villains don’t know they’re villains because they think everything they do is right.”
“What do you mean?”
“I did something unforgivable and I’m paying for it.” She releases a strangled breath. “I just have to find a way to survive this year.”
“Kim.” I clutch her shoulders. “You did nothing wrong, okay? Don’t believe whatever rubbish Aiden told you. They’re the bullies, not you.”
“Should we egg their cars?” She smiles through her tears. “Better idea, we can steal their jerseys or do some voodoo at the pitch so they’d lose their upcoming game.”
I mirror her smile, feeling loose now that she is. “That’ll bring me down to their level and I refuse to stoop so low.”
“Ugh, you’re like an old lady.” She jokes. “Stop being a mature bitch.”