I didn't know how long I stayed in here, head resting on my knees and hands wrapped tight around my legs.

The girls who were in here had now gone, leaving me all alone in the empty bathroom. I shouldn't even be sat on this floor. Judging by the grittiness and foot marks that was a good indication that they had not washed these floors in a long time. Decades even.

But I didn't want to move. I was scared he would be out there, ready to throw another hurtful comment or a snarky one that he thought was funny. I was too scared to go back to class because I knew Ms Gill would ask questions and I would have no answer to give her. But obviously I had to go back at some point. The lesson was a double.

I hugged my legs to my chest tighter and felt my eyes brimming with water. I was ready to pour it all out from the built up self-pity when suddenly the door to the bathroom swung open, hitting the side of the wall. I flinched at the loud sound and squeezed my eyes shut. Who was it?

"Good, there's no one in here." I heard someone say and I felt like I recognised it. It sounded fake. It sounded high-pitched. It sounded like Stephanie. "I look so ugly today." She sighed and then the room filled with eerie silence. "Aren't you going to tell me that I look pretty? That I look the best?" Stephanie shrieked and it seemed like there were other people with her; presuming it was her friends.

"You look pretty." I heard one say.

"You look the best." Another girl said and I laughed silently into my hands. Ridiculous.

"Ugh, you know what? Forget it. You clearly don't care about me." Stephanie preached and I raised my hands up as if to say, 'what?'

That girl was absolutely deranged.

"I care about you Stephanie, you're my best fri-"

"Yeah, yeah, quit it Kimberly. We all know about your parents' divorce."

Ouch much.

Kimberly, and Rachel both stayed silent, speaking when they were only asked to which seemed pretty sick. Who did this girl think she was? A celebrity? But even if she was a celebrity, a normal person still had the same rights as someone who may of had a lot more popularity and was known all around the world. Celebrities were no different from normal people because they were like us once in their life's.

"Guess what?" Stephanie asked and it sounded like she was taking something out of her bag. Or her stupid expensive jacket she got from, well, it was probably from Gucci.

"What is it?" Rachel asked and I tried to sit up without making any noise. I scooted silently to the crack of the door, eye peering through it to see Stephanie holding her phone up; excessively making those irritating tapping sounds that you do when you have acrylics.

"I took these photo's the other day." The girls looked intrigued as Stephanie twisted her phone around, showing them something. It must've been secretive or super juicy because they gasped, slapping their hands over their mouths. Stephanie giggled in response and turned to the mirror, fixing and pampering her hair and makeup.

"When did you two get back together?" Kimberly asked, trying to get another look at whatever it was that was so amazing, but Stephanie snatched her phone away and placed it into her bag.

"The other day. It was when he came to the beach with the group. He was there and we got talking again." She said and turned her head to them. "He must've missed me. Like I thought he would."

Who was this person? I wanted to know so badly. Who knew listening in on people's conversations in a bathroom stall would be so interesting and eventful. I should do this more often. This was way better than watching free cat videos online.

"How come you aren't together at school?" Kimberly asked and I noticed how Rachel was silent.

Stephanie rolled her eyes and pocketed out her lipgloss. That lipgloss probably costed a million bucks. "Why so many questions?"

Kimberly gulped. "Sorry Steph-"

"Anyway, he said we shouldn't be around each other at the moment. I don't know why but I'm just happy we are together again. I knew he'd soon run after me. I even bought this new hot pink lingerie set I know he's going to die for." Kimberly squealed but Stephanie silenced her just before speaking again. "I think I'm getting a headache." She said, massaging her temples. "Me and Theo had a wild night last night."

Theo? Theo? As in the Theo Willis? The ex she was with not that long ago? Okay, so they were back together? How fun. Wow. Okay.

I crumpled my hands together in attempt to stop myself from punching something. I wanted nothing more than to pull open this door and to punch Stephanie square in the face. But I also wanted to cry. Pull my hair out. I wanted to scream. I wanted to be locked away in my room, banished away from the world.

But no.

I remained quiet.

Like how those girls must of been. Zipped shut until Stephanie wanted their opinion. Although their opinion meant nothing to her.

