Something To Believe In

Part 66: (One of Two)
Jenna's Point of View

“How do you expect us to get over it?” Chase and Aubree chorused in unison, fire practically blazing in their eyes.

“Because it wasn’t that big of a deal!” Mason cried. Chase and Aubree just gaped at him, as did several others around them.

“Not that big of a deal?” Chase repeated. “What the duck is wrong with you, man? This is Bennett we’re talking about, not some super hot model! You can’t make out with her like that and expect the rest of us to just be okay with it! I mean, honestly...I don’t care who you duck. Whether it’s Aubree or someone else, I quite frankly could not give a shiet. But when it comes to Bennett...that’s a whole different story.” Mason looked as if he desperately wanted to roll his eyes, but he merely stood there, giving Chase an exasperated look.

“We just don’t associate with her. She’s a ditch.” Chase stated. What a little {insert bad word here}. Not that I’m surprised, though. He’s always been that way, which is part of the reason why I’ve always hated him. At that moment, Aubree's eyes began sweeping the vicinity of the hallway, her cold orbs passing over each staring face with a menacing sort of poison. Suddenly, I felt my heart practically stop as her eyes landed on me.

She stared at me for a good couple of moments before suddenly, a vicious and evil sort of smirk spread across her face. “And look at that,” She stated, never once tearing her gaze away from mine. “The little dlut is right over there.” I felt a pang in my stomach at the word ‘dlut’ and I quickly tore my eyes away, fumbling in my backpack and trying to stuff some of my books into it. I’d done enough standing around looking like an idiot. I just needed to get out of there.

But apparently my thinking was aimed a bit too high at the current moment. “Yo, Bennett!" Aubree's voice rang out. Suddenly, I could feel everyone’s eyes in the entire hallway on me. Every single person - those at their lockers, those frozen in the middle of the hallway, those gathered around Aubree, Chase, Mason - stopped and stared at me.

Then, a buzzing of whispering and giggling erupted, filling the air around me as quickly as fire spreading across an open prairie. I felt my face burn bright red, but I kept my attention focused on my backpack, picking up speed as I shoved my books into it and kept my mindset on leaving.

Aubree let out a maniacal laugh before she began walking down the hallway slowly, folding her arms across her chest as she did so, and letting each of her footsteps be heard as the clopping of her stilettos rang about the building. “Wow,” She commented finally, coming to a halt a few feet away from me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the pointy ends of her hot pink heels, their shape molded perfectly to that of dagger-like triangles.

Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I slowly straightened up, staring into the eyes of Aubree Woods as those all around us watched us, a silent sort of hush evident in the entire hallway. Aubree stared at me with narrowed eyes and a vicious smirk for what felt like centuries, her freshly-manicured nails tapping rhythmically against her pixie-thin arms.

“You really thought you’d be able to get away with making out with my boyfriend like that?” She spoke finally, her voice low and injected with a sick sort of amusement. She let out a laugh, shaking her head. “You honestly thought that some ugly nobody like you would be able to actually catch the interest of someone like Mason?!" I could do nothing but stare at her, my eyes wide and my lips parted.

“What?” Aubree continued. “Did you believe that your little affair with him was actually going to amount to something? Did you brainwash your sorry little self into believing that he would actually want that?” I didn’t respond. Once more, I was left speechless as I just stared at her.

Aubree took a step closer to me and sneered at me. “You’re an idiot.” She spat. “Mason is way out of your league. And he could never actually like someone like you. I hope you know that. He’s a dorny little teenager who enjoys ducking girls. Just like every other guy in this hallway.” She held her hands out, glancing around her with an expression that clearly stated ‘Am I right?’.

There was a pause during which several people snickered and a few guys high-fived each other, nodding their heads and murmuring “Yeah.” obnoxiously. Behind Aubree, I caught sight of the rest of their group.

Chase, Christina, and Elise were smirking in satisfaction, evidently pleased with the way this was going. Riley, Rob, Kelsey, and Leah looked confused. Aiden and Becca looked genuinely upset - their eyebrows were furrowed and they appeared dissatisfied. Mason was just standing there. His face was expressionless and there was absolutely no emotion in his eyes.

It was almost as if what was happening right now wasn’t quite registering within him. Either that, or it just wasn’t affecting him in the slightest.

Aubree made another sneer before she took yet another slow step towards me, narrowing her eyes and smirking. “Just because he’s made out with you a few times doesn’t mean you mean anything to him. In case you didn’t realize this - which you’d be pretty stupid not to - he makes out and ducks random girls all the time. Random girls just like you. Sure, I’m sure he’s made you believe you’re different, or that you’re special...” Aubree paused for a moment there, a sick grin spreading across her face. “But you’re not.” She finished finally, her voice a hiss.

My lips parted slightly and I felt myself subconsciously begin to back up against the wall as Aubree continued to walk towards me.
“Everyone here-” Aubree stated after a moment, motioning around the crowded hallway. “-knows how Mason is. We all know the type of guy he is and what he likes to do in his free time.” She shrugged. “What do you expect? He can get any girl he wants.”

I just continued to stare at her, feeling myself falling into a pit of despair as I found myself in a state of speechlessness. I could barely even think. “Everyone here also knows-” Aubrey began again. “-that Mason loves me. Sure, he and I may have our respective lists of duck buddies. But at the end of the day, the two of us are a couple. Mason and I are dating. And nothing a pathetic little loser like you does is ever going to change that.” He ‘loves’ her? I’d really like to see the logic behind that.

 

Part 66: (Two of Two)
Jenna's Point of View

Before I could muster the courage to make a smart donkey retort like that, however, she had begun to speak again. “You’re really nothing but an attention dhore, Bennett. You’ve been trying to weasel your way into the spotlight for practically all of secondary school and quite frankly, it’s pathetic.” She hissed.

“I have never wanted attention.” I managed to say finally, my voice a low growl.

She threw her head back and let out a harsh laugh. “Bullshiet.” She snapped, glaring at me.

I just stared at her. “You’re a dlut. And everyone can see that from that video Jui Talloway sent out earlier.” Aubree stated loudly. She turned to face those lining the walls of the hallway. “Right?”

Several people started cheering, murmuring in agreement and nodding their heads. A few began whooping and hollering, clapping their hands.
I instantly felt tears well up in my eyes, making my vision go blurry.

“Definitely a dlut.” Chase said lazily, smirking and shaking his head.

“Big-time.” Christina agreed. Elise snickered and nodded at her.

Mason merely looked at them, a strange expression passing over his face. But he remained silent. Aiden looked as if he was about to protest, for he opened his mouth furiously at that moment. Then, suddenly, without a silent explanation or indication as to why, he closed his mouth, choosing instead to remain quiet.

I could feel butterflies swarming within my stomach - sick, horrid, acid-like butterflies. And suddenly, I felt like I was going to be sick.

“It’s just funny because you probably thought you were so special,” Aubree stated, smirking at me. “Making out with the Mason Parker and all.” She rolled her eyes. “But don’t flatter yourself, honey, because you’re not special at all. Hate to break it to you, but you’re the not the first one he’s done things with, and...ultimately...you mean nothing to him.”

“That’s not true.” I stated. I don’t know why I’d said it, or how I’d even managed to speak. It had just...come out. I’d accidentally let the words slip, and now that I had, I was completely regretting it.

 

Mason, what the DUCK are you doing, buddy?!