C 5

Sorry for the wait ! I've been on holiday and the WiFi in Zante... Not so great. And honestly, I was too busy being drunk the whole week to write anything... so I apologise for this chapter not being so great. Bare with me, I'm just getting into the story, it will get better in a few chapters time !

Enjoy !

*

Tai was exhausted already, not used to Brooke's bubbly personality. After a brief tour of the school Brooke handed Tai her timetable and locker combination. "I checked your schedule already, your first class is with me!"

Tai faked enthusiasm. "Fantastic."

"It's gym," Brooke pouted.

"Not a sporty person?" Tai wondered.

"Let's just say it's not in my blood," Brooke shrugged and smiled at Tai when the bell rang. "Shall we go to the changing rooms?"

"I don't think you'll take no for an answer," Tai muttered. "Lead the way."

Brooke grinned and turned on her heel and walked down the hallway that was slowly starting to get busy. "I'm sure you'll learn your way around really quickly, I did when I moved here," Brooke said. "And I'm awful and directions."

Tai raised her eyebrows. "You were new?"

"Yep, I moved here nearly two years ago," Brooke nodded. "Best and worst decision of my life."

"That guy, was he an ex?"

Brooke stared at Tai in horror and shook her head rapidly. "God, no!" Brooke cried. "He's- He was my cousin."

"Was?"

"Let's just say blood isn't as strong as it seems," Brooke muttered. "We don't talk anymore."

Tai shrugged and nodded, following Brooke in silence as she talked about the school. Tai honestly couldn't care less, but Brooke seemed nice and sweet and Tai didn't want to be mean.

When the two girls finally made it to the changing rooms Brooke led Tai over to the corner where Tai spotted a red haired girl sitting next to a brown haired girl. They were talking quietly and Brooke sighed quietly.

"Hey," Brooke called and the two girls looked up, the brown haired one smiling softly.

"Hey, I missed you this morning," the brown haired one said and Brooke pointed to Tai.

"Sorry, I had to leave early to meet one of the new students!" Brooke said. "This is Tai. Tai, meet Indianna and Kimberly."

Indianna smiled and Tai raised her eyebrows when Kimberly just looked her up and down and nodded curtly.

"Just ignore Kimberly. She's always a bit... Sour," Brooke said and Kimberly glared at Brooke.

"Feel free to tell Brooke to shut up, she never does stop her endless blabbering," Kimberly snapped.

"I'm sensing tension," Tai nodded.

"Be nice," Indianna pleaded. "Please."

"She started it," Kimberly shrugged.

"And I'm ending it," Indianna said. "Not today."

"Are you okay?" Brooke asked seriously and Tai eyed Brooke curiously, sensing that her question meant something a lot more.

Indianna shook her head. "Not really," she said and took a deep breath. Suddenly she froze and looked up at Tai with wide eyes.

"What?" Tai asked.

"Um... Nothing," Indianna coughed.

"I'll go and get you a kit and then you can get changed," Brooke said chirpily, glancing at Indianna before walking away.

"God, is she ever upset?" Kimberly muttered and shook her head.

"Yes," Indianna said immediately. "She hides her pain everyday."

Kimberly shifted uncomfortably and suddenly turned to Tai. "So, new girl," she said, but she didn't seem even remotely interested in Tai. "What brings you to town?"

"None of your concern," Tai said coldly.

"Lose the attitude, why don't you?" Kimberly tutted.

"You first," Tai shrugged and Kimberly narrowed her eyes at Tai.

"Watch yourself," Kimberly warned and Tai raised her eyebrows.

"Is that a threat?" Tai challenged. "Aren't you scared you'll break a nail?"

"It's not a threat," Indianna groaned. "Kimberly isn't good with new people."

"Neither am I," Tai said and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Okay, how about you two just don't talk to each other!" Indianna said, getting flustered very quickly. "I can't handle pointless bickering today!"

"Indie, babe!"

Indianna groaned and covered her face with her hands. "I can't deal with anyone right now!" She whispered and looked up as a brown haired, big boobed, fake eyelashed girl sauntered over to Indianna.

"You've been ignoring my texts, babe!" The girl said. "Why?"

"Stacy, please, can I just be left alone right now?" Indianna asked quietly.

"Why? What's wrong, babe?"

"Everything!" Indianna groaned. "Please, not today."

"I think you should leave, Stacy," Kimberly said sternly, standing up and facing Stacy.

"No, Indie is my friend, she always has been. Unlike you she doesn't hold stupid grudges," Stacy huffed.

"Grudges?" Kimberly gasped. "Do you think she actually wants to be around you? She may not hate you, but you're a reminder of the one person she wants to escape from! Now do everyone a favour, and fuck off."

