Pieces of us

Chapter Eleven

I'm sitting alone in class while everyone else has gone out for lunch. Mom has been making me worried since the time she came to school and met Nora's mom. That night, I had heard her sniffling. She's become quite absentminded. And she rarely talks to me. Yesterday, after school, I saw her alighting from a stranger's car somewhere close to the house. When I asked her, she snapped at me. I let out a sigh and lean on my desk. It's all so weird and has me confused.

A few others start returning to the classroom, chattering and laughing. I'm frowning at them like they're the source of my problems. Nicole and Yvonne walk up to me, Nicole puts a hand on my back.

“You okay?” She asks, looking a little concerned.

I only nod. Speaking would most likely give me away.

“We brought some snacks.” Yvonne says, putting a paper bag next to me on my desk. I can smell the pastries but my stomach makes no reaction. “Thank you.” I say to them and open the paper bag, it has two sausage rolls and a cupcake.

“Do you feel unwell? Do you want to go to the sick bay?” Nicole asks me,

“I'm not sick.” I tell her, forcing a smile.

I turn to the door and spot Nora and Patricia walking in. I've been holding back from asking Nora what she knows about our moms. Maybe her mom has said something. But what would knowing do for me? I let out a sigh and turn to the snacks in front of me slowly chewing on the sausage roll while Nicole and Yvonne, quietly return to their seats.

At Nora's seat, she and Patricia seem to be looking for something.

“I definitely left it here.” Nora's saying to Patricia.

They keep searching around her desk. “It's not here.” Patricia says, “Did someone take it?”

“Who would take my locket?” Nora says her arms akimbo.

“Guys, Nora's locket is missing.” Patricia announces to the class.

“Nora, where did you keep it?” Nicole asks, getting up from her seat.

“I left it in my bag.” Nora answers, rummaging through her school bag again. She packs out all the stuff in it and shakes the bag.

“Did someone take it then? Have you asked Eddie or Kevin?” Nicole asks,

“What would they need it for? Why would they even take it from her bag?” Patricia asks,

Nicole merely shrugs. “Was it stolen then?”

“I doubt that though. I must be missing something.” Nora says, rubbing her forehead.

“It would seem it has been stolen though. You left it in your bag this morning” Patricia says,

“Stolen by who?” Nora asks,

Patricia looks round the class at everyone and then her eyes rest on me. I'm looking back at her.

“Dawn was alone in class when everyone else went out to eat…”

What is she on about? I'm glaring at her slowly chewing on my snack

“Patricia…” Nora and Nicole say, simultaneously.

“What? The locket couldn't have grown feet and walked away.”

“So you're saying I might have taken it?” I respond, forcing the sausage roll down my throat.

“No one has ever stolen from anyone in this class. Not until you joined us…”

“Patricia, stop…” Nora says

“I'm sorry. But no one else has a reason to steal your locket. Dawn's the only one who can't afford it…”

I swiftly stand to my feet, “So being poor makes me a thief?”

“Dawn don't listen to her. She's just being stupid.” Nicole says,

Patricia side eyes her before looking at me, “Can we search your bag?”

“Patricia!” Nora says, “stop!”

I can feel the eyes of the others on me. My throat suddenly feels tight and my chest heavy.

“Let her prove she didn't take it by opening her bag.” Patricia says, eyeing me.

“You want proof…” I say, and grab my school bag and walk up to her.

“Dawn, you don't have to…” Nicole starts to say,

“I bet everyone else wants to know as well.” I look from her to the other classmates. I unzip my school bag, turn it upside down and empty it at Patricia's feet before throwing the bag at her.

“Find what you're looking for?” I ask her,

“Dawn…” Nicole tries to speak, but I immediately leave the classroom walking past Eddie and Kevin who are just returning from the cafeteria.

I keep walking without a destination in mind. I move towards the annex building still under maintenance and sit on the staircase where I let all the tears and frustration out.

I suddenly hear movement and turn to see Mark emerging from under the staircase.

“Geez! You frightened me,” I say with a hand to my chest trying to calm my racing heart.

“Sorry, but can you… go find somewhere else to cry?” He says to me.

Is this guy for real?

I rub my face with my palms. “I can stay and cry wherever I want. This is the school's property not yours.”

Mark just sighs, “Need some tissue?” He asks, his face expressionless as usual.

I glare at him and look away. “ Why are you even here ?”

“None of your business.”

I nod my head while blaming myself internally for talking to him like a normal person.

He slowly walks up the staircase and sits a few steps away from me.

“Who said you can sit here?”

“I can sit wherever I want. It's the school's property not yours.”

Petty much.

I'm glaring at him though he can't even see because he has his back turned to me.

“Someone hurt your feelings?” He asks,

“None of your business!” I shoot back. I hear him let out a soft laugh and I do the same while wiping off residual tears from my eyelids.

“Why are you even talking to me?” I ask him.

He shrugs and says nothing without looking at me. I move towards the wall and lean on it, sitting with the class’ snub in silence. I can hear approaching footsteps and then Nora's voice, “There you are. I've been looking all over for you.” I turn to look at her as she starts to approach. Mark quietly stands up, dusts his trousers and walks away.

“Listen… I'm sorry about what happened.” She says, coming up the steps. “Can I sit?” I shrug and watch her as she settles down next to me.

“Why are you apologizing? you aren't the one who accused me.”

“Well.. It involves me, so I'm apologizing to you.”

Nora reaches for her skirt pocket and brings out her silver neckpiece with having an oval shaped pendant. “Eddie took it. Says he found it on the floor and wanted to prank me with it. I'm sorry.”

“Stop saying you're sorry, you didn't do anything wrong.”

I look at her and she's smiling at me, “Can you come back to class?”

I sigh and shrug.

Nora gets up and pulls me up as well, holding my hand as we return to class. I tighten my grip on her hand without thinking.

“Do warn your friend though. Next time, I'm going to break her nose.” I say, making her laugh.

“I'll let her know.” She says.

Just as we approach the classroom, I slow down and she turns to look at me, “What's wrong?”

“Do you by chance know about our Moms’ relationship?” I watch as Nora's brows furrow with a slight look of concern before she shakes her head. Has her Mom also been acting strangely like mine? We enter into the class still holding hands and Nicole is at the door asking where I went. Patricia's side eyeing me and Nora. I can see Mark is back in his seat. Kevin's looking at me as I approach.

“I packed your stuff back into your bag.”

I take a deep breath as I look at him. He keeps making it so hard to not like him. Nora lets go of my hand and I settle down in my seat. She takes the bag from Kevin and passes it to me.

Eddie walks up to me, “Sorry. I guess it's partly my fault.” He says, he taps Patricia's shoulder. “Someone here also owes you an apology.”

Patricia reluctantly turns to me, “Sorry” she mumbles.

“Patricia, you can do better…” Nora's saying,

“I don't need her fake apology. Let her find a place and shove it.” I say to Nora.

“Whatever.” Patricia says, turning around.

Nora looks exasperated as her eyes move from me to Patricia. Just then, the Maths teacher walks in and everyone returns to their seats.