"You went over to his house?" Rachel asked, coming to stand beside Stephanie as she re-applied her lipstick. Rachel sounded like she was trying to sound interested; apart of the conversation. There were many times she had seemed to voice another opinion or show a different expression when she was near me whilst Stephanie was giving me an ear wigging for something. She always seemed to be different from Stephanie and Kimberly; the two plastics.

"I did. We had the best night ever. He really showed me how much he missed me. He even said that I was gorgeous. The most gorgeous girl he had set his eyes on." I called bullshit. Stephanie sighed in content and calmness and looked like she was fazing out.

She was too happy.

How long had they been having this thing for?

I jumped as the door swung open again.

"Get out!" Stephanie shouted and the freshman that came in, looked absolutely horrified. She squealed and ran out of the door. Poor girl.

"I'm going to his this Friday then he's taking me to the Halloween party." Stephanie said and Rachel nodded. Kimberly, on the other hand, smiled and stood closer to Stephanie. "What? What do you want?" She asked, eyeing Kimberly.

Kimberly swallowed and I noticed how she fumbled with her fingers. "Do you think, maybe, you could see if I can get a date for the Halloween party?" As the words rolled off her tongue, it sent Stephanie into a laughing fit. She even ended up hugging her stomach.

"Oh sweetie," She said whilst trying not to laugh. "Have you seen yourself?"

Kimberly remained silent and Rachel looked shocked. But she also looked hurt for her.

"I'm sorry but no one's going to be your date when you dress like a hippy. Have you seen your hair? What colour is it supposed to be? Dark burgundy or straight out ginger?" She stepped back and took out some gum, popping one into her mouth. "Do you want to have one? I don't think you should eat lunch today. Just sayin'."

Kimberly's eyes welled up with tears but she still took a piece. I was ready to jump out of the stall and give her a piece of my mind when the bell suddenly rang, signalling first period was now over.

"Let's go, I don't want to be late." Stephanie said curtly then satiated out of the bathroom. Kimberly's head was facing down at the ground, following on behind. Rachel turned around to look at her, but she didn't seem to do anything. If I was her, I'd be hugging Kimberly, telling her that she looked so pretty.

I guess the mean girls really had not heart.

🝮🝮🝮

"You made these?" Cadence asked, taking the container of cupcakes that were very obviously store bought. Angel deadpanned, "Yeah."

"These are amazing. But I thought you didn't know how to bake? Or cook?" She asked, raising a brow in question.

Meanwhile, I was pulling open the container lid and intaking the smell of the cupcakes. My stomach was rumbling at the thought of sinking my teeth into these delicious chocolate cakes. Holly moly.

"I can cook! I can bake too!" Angel said defensively and Charlotte shook her head in response. "I can! Remember that time when I cooked you both lasagne?"

Cadence gagged. "It just tasted just of cheese. You forgot to add the meat."

"Yeah, well. Cheese is very tasty. Surely that was nice." Angel crossed her arms over her chest. "You forgot to add meat to it." Cadence said blankly and Angel stuck up her middle finger.

"Did you just give me the finger?" Cadence gasped and Angel shook her head. "What? No!"

"You did!"

"No I didn't!"

As they continued bickering back and forth, I scanned around the field. The football boys were busy throwing the ball around and screaming like their life depended on getting that ball over the line. But I couldn't really say that out loud to them because I'd be their next target until death. I kind of understood football since my brother played it and was very good at it. But I wouldn't say I enjoyed it.

It was sunny outside and too warm to stay inside, even if it was fall. It occasionally got a bit breezy but that would be in the evenings and maybe when the clouds would pass over the sun for a short period of time before it came back out again.

Girls were sat down on their coats and jumpers, or like me and my friends, sat on our own table.

I grabbed out my packed lunch from my bag. After me and my Mom's shopping trip the other day, she had bought some snacks, so I made sure to bring them in today for my lunch instead of buying myself food. I had eaten most of my strawberries at break but still had a few left. My Mom always cut the tops of the strawberries off because she knew I wouldn't eat them otherwise. It was a weird habit of mine.

As I scanned more of the perimeter, I caught Kimberly sat with her friends - though I wouldn't call them friends. They were evil. I remembered envying that group and wanting to be in with them all. But if that was how they treated their so-called friends, then I wanted nothing to do with them.

