Trying to live

Chapter 28(Edited)

I stopped myself from repeating what they wanted to do to her. She would have been bald if I hadn't stepped in. "I helped you because you were crying, or else I would have walked away. I don't know why you don't understand that," I continued.

She let out a frustrated sigh. "No, you don't understand. I'm a scholarship student. My place in the hierarchy of this school is the lowest. I'm a Baroness thanks to that scholarship, and I'm destined for the hardships that come my way and the dislikes of the higher-ups," she laughed humorlessly and pointed a finger at me. "And you—you were the Queen of this school until you got dumped and stripped of your rank. You're no one on the hierarchy ladder."

I gripped my bottle tighter. "Thank you for reminding me."

When she said it like that, it sounded like an insult, which probably the school thought too since so many students used the term as if it was the baddest swear word they ever used. I wasn't dumped either. I was pretty sure I was given an ultimatum by Henry in front of everyone at that stupid party, and when I didn't say anything, he broke up. I was also ready to break up with him, but he said the words before I was ready. So, I wasn't really dumped, right?

"The rule that followed afterward is that no one in school is allowed to talk to you unless it's for class or required. If you talk to anyone, we're required to stay quiet. Whoever speaks to you will have to bear the wrath of the King of Lakewood Prep. It also gives anyone who's higher than a Baron or Baroness the power to do whatever they want with that person. That is what the higher-ups teach us in orientation on the first day of school," she explained.

"And today I'm that person because of you." Tears welled up in her eyes.

I opened my mouth when she held up a hand. "I will bear the wrath. I will have to bear the consequences because of you. You talked to me, you intervened, and they saw. It doesn't matter if you tried to help me. You're no one in this school unless told otherwise. No one can say anything to you, no one is to touch you, and no one can do anything to you because that's the right of the King. It's only his right, or one has to bear the consequences."

We stared at each other. Her lips quivered as tears fell from her eyes, and part of me knew that I did this. I made her school life harder, and I couldn't do anything to rectify it. I was never bullied, so I didn't know what she was going through.

So, it was only fair that she was accusing me of ruining her life. She wiped her tears and turned around to leave.

I turned my head and looked at myself in the mirror.

The points were so stupid. I knew about the rule because Henry, aka the King, dragged me to the cafeteria and announced it in front of everyone as if he wasn't my boyfriend a time ago. The boy who had my heart for years and the one person I was the most loyal to.

When I argued how dumb the rule was, he declared that he'd be the only one who had direct claim on me—whatever that meant. The first few months of junior year had been spent with no communication with anyone except Rose when she was officially transferred to Lakewood Prep.

Henry let me keep Rose as a friend, whereas any other student was deemed unworthy by him when they talked to me.

The irony of it was that the rule didn't stop the rumors. It didn't stop any guy from using my name as if I was a thing and spreading lies of how I slept with them. I had my fair share of problems with alcohol the first few months of junior year, but I heard the rumors. I thought Henry would stop them, but he didn't, and after a time, I ignored them and let everyone say what they wanted.

After Principal Richardson had me sit with my brother and his friends, I was allowed to speak with them, and slowly the rule diminished. It wasn't like anyone had been talking to me, but it was as if some of them forgot there was ever a rule. I mean, I was being ignored by most of the school population, but it was more bearable than the first few months of junior year.

Though I was occupied with getting back on my feet the rest of junior year, I still felt a change in people.

I was wrong to believe that anyone would ever take my side after all I did.

I hurt the golden boy of Lakewood.

But not all of it was true, but who would believe me when the golden boy was keeping everyone against me?

That was why I always said Henry wasn't always the golden boy he sought to be. He had his fair share of being wrong too.

It was true, though, he held all the power in school. Sometimes I also think he held the power of this town because he's of the Avilla line. So, everyone loved him and never defied him.

I realized that I would never find anyone in this school who would willingly drive me until my car got repaired.

I never understood why Henry made this stupid rule, and now I didn't understand why the rule was back again. I thought he loosened up because what would it gain him? What would it gain if I didn't talk to anyone?

I had the status of non-existent to my classmates because of my ex-boyfriend.

It looked like Henry didn't want anyone to forget what I did. Of what happened at the party before junior year. Of what I did to his friends before our showdown in the four weeks I returned from New Haven.

Maybe it was revenge.

Maybe it wasn't.

I had to talk to him even if I didn't want to.

How did my life become so complicated?

I was the perfect girl.

Everything was perfect until New Haven happened.

Now I had no idea who I was.

I didn't know if I would ever find myself again or if I ever wanted to.

The freshman was right—I was no one.

Maybe it was best for me to be no one.

With one last look at myself, I wiped the tears off my face that silently cascaded down and the tragedy I made my life thanks to myself. I made my way to the school counselor.