Is Karma a b***h?

Chapter 20

Both Evy and Eddy skipped school the next day. They knew they’d have to face each other again soon.

Evy didn’t know what she would say. And whereas Eddy was concerned, he knew that he wouldn’t be able to handle rejection from her.

Their friends forced them back to school the following day.

That morning, Mrs. Natalia called Evy into the staff room.

“Evelyn,” she said gently, “stop hurting yourself. Hailey and Owen told me everything. They are worried."

“What should I do?” Evy asked helplessly.

“Just follow your heart.”

“I did that once,” she whispered. “Look where it got me.”

“Dear, everything happens for a reason. You need to let go of your past with him. The heart will lead you to difficult situations where it will ache and break, but it is never wrong.”

Those words stayed with Evy.

During the break, she saw Eddy—exhausted, red-eyed, vulnerable. Maddy’s voice cut through the silence.

“Looks like Evy’s back to her old self.”

Evelyn didn’t want any more drama, so she ignored her and tried to leave, but there was no such luck.

“You know, the old look suits you better, Evy. I mean, people don’t change. Even if they do, they come back to normal. I mean, you did pull off your new style and new attitude well, but now you are your old self. Loose clothes, specs—”

Suddenly, Maddy was interrupted by someone whom she thought would never stand up against her. Owen, Haley, Carson, and Kayla tried to stop her, but the only voice that stunned her was Eddy’s.

“Shut the hell up, Maddy. Don’t you dare utter a single word.” He came towards Evy, glaring at Maddy.

“Are you defending this loser?”

“She is not a loser, and if she is, then she is my loser. My loser best friend, Evelyn Brook. And you have no right to insult her.”

“I cannot believe it. You are choosing her side rather than being with me. You know you will be an outcast like her if you are with her.” Maddy pointed out.

“I don’t care. In fact, I like her. If liking my best friend is going to make me an outcast, then so be it. I would happily be an outcast rather than being the person I was before.” He said as he grabbed Evy’s hand.

She looked at him with surprised, teary eyes.

“No one cares, Maddy.” Victor stepped in. “We were wrong and too desperate.”

“Vic, you too. What’s gotten into you?” Maddy gritted her teeth.

“Sense Maddy. After that incident with Evy, I understood how it felt to be laughed at. I was wrong. We were all, and honestly, I wanted people to remember me as a nice person, not a bully.” Victor spoke. “I want to finish high school peacefully and not with grudges.”

Maddy fumed and left the cafeteria after she noticed no one sided with her.

“I am sorry, Evy, for what I did to you. You didn’t deserve that. None of them did. I know I am in no state to ask you to forgive me, but I would like to be friends with you. In fact, I am done with discriminating against people and harassing them. I would actually like to be more human than an animal.”

His words made everyone chuckle a bit.

“I would like that.” She whispered.

Eddy spoke last, “Evy, I know what I did was wrong, and I also know that I couldn’t undo the things, so I wouldn’t ask you to forgive me anymore. I do deserve this. I won’t bother you anymore.”

He walked away, leaving her standing alone with her other four friends.