Best friends or Enemies?

Chapter Two Tuesday

I dragged myself out of bed going through the phases as I got ready for school. My hair ended up in a messy bun, my jeans were ripped, and my band tee was oversized I looked like I usually did with the added bonus of two black eyes.

Kennedy didn't pick me up for school so I was forced to walk. I hadn't even talked to my best friend since yesterday. I hadn't spoken to anyone. I came home after school and hid in my room crying until I fell asleep only waking up when my mom yelled as she left with my siblings.

I found my locker and saw Kennedy's long blond hair and tan legs peeking from behind her locker door. A second set of legs on the opposite side of her.

“I will actually be there too,” Kennedy said in response to whatever the other person said.

“Oh cool, well hopefully you don't steal Phoebe away from me,” Chad joked.

Of course, it was Chad. Wait. We're they talking about Friday?

I opened my locker shoved my book bag inside and grabbed my Algerba book.

“Oh hey, Phebs,” Kennedy said as she shut her locker.

“Hi,” I mumbled faining interest in my shoes.

“You okay Phoebe?” Chad asked stepping from behind Kennedy.

“Yeah, I'm good, a little tired,” I lie, smiling softly at him.

“I didn't see you in history yesterday did you have to go back to the nurse's office?” He questioned.

“No, I got distracted with a painting,” I said honestly.

“That's cool, what did you paint this time?”

“Probably the same thing she always paints,” Kennedy snapped.

“Yeah, I'm going to go to class guys,” I said stepping around them.

“Wait up,” Chad yelled catching up to me.

Things with Kennedy have been tense since she found out that Chad asked me on a date.

If I had known it would affect our friendship I would’ve said no. Though, I also didn’t want to mess up my chance at happiness.

I didn't know why she was acting so weird she had never been this way when he had any other girlfriend.

Maybe it was just me?

“Is Kennedy acting weirdly to you?” I asked.

“Maybe, I've never seen her snap at you like that,” He answered looking thoughtful.

“Do you think she's upset about our date?” I wondered.

“Nah, probably having a bad morning,” He said.

“Yeah, you're probably right,” I agreed.

We entered the algebra room and I found my desk placing my notebook, folder, and textbook on top.

“Good morning class,” Mr. Finch greeted.

“Good morning,” We replied in unison.

“Today I have decided we will have a pop quiz to test your knowledge of polynomials and quadratic equations.” Our teacher said.

Groans of disapproval echoed through the classroom as he began passing the quiz out.

I knew I was going to fail before I even looked at the paper. Math was my weakness. Between numbers, symbols, and letters all mixed into one equation I couldn’t figure up from down.

“Does everyone have a quiz in from of them?” Mr. Finch asked.

“Yes sir,” we voiced in unison.

“Good, you may begin.”

I flipped the paper over trying to focus on the jumble of ink spots in front of me.

‘Come on Phoebe, you got this just put the pencil to the paper,’ I encouraged myself.

First thing first, name, can’t get this one wrong. Date, oh what is today's date? Ugh.

I looked over the page, there are ten questions. That meant if I got four wrong. I failed. Already my brain drew a blank. I couldn’t remember the quadratic equation and what the heck is a polynomial.

My eyes roamed over the same question for the dozenth time as I tried to comprehend it.

Use the quadratic formula to answer the first five questions:

ax2+bx+c=0

Question 1.) x2 - 3x - 4 = 0

Everyone around me is typing away on their calculators and scribbling on the paper while I couldn’t even manage to start the first question.

I skipped the question moving to the polynomials.

Question 6.) What is a polynomial?

Okay Phoebe you know this. Put the pencil on the paper and write something down. A bead of sweat formed on my brow and the tick of the clock seemed to grow louder. I looked up seeing only twenty minutes of class left.

A polynomial is an equation where the polynomial equals zero.

I wrote trying to remember any other details about it that I could.

I managed to finish the questions as the bell and passed my paper forward with the rest of the class. I was not confident that I passed. I stood from my desk gathered my Algebra book and started for the door.

“Hey, Phebs, wait up,” Chad called.

I stopped outside the door waiting for him to appear.

“How’d you do on the test, I know math isn’t really your thing?” He asked.

I shrugged “I don’t know, I think I got question six right.”

