Skating on Lies

WHAT IF?

~~TIANA~~

Snip. A thick lock of hair fell to the floor. Then another, and another.

“Tiana, stop! You’re hurting yourself!” Mom tried to grab my wrist. “Baby, please! Think about what you’re doing!”

I yanked away hard, breathing raggedly. “I’m done being her! I’m done being the girl they can break!”

The scissors slipped from my hand. I stood there, staring at the mess on the floor.

“Tiana?” Someone else called this time.

The voice pulled my attention from the hair scattered on the floor. Hazel stood there, my childhood best friend, eyes wide as she took in the scene. “Tiana… what’s happening? Why is your hair like that? Oh God, what did they do to you tonight?”

I couldn’t answer. My legs gave out and I sank down onto the edge of my bed, still processing what I'd done.

Hazel turned. “Auntie… what’s wrong with Tiana? Please tell me.”

“I… I don’t even know anymore,” she whispered “Just… try talking to her, Hazel. Please.” She gave me one last glance before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

Hazel sat down beside me on the bed. For a long moment, she didn’t speak. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out a small tub of my favorite ice cream, the same one we always shared during bad days.

“I brought ice cream,” she said, holding it out like a peace offering. “You want some?”

I shook my head, unable to even look at it.

She stared at the tub. "Tiana Hale refusing cookies and cream? This is serious. Should I call an ambulance?"

Despite everything, a tiny laugh escaped me. "Not helping."

"Good. That means you're still alive in there somewhere."

The corner of my mouth twitched before disappearing again.

Silence settled between us.

Hazel looked down at the untouched ice cream in her lap, then back at me. "Okay," she muttered."Jokes aren't working."

She set the tub aside and gently touched my arm. "Tiana... talk to me. What happened at the party?”

The words spilled out of me as I told her everything that had happened outside. How Mr. Morrison had done nothing and Sophia’s promise that I'd see her again at Harwick. By the time I finished, my voice was hoarse and fresh tears wouldn’t stop falling.

Hazel’s face went pale. “What? They’re going to Harwick too? How did they even find out you’re going there?”

“I don’t even know…” I whispered. “But they do. And they’re going to make my life hell there just like here. It’s never going to stop, Hazel. Never.”

She was quiet for a while, processing everything. Then she leaned back slightly, trying to lighten the heavy air between us. “You could always switch schools. Or go to Harwick’s other school.”

I frowned, wiping my eyes. “There’s a second one?”

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “Downside? It’s an all-boys school.” She waved her hand quickly, a small, nervous laugh. “Not saying you should. I’m joking, obviously.”

But I didn’t laugh. I stared at the chunks of hair on the floor, then at the unfamiliar reflection in the mirror. “You’re right.”

Hazel blinked. “Wait! I was joking, Tiana. You know I’m joking, right?”

I stood up, my hands still shaking. “No, you’re right. I could do it. They’d never see me coming and never hurt me again.”

“Tiana...” Hazel's voice was full of worry now. “That's insane. You can't actually be serious.”

“I can do it. It wouldn't even be that hard.”

“Tiana...”

“If you saw me like this without knowing what happened tonight, you'd think I was a boy.”

She didn't answer.

“You would,” I repeated.

“I wouldn't.”

“Yes, you would.” I looked away. “You don't have to lie to make me feel better.”

“You shouldn't do this.”

“Why not?” I snapped. “You're always with me when I make stupid decisions. What's different now?”

“Because this won't fix anything!” Hazel shot back. “You're talking about pretending to be someone else and sneaking into an all-boys school instead of dealing with the actual problem.”

“The actual problem is them.”

“The actual problem is that they hurt you.”

“And they'll keep hurting me.”

“You'll have me at Harwick,” she said finally. “And Harwick's strict. They'll never get away with the things they did here.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Ridgewood was supposed to be strict too.” My voice shook. “A teacher watched what happened tonight and did nothing. Nothing, Hazel.”

“I know.”

“No, you don't.” The words came out harsher than I meant them to. “You've never had people look at you like that. You've never had to be scared of walking every time you're alone.”

“Tiana...”

“It'll be better there. Boys don't look at each other the way they look at girls.”

“Boys don't have it easy either. Nobody does.”

“Maybe not.” I swallowed hard. “But at least they get left alone.”

Hazel stood up, running a hand through her hair. “This is crazy… mad crazy.”

“Hazel, please.”

“This isn't a plan, Tiana. It's panic.”

“Maybe.” My voice cracked. “But it's the first thing that's made me feel safe all night.”

She stopped walking. “Please,” I muttered. “Just help me.

“You're the only person I can ask.”

Hazel let out a long sigh. "If you get caught, don't drag me into this."

“Definitely.”

"I'm serious, Tiana."

"I know."

Her eyes drifted toward the door. "What about your mum? There's no way she'd agree to this."

I looked away. "She won't stop me."

Hazel didn't look convinced, another sigh escaped her. "Okay. Harwick's split into two, like I told you before. The boys' school and the girls' school. They're separate buildings, separate teachers, separate classes… for the most part."

"For the most part?"

"They still come together for some things.” She pointed at me. "You won't be able to avoid the girls completely."

"They won't know it's me."

"Tiana..."

"They won't."

Hazel studied me for a long moment before shaking her head. "I've got a really bad feeling about this."

"So do I."

For a moment, neither of us said anything. Finally, Hazel glanced at her phone and stood up. "I should go before my brother tells my mum I've disappeared off the face of the earth."

A weak smile tugged at my lips.

She moved toward the door before stopping. “Transfer anyway," she said. "With your grades, they'll probably fight each other to accept you."