Stacy's mouth dropped and she looked at Indianna in shock. "You're going to let your little follower talk to me like that?"

"Sorry," Indianna muttered. "I'm just not in a good place today."

"Stacy," Brooke called as she walked over, her tone was softer and kinder, but it wasn't exactly friendly. "Not today."

"You know where to find me, babe," Stacy said and flipped her hair over her shoulder before walking off.

"Sorry bout that," Brooke said brightly and handed Tai a pile of clothing.

"What the hell was that about?" Tai asked.

"You don't want to know," Indianna muttered and groaned suddenly, jumping up and rushing towards the toilets.

"I'll go," Kimberly sighed. "You stay and babysit the new girl."

Brooke huffed as Kimberly walked past her and pursed her lips. "That girl rubs me up the wrong way."

"She seems delightful," Tai said dryly and Brooke laughed.

"She cares for Indie, that's all that matters. I can handle her being a bitch most of the time if she cares about Indie," Brooke said.

"What's up with that girl?" Tai wondered. "She seems... Depressed. Really fucking depressed."

"It's because she is," Brooke said simply and glanced at Tai. "Look, it's not a secret, but don't go talking out loud about it... Her boyfriend died. He was murdered."

"Shit, I thought this town was safe," Tai gasped.

Brooke gave Tai a look. "It used to be."

"When did it happen?"

"About a month ago," Brooke murmured and shivered.

"That's shit," Tai said quietly.

"She has her good and her bad days," Brooke shrugged.

"And that girl, Kimberly, is her bodyguard?" Tai guessed.

"Bingo," Brooke nodded.

"Well... I'll try and not be a bitch to her then," Tai said.

"We'd all appreciate that," Brooke nodded.

*

Indianna stumbled into the toilet and hurried into a stall, lifting the toilet seat up before spewing the contents of her stomach into the toilet. Kimberly followed behind her and cringed as she reached forward and held Indianna's hair back.

"Just so you know, I did not sign up for this," Kimberly muttered and looked away from the sick in front of her.

Indianna chuckled slightly, but groaned when she was sick again.

"God, it stinks," Kimberly whined.

"I can't exactly help it," Indianna mumbled.

"I know, not your fault," Kimberly said and had to stop herself from gagging. "I'm not the best with sick."

"Trust me, I know," Indianna said and slowly stood up, flushing the sick away. "I think that's all."

"Thank God," Kimberly sighed. "You alright?"

"Better than you," Indianna said and raised an eyebrow at Kimberly as she walked past her and stood in front of the sink and washed her mouth out. She sighed and closed her eyes, wanting the world to swallow her up. "I just want to go to bed and never come out," she said quietly.

"You tried that, remember?" Kimberly pointed out. "You made it two weeks and then Kal refused to leave you alone until you actually left your room."

Indianna rolled her eyes. "I didn't want to be mean to Stacy."

"I did."

"Everything that has happened, it's not her fault. She was dragged into this all."

"But she's choosing to stick by that sick bastard," Kimberly shrugged. "I hope he flips and kills her."

Indianna looked at Kimberly with wide eyes. "It's not her fault."

Kimberly shook her head and grabbed Indianna's hand. "Let's go."

*

When Indianna and Kimberly returned she noticed Indianna looked very pale.

"You okay, hun?" Brooke asked and Indianna nodded.

"I can still smell it," Kimberly shuddered and Brooke rolled her eyes and handed Indianna a mint.

"Thanks," Indianna murmured and glanced at Tai. "Sorry about rushing off, I'm not feeling well today."

Tai shrugged her shoulders and nodded.

"Shall we go?" Brooke said and gently took Indianna's hand, giving it a squeeze. She didn't let anyone answer and walked towards the door of the changing room, leaving Tai and Kimberly next to each other.

Tai glanced to Kimberly and both girls shared a cold look before following after Indianna and Brooke.

When they entered the gym Tai saw Indianna and Brooke walk over to two guys. A ginger one who was talking animatedly and seemed very upbeat and a blonde haired one who had his arms crossed over his chest and looked very uninterested.

Brooke let go of Indianna's hand and skipped over to the blonde guy, reaching up on her tip toes and quickly pecking him on the lips. He immediately grabbed her waist and held her close to him when she tried to step back and kissed her again.

Kimberly went and stood by the ginger guy and Tai looked between them awkwardly.

"Tai," Indianna said and stood next to her. "This is Harry and Kal. Guys, this is Tai. She's new."

The guys both looked at Tai and she stared at them with blank expressions.

"Hi, Tai," Kal called and smiled widely. "Welcome to this shithole!"