Cassandra's reality check

Once Cassandra stepped onto the Beyer High School parking lot, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. She could see many of her classmates giving her funny looks. She wondered how much they knew about Saturday night. Was Carol bragging about the cruel trick her and her friends played on her?

Once she reached the entrance door, she took a deep breath before opening it up and stepping inside. She slowly made her way down the halls, keeping her head on a swivel. She wasn’t even sure what she was going to say to them. One thing was for certain, she had to keep her rage in check.

As she turned one of the corners, she immediately spotted Carol with her minions, as her mom called them, standing next to her. Then she realized that Carol was crying. She took two steps forward as she observed her friends consoling her. Suddenly, all he rage she was feeling diminished quickly. She stood there staring at the girls when someone bumped into her.

“Sorry,” The boy she only knew as Darrin continued walking.

“Darrin?” She softly said.

Darrin turned around and walked towards her. “Yeah.”

Cassandra nodded towards the girls. “What’s going on?”

“Oh, you haven’t heard?”

Cassandra lightly shook her head. “Heard what?”

“Carol’s boyfriend killed himself last night.”

“What?” Cassandra glanced at the girl , then looked at Darrin. “Are you joking?”

“Why would I joke about that. “ Darrin stated defensively, then turned and walked away.

When Cassandra looked at Carol and her friends, Carol was looking down, but Sally Holler and Jessica Potter were glaring at her.

She slowly started walking towards them.

Sally and Jessica took a couple of steps forward. “Where do you think you’re going?” Sally harshly barked.

Cassandra nodded towards Carol. “I want to talk to Carol.”

“Well, she doesn’t want to talk to you.” Sally retorted with venom in her words.

“I just,” Cassandra deeply sighed. “Never mind. She turned and started to walk away.

“Let her through.” Carol said. Her voice was very hoarse.

Cassandra turned back and slowly walked towards them. Sally and Jessica parted like the red sea to let her through. She could feel their eyes burning a hole through her.

She stopped next to Carol and gave her a sympathetic look. “She gulped.. “I’m so sorry. I...” She took a deep breath. “I really don’t know what else to say.”

Carol looked her up and down. She sniffled and ran her yhumb beneath both eyes. “There’s really nothing else to say.” She sniffled again. “By the way, I heard about your dad.”

She used her tongue to wet her lips and cleared her throat. “I’m sorry too.” She reached her arms out and hugged Cassandra.

Cassandra hugged her tightly.

“Do they know who did it?” Carol took her arms down. Cassandra did as well. Carol took a step back.

“Not that I heard of yet.” Tears began to well up in Cassandra’s eyes. She used a thumb to sip them out. She gulped. “Look, I wanted to ask you a question. But considering what we both have been through, I don’t think I should.”

Carol stared at her a moment, then ran a hand through her hair. “What is it?”

Out of the corner of her eye She could see Sally and Jessica looking at her intently.

Cassandra took a deep gulp. “ I was wondering how... How could you leave me lying there passed out on that park bench?”

Carol looked at her curiously. “Really.” She harshly replied. “After what you said to us.”

“What are you talking about?”

Carol glanced at her friends, then looked at Cassandra with her left eyebrow raised. “You seriously don’t remember what you said to us?”

“No.” Cassandra quickly retorted.

“Oh, that’s right. You were drunk off your a*s.”Carol paused and shook her head. “Well, let me fill you in. You called us losers, and said we’d be barefoot and pregnant before we were twenty.” She took two quick breaths. “ And living off of the government.”

Cassandra’s jaw dropped open. Finally, she said. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

“Yeah, right.” Carol bumped into her as she stormed off, with her friends following her like lost dogs.

“Really.” Cassandra yelled. “I am sorry.” She watched the girls disappear around the corner, feeling like a heel.

chapter 24