“It was pretty tough,” He lied.

Chad was a math wiz, he always had been. That was one thing he and Kennedy had in common.

“You finished the quiz before everyone else,” I replied rolling my eyes.

“Well, maybe I can tutor you sometime?” Chad asked.

“We all know I need all the help I can get,” I sighed rubbing my brow.

We had approached my locker as we talked and I popped it open exchanging my books. I had chemistry next and I was not prepared to be around Kennedy again.

“See you at lunch,” Chad said heading to the opposite end of the hall.

“See ya,” I called heading toward my classroom.

I walked in the door and headed for my usual seat only to see one of Kennedy’s cheerleading friends occupying it. We always sat together. I stopped at my usual table looking at the girl in my seat.

“Hey, Kenny, Ashley, can I have my seat?” I asked.

“Ew no, I’m sitting here,” Ashely sneered rolling her eyes at me.

“But Kenny and I always sit together,” I said facing my best friend.

“You heard her right Phoebe find another seat for today,” Kennedy sighed going back to her conversation.

I slinked away from them finding an empty table at the back and slumped into the chair. Crossing my arms over the table I rested my head on them trying to ignore the girls in front of me. They turned to look at me giggling before facing forward.

I couldn’t be certain that they were talking about me but it made me feel bad either way. My heart hurt. I was losing my best friend and I didn’t know what to do. We had been attached at the hip since pre-k. I spent every weekend at her house and almost every day after school. We had a lifetime of memories I wasn’t ready to give up on.

The class went by in a blur, today we watched a video about chemical bonding and I barely paid attention past the intro. When the bell run I hung behind until the room emptied and slipped out heading straight for my locker hoping Kennedy would be gone by then. Maybe giving her some space would allow her time to work through whatever was making her angry with me.

“Hey Phebs, heading down to the gym?” Chad asked stopping at my locker.

“Yeah, what about you?”

“Health, we’re performing CPR today,” He replied.

“Nice, it’s a good skill to know especially when you hang out with accident-prone people like me,” I joked.

“Ah, Phoebe is that your way of saying you want my lips on yours?” He grins slyly closing the gap between us.

My face flushes and I look away embarrassed.

“That’s not what I said Chad,” I whispered.

“I’m just teasing Phebs, come on let me walk you to class,” He offered.

We walked in silence and Chad stayed beside me as I slowly descended the stairs.

When we stopped outside the gym door he leaned close.

His lips brushed my ear “You might just get your wish Friday night,” He whispered.

Then he turned and left me standing there. The final bell rang and I dipped into the gym doors trying to stay unnoticed.

“Alright class let's start with some warm-up laps,” Mr. Henry yelled blowing his whistle.

I hated laps.

I bent down to check my shoelaces once more and fell into a slow job behind the rest of the students. The last thing I needed right now was to trip on a shoelace and fall on my face.

A shoulder roughly bumped into me sending me careening forward and slamming my knees on the ground as two blond heads buzz past me laughter echoing in my ears like thunder.

Had Kennedy and Ashley knocked me over on purpose?

I stood dusting my hands off and looking at my bruised knees. The rips in my jeans showed when my skin was already turning a deep purple from the force of the fall. Just great.

“Keep running Miss Mathers,” Mr. Henry yelled blowing his whistle at me.

I started jogging again finishing my first lap and heading into the second when I was jolted forward again.

My hands came out to catch me as the floor approached. My left knee hit the ground hard. Pain sliced through my leg shooting from my knee and making my toes tingle. I tried to stand and stumbled into the wall using it to brace myself.

Small drops of blood dripped onto the floor and soaked into my pants leg. I limped over to Mr. Henry while trying to hold back tears.

“Mr. Henry, may I be excused to the nurse's office please?” I asked motioning to my bleeding leg.

“Go on Miss Mathers, I expect a call from her when you make it,” He said excusing me.

As I limped to the exit I heard Ashley’s mocking tone behind me.

“Aw look who’s going to cry to the nurse again,” she jabbed.

I tried to ignore her but I felt the tears prickling my eyes at her words. She and my best friend had done this to me. I pushed the door open and looked back through the tiny glass pane. I couldn’t see any remorse on their laughing faces.

The walk to the nurse's office took forever and the blood was still leaking from my knee when I arrived.

