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Chapter 27 (iii)
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Back in the locker room, I found my reprieve. The others had run themselves tired and were noticeably more subdued than when we’d first walked across the field. No one cared about past schools and old rumours; they were covered in sweat and achy from the run they’d been made to endure. With another class before lunch, they sought to conserve their energy to make it out the other end.
One by one they filed out, heading to their next class until only Madelyn and I remained. A wall of awkward silence wedged itself between us, creating a barrier that kept us at great distance. With the dust settled and all cards laid on the table, it was evident things had gone beyond the point of recovery. The girl had revealed what she thought about me and my misfortune. She’d made her stance very clear.
“So,” I said, breaking the silence when it grew to be unbearable. “I thought I asked you not to tell anyone.” I kept my words simple and was del
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The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 27 (iv)
I was already in danger of being late for history and would do better to mind my own business. It was every bit as likely the boys were innocently waiting around to escort her to class, and I was only seeing monsters everywhere.Madelyn wasn’t a victim. That sort of bad luck was reserved for people like me. Her castle would never crumble, and no real danger lurked in the shadows cast by her brilliant light.I needed to calm down and avoid overthinking to avoid creating an unnecessary predicament for myself. Jayden wouldn’t appear if I found myself in trouble again and Jonie had asked me to keep my head low while she sorted out the mess of the prior day. Try as I did, I couldn’t get Madelyn out of my mind through my afternoon of classes. I’d already gone through the process of tearing down my apprehensions with sound logic and understood the unlikelihood of her ever having been in danger but, stubbornly, my mind clung to the idea th
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 27 (v)
In that moment, what she’d done didn’t matter. The things she’d spread, the people she’d turned against me, it was easy to forget in the face of the girl who sobbed so heartbreakingly.“Kai.” Her voice broke with my name. “I—I feel so…dirty.”“I know,” I said, whispering to maintain the delicate atmosphere that surrounded us.It was a feeling I was well acquainted with; one that never strayed too far lest it be unable to barge back in when I least required it. The knowledge of such unpleasantness made it easier to comfort Madelyn despite my own feelings of hurt and betrayal. In my own time, I wished I’d had someone willing to sit with me and wait until I felt better.Madelyn had only just received her initiation. The girl had a reputation that proceeded her. It wasn’t nearly so prolific that she could give the student body reps a run for their money, but it was solid. She
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 28 (i)
As expected, my proclamation brought on a wave of whispers and mutters. I could see their eyes grow hungry, intent on learning more in light of the revelation I’d brought forth. It was difficult to imagine one person blowing up as much as I had in the span of two days—it was almost inconceivable.That only made it all the more outrageous and, thus, sensational.The girl who’d come out the gate swinging with plans to change the school landscape and snag the president was proving more problematic than her upbeat persona ever alluded to and there were few things an audience loved more than to watch the deterioration of a once untainted saint. The demolition of innocence and the slaughter of the meek; it was their bread and butter.In the absence of any real role in the disaster that had happened, I found it easier to keep my head high. I didn’t flinch away from their scrutiny, meeting their prying eyes head-on. I’d taken on the charact
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 28 (ii)
“I’m sorry, Kai—really, I am. I should never have said what I said to you,” she said, shaking her head in meek submission. “You were right. I didn’t know how difficult or devastating it was and even though I didn’t deserve it…you still tried to help me. Can you forgive me?”I smiled, hoping to lift her from the abyss she’d already begun to spiral down. “I wouldn’t have helped you if I didn’t. I won’t call what you’ve done a mistake, but I get the feeling you’ve already been punished enough. I don’t need to add to that.”The faintest of sardonic smiles graced her lips for the fraction of a second before she thanked me then excused herself. Much like Carmen months before, Madelyn had been defeated by the work of her own hands and would have to take the time to work through the chaos of emotions that came with that.I watched her go, her head no longer held
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 28 (iii)
“They should’ve asked me to help with this year’s Day of Drama,” one of the girls said. “I’d have been a better actress than Madelyn—definitely better than Kai. I was made for the stage.”“I always knew something felt off about the whole thing,” her friend replied.“Shut up; no, you didn’t.”“I’m telling you! I don’t know who she was trying to fool with that ‘rape’ act. She didn’t even know what to say when people asked her about it. The least she could’ve done was make something up, cry a few tears. I don’t know—but I knew it was fishy from the start.”I smiled to myself, amused by their astounding level of ignorance. The word ‘rape’ wasn’t enough to spring open the flood gates, nor was I likely to fall apart the moment someone began spreading my name. Over the years, my skin had thickened, a