Kimberly looked sad, and it was probably because of what Stephanie had said to her earlier on. I also noticed how everyone had food, but her.

I felt so bad.

"Will you guys stop fighting for a second?" Charlotte asked, drawing me back in to what was happening. Charlotte leant her chin down onto her arms, making her dark hair fall partially over her face. But I could still just about see her eyes. Her eyes were watching the football boys. Touché. They were hot. Especially when they were sweaty and had no top on.

"But she's saying I can't cook!"

"Or bake." Cadence finished and Angel sent her an offended look before crossing her arms over her chest once again.

"You know what will make everything better?" Angel asked, her spirit seeming to be lifted in a matter of zero point two seconds.

"A pedicure?" Cadence suggested.

"Sleep?" Charlotte asked.

"Netflix and cheap junk food?" I added.

"Mike!" Angel said, clapping her hands together. She was smiling whilst both girls were groaning. "I wonder where he is. He hasn't messaged me like he said he would."

"Too bad. Maybe he's run off to stay sane." Charlotte said and Angel pouted. "Joking. He's right there. In fact, it looks as if he's walking over here."

Our heads snapped towards the direction Charlotte was looking in and we could all see him making his way over. Mike looked happy. No change in that.

As soon as he made it to our table, he leant down and kissed Angel on the cheek. "Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Mike. Where did you go?" Angel asked, looking up at him.

"Sorry, I was in the library with my study group. Did you not get my message?" He asked, taking out his phone.

"Nope. But don't worry, you're here now." Angel said and I made eye contact with Cadence who looked like she was going to throw up. Me too, girl. Me too.

"Hey Willow." Mike waved and I could feel the awkwardness radiating off him. It was a bit weird how he had liked me for as long as I could remember and now he was suddenly devoted to Angel.

"Hi." I said, smiling.

It was like it was planned. Like it was made for that perfect moment. "Look out!" Someone shouted and before any of us could react, a football was being thrown our way, knocking Mike in the back of the head.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Mike asked, cradling his head. Angel looked panicked and stood up next to him, making sure he was okay.

"Sorry, man!" Someone shouted back. I couldn't see who it was due to the reflection from the metal spoon of mine, meaning it was casting a bright outline of the person and didn't allow me to see fully who it was. I raised my hand up and blocked out the sun. "I did warn you." They said.

The figure was approaching closer and closer and as they got closer, I could make out their signature features. Dark hair; strong and sharp jawline, big muscles and tattoo's. It looked like every boy on the football team. Though it wasn't.

"It's alright Theo. Just next time, make sure you know where you're throwing the ball." Mike retorted and Angel tutted in response, glaring at Theo as she helped Mike sit down beside her.

"Yeah, will do. Sorry again." Theo said and bent down to retrieve the ball that was laying on the grass. As he slowly stood back up, his eyes caught mine, then he nodded. He nodded? Was he saying hello? You know that look that males do to their male friends or people who they don't want to talk to or say a proper hello to? Was it that type of nod?

No, it couldn't of been. The nod had more taste to it. He nodded, but remained eye contact just before he turned around. Normally if you were greeting someone briefly with the nod of the head, or passing someone by, you wouldn't stare at them like that. You'd move on and go. Not stay and try and make a point with whatever that was.

I watched Theo pick up the pace from just walking, to jogging back over to his friends. He tossed the ball to Marcus and lined himself behind his friends, ready to get the ball. Then he went. He was running fast, at full speed and jumping up as to grab the ball that was flying in the air. Theo reluctantly grabbed the ball and I was stunned by how quick and coordinated he was. He seemed to be a really good player.

As he made it to the end line, the line where it was the 'goal' the 'victory area', he pushed his hair back with both hands and dragged his tongue along his lower lip. His friends patted his back and all walked over to the bleachers, taking a seat.

I watched him. Stared at him. He was one talented, handsome man. But why would he go so low to date Stephanie again? And why would he want them to be private?

"Oh shit." I mumbled. Clearly I was staring at him for too long because he ended up looking at me. Then he smiled. It wasn't a smirk or a grin. It was just a pleasant smile and not a cheeky one. I found myself nodding. Like he did earlier.

That made him smile again. Wider this time.