“What can I help you with today Phoebe?” She asked opening the door.

“I need a bandage for my knee,” I told her.

She helped me to the bed and then onto it. Then slowly she pried my pants from my leg and started cleaning the abraded and busted skin.

I hissed in pain as the rubbing alcohol she used stung the cut. When she determined the wound was clean enough she placed a large gauze pad over it and wrapped it in an ace bandage.

“Here take some Tylenol,” she ordered offering me the packet of pills.

“Thanks,” I said taking them from her. “Can I stay here until after lunch?” I asked.

“Don’t you want to go eat?” She countered.

“Um no thanks, I’d rather the peace and quiet,” I said trying to sound convincing although my stomach chose that time to rumble loudly.

“I think your stomach disagrees,” She chided.

“Please,” I begged.

“Alright, alright, it’s up to you.”

Time passed quickly as I napped in the nurse's office and soon I felt her hand on my shoulder nudging me awake.

“Hmm, what time is it?” I asked stretching.

“Time for you to get back to class,” She replied helping me from the bed.

“Thank you again,” I said as I exited the room and headed for art class.

I didn’t need any books so I avoided my locker and went straight to my perfect escape. At the back of the art room, my canvases stood their comforting emptiness allowing me to express myself in ways words didn’t.

My brush glided over the white expanse leaving colors everywhere it landed. With a few precise swipes a picture formed and I had a direction to follow.

A body appeared and then bruises and pain came. A light peered down on her and she sat with her head buried in her knees. Reds, purples, greys, blacks, and whites were the only colors on the canvas but they looked at home surrounding the small figure.

The bell rang and I placed my brushes in the water rinsing them and putting them on the drying rack. I lifted my hand and wiped my brow feeling paint smear on my forehead. My hands were covered in color and I headed to the sink to clean up quickly.

I had English class next and my older teacher Mrs. Long hated when I showed up with paint on me. I rushed out of the art room as fast as I could on my hurt leg and to my locker. I grabbed my English notebook and limped to class. The final bell rang the moment my butt touched the seat and I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Good afternoon class,” Mrs Long greeted. “Today, I would like for you to find a partner and I will assign you a part of Romeo and Juliet to practice because on Friday you will be presenting it to the class.”

I sucked at acting. I stuttered when I had to give speeches. Nobody was going to want to be my partner. Everyone moved around the room finding their partners easily and I sat in my seat.

“Who would like to allow Phoebe to join their group?” Mrs. Long asked when I was the only one left.

“She can join us,” Ashley said sending a smirk in my direction.

“Thank you, Ashley, Phoebe please join them,” Mrs. Long instructed.

No way was this going to be good. Marissa and Ashley were not my friends. Mrs. Long started assigning parts of the play and we were given act four scene three where Juliet takes the potion to fake her death.

Ashley decided she would be Lady Capulet, Marissa the nurse, and that I would be Juliet. We practiced our lines over and over until the bell rang. I was sure she only wanted me to be Juliet because I had to pretend to die.

Ashley stood and knocked my notebook from my desk and as I went to pick it up she stepped on my fingers.

“Ahhh,” I screamed trying to pull them from under her foot.

“Sorry,” She apologized digging her shoes into my hand before removing it.

My finger throbbed and I tried to stretch them resulting in pain. Why did she hate me? I grabbed the rest of my stuff and went to my locker. It hurt to turn the lock and I winced in pain.

‘Only one class to go,’ I told myself trying to keep my spirits up.

Social studies was one class I was passing with a B, I could remember the pictures in the history book because the art spoke to me and it helped me to remember what happened during each war.

“Geez Phebs, what happened to your today,” Chad asked when I took my seat beside him.

His hand reached for mine and lifted it gently brushing his fingers over my swollen ones. Then he looked at my knee having noticed my limp.

“Ashley stepped on my hand last period and I fell in the gym and had to spend lunch with the nurse,” I told him.

“I’m going to have to start watching you better if you’re going to be in one piece for our date Friday,” He said.

My face heated at his words and I dipped my head to hide my blush. I still couldn’t believe he wanted to take me on a date.

“I’ll make it in one piece,” I whispered.

“Promise?” He asked.

“I promise,” I agreed holding my pinky out.

We had never broken a pinky promise.