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 28 (iv)
Briefly, I considered asking to spend the night at Lilia’s under the guise she’d mentioned needing me, but it was a school night and where Mom wouldn’t have cared, Nana certainly would. Her granddaughter would never be used as free labour for the benefit of an irresponsible woman at the detriment to her sleep and school performance. She would remind me I had homework or otherwise studying to keep up with. There would be enough time to take care of my own children when I had them. The woman would need to sort out appropriate childcare like the adult she was.We pulled onto our street and Mom slowed the car. Once again, her gaze found mine through the rearview mirror and it was every bit as malicious as it had been when she promised to send me to join my father on the other side.“Listen, you little shit. I better not hear a word about Emily before they leave. Tara never fucked around and got herself knocked up so neither did you. God knows neithe
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 28 (v)
“Your sisters are in the kitchen; make sure to say hello before you lock yourself and away to pout until we leave!” Nana called after her.In a move so childish she may as well have been her son, mom stuck her head back down the stairs and yelled a brusque “Hi!” before continuing on her way.“It’s nice to see you, too, Anna!” Aunt Rebecca called after her. Both my aunts exchanged knowing glances. They’d grown up with her and had learned to ignore her erratic moods a long time ago. Sometimes, I marvelled at their interactions. The woman who brought me little more than fear and dread was someone’s little sister. They’d watched her grown, had fought with her…had loved her. Mom didn’t frighten them, nor did they feel the need to tip-toe their way around her.By dinner, Mom had gotten into higher spirits, courtesy of the secret stash of liquor she kept hidden up in her room for occasions such as
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 28 (vi)
The lines of make believe and reality blended seamlessly. My mother and I shared jokes and laughter between us like old friends. It was a world I’d always wanted to be let into; one I’d dreamed so long of but had accepted I would never see. I’d fallen into a beautiful dream; it was the kind I would give anything to never wake from.When I first heard they’d be coming, I dreaded the very thought, but sitting there on the couch nestled into my mother’s side while she threw an affectionate arm around my shoulder, I found myself wishing they would never leave.The doorbell rang.“I’ll get it,” I said, springing from the couch in a better mood than I’d been in for perhaps years. I hopped over my brother who’d been sprawled on the carpet and all but skipped to the door.My blood ran cold at the sight of Lilia and Emi when I opened it. My mouth went dry. “What’s…is everything alright?
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“There’s…there’s something I need to tell you.” I only needed the courage to find the words.Jayden’s brows creased as he took me in. “What is it…?”“You’ll be angry.”“I won’t.”“You can’t promise that; you don’t even know what it is…”“And you can’t be sure I will be until you’ve told me and given me a chance to react.”We sat at a silent stalemate as several minutes trickled by. I knew he was patiently waiting for whatever bad news I would spring, and I knew it would hurt him. The fear I harboured had nothing to do with ending the new fairytale I’d taken on and everything to do with the hesitation I felt following everything he’d done for me and now my brother.He didn’t deserve what I’d done, and it had been all for naught. I never got pregnant and didn’t h
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 37 (i)
Three weeks later, my brother and I dutifully attended our mother’s funeral. There were only a handful of people in attendance and even then, they were mostly family. The genuine friends my mother had made were no more than a handful and only one of them shed any tears.Aunt Rebecca was the only immediate family member to cry with even Nana maintaining a wall of stoicism while the pastor carried on with his final sermon. I didn’t hear most of his words. My eyes locked on the casket waiting to be lowered with a detached sense of disbelief. At any moment, it would open, and my mother would come out barking her laughter at all the fools who’d thought a single bullet would be enough to keep her from her children. She would hug Matt and promise she would never leave him then offer me a plastic smile as she assured me we would talk about it all when we got home.I’d spent the better part of the earlier service with my eyes fixed on the woman while the
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 36 (v)
It was another seven minutes before the paramedics arrived and when they did, there was a race against time to get me stable. I’d already lost too much blood and kept slipping in and out of consciousness. I learned later that the police had also been called but in the haze I’d fallen into, I couldn’t say when they arrived on our usually quiet street.I was loaded into the ambulance with my brother and an officer accompanying us. It was Detective Charles, the man who’d promised my mother he would find out the truth about her ex-husband’s sudden, tragic death. He didn’t know what to make of the scene he’d come onto but knew there was a deep well that buried secrets so dark that two children had no business holding onto them.Conversations carried on around me, but they were too muffled by my fading consciousness for me to hear. The next time I awoke, I was on a hospital bed with my brother asleep on the chair that sat in the corn
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 36 (iv)
“No!” I answered quickly. I hurried to hold the note I’d written up for her to see but she gave it only the shortest of cursory glances before pulling back then throwing her entire weight into the smack she landed on my cheek. The force sent me toppling to the ground faster than I could right myself and by then, she’d begun kicking.“I bet you think you’ve found something, huh? HUH? Think you’ve got the upper hand now; that you can blackmail me because of what you’ve seen? Do you know who I am, little girl? Don’t you know that I will kill you?”I shook my head frantically as I curled into a protective ball. “I didn’t—I didn’t see anything, I swear!”“Don’t fucking lie to me!” Her next kick landed in my face, causing blood to gush from my nose.“I won’t say anything; I won’t, I promise!”“I shoul
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 36 (iii)
I set to decline Adam's offer but, in a flash, he was on his feet pulling on his own pants. “The bus might be a while. I don’t want you standing out by the bus stop waiting for however long.” He pulled for his shirt and slipped it on. “You hungry? We can hit up a drive-thru on the way.”The rumbling of my stomach betrayed any answer I could’ve given. Adam nodded his understanding then led the way from the house. He got me my usual off the menu then dropped me off in front of my house.Adam had tried to fill the ride with small talk, in what appeared on the surface to be a sincere interest in catching up, but I’d already begun to shut down. I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want to feel, to see, to be.“Hey,” he said as I set to walk away from his car. “Remember what I said, alright? I’m here for you.”I nodded, seeing no need to argue and not wanting to prolong the conversat
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 36 (ii)
I swallowed my pride, understanding the role I would have to play. It wasn’t an unfamiliar one and would require no great effort for me to slip into. I dropped the pitch of my voice, forcing it into a sultry invitation I knew he wouldn’t refuse.“Your pay’s built into this favour.” I hated myself.Adam pulled away to look at me, his eyes glistening hungrily. “I’m listening.”I took a deep breath to steady myself. “Emily’s…dead.”“Who?”A surge of hot anger rose in me at his ignorance, but I was forced to swallow it. Adam’s lack of knowledge was in large part my fault. I’d never allowed him to meet her, nor had I ever told him anything about her. She may as well had been a stranger to him—as she truly was—and in that moment, I realised the small stake he had in the decision I’d made…how…insignificant my plight was been for
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 36 (i)
“Hey, Kai.” Madelyn stopped me on my way down the hall. “Wait up.”Reluctantly, I brought my feet to a halt then offered her a forced smile. “Hey.”She began rummaging through her bag as she drew closer before pulling out a pastel pink toddler shirt with a crown printed on the front. Madelyn extended it to me with a sheepish smile. “I saw this when my mom took me shopping and I thought…you know…it’d look really cute on your daughter. It’s probably a little big; we didn’t know her size, but she’ll grow into it, right?”I didn’t think I had any heart left until I felt another piece of it break off. She wasn’t wrong, Emily would have looked amazing in it, but she would never have a chance to grow into it, nor would she ever wear it.The strained smile I’d been forcing dissolved. A lump lodged itself into the back of my throat requiring me to take several m
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 35 (iii)
I considered writing him a note asking that he take care of them, but much like everything else, it didn’t matter. What would I care if he ripped through my room like the Tasmanian Devil after I was gone?The air inside my mother’s room was still. It was the first I’d been in there—the first I’d been in any of her rooms since my father left. Matt was welcome to cuddle and watch movies from time to time, but never me. There was an air of reverence that came with the subtle warning I shouldn’t have been there. I was walking on holy ground as a tainted sinner. Such a transgression would normally fill me with fear but that particular feeling couldn’t have been further away.I took the time to sweep my eyes across my mother’s room. How foreign it seemed, as if I’d been transported to another world. Nothing was out of place and the bed had been well-made. The blinds were half open, allowing light into the room while blott
The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President Chapter 35 (ii)
Uncomfortable and uncertain, the nurse returned to her desk. Seeing her whisper about me with her colleagues brought the laughter to the next level. My insides hurt from how hard I laughed, and I could feel a pressure building inside my head, but even then…I couldn’t stop laughing.Those around me grew unsettled by the persistent nature of my unprovoked laughter. One by one, they rose from the chairs closest to me and made their way to stand at the wall at the opposite end of the waiting room or by the nurse’s desk.Their evasion tickled my insides until they screamed. Those people had nothing to fear; I wasn’t the murderer.By the time I was allowed to see Jayden, the laughter had died. It was replaced by a subdued silence that stood in stark contrast to the boisterous half-cackle half-wail I’d carried on with earlier.I didn’t have the energy for it…didn’t have the energy for anything. I’d been dra
