Careless Memories

Chapter 2- Bridget's POV

The bell rang for the 2nd period, and I excused myself from the class, leaving a stunned Mrs Loren behind. I started to walk towards my next class. I was halfway there, when I felt my eyes sting with hot tears threatening to fall down. I stopped in my tracks, turning around and making my way to the old abandoned art room no one ever goes to anymore. I looked around to make sure no one was following me. As soon as I made it to the room, I locked the door behind me with the bolt. I sank to the floor and buried my face in my hands, pressing my knees to my chest. I let it all out. I let the tears fall freely, sobbing and shaking, wondering how my perfect normal life went so downhill. I can't even recognise myself anymore. I was breaking inside, and I had no one to turn to; I just couldn't bring myself to tell anyone about it.

After about fifteen minutes, my phone started vibrating in my bag. I ignored it the first time. The call could wait. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. I listened to the vibrations letting it ring. Silence. Then it rang again. The vibrations in my bag seemed to have an effect on the entire room. The space around me seemed to be vibrating and the things in it. I just knew that my mind was playing tricks on me. Silence again. The vibrations stopped and everything stood still again. Then it started again. Maybe it was an emergency. Or maybe THEY were calling. I reached for my bag and searched frantically for my phone at the bottom. I found it, pulled it out and picked it quickly (not looking at the caller ID),on what seemed like the last ring. I held the phone up to my ear. “Bri? Is that you? Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you. Why aren't you in class?” Gosh, he asks a lot of questions when he's anxious. I loosened up at the familiar soothing voice I've grown to love.

“BRI?!! Talk to me, are you okay, babe? Let me know you're not in danger”

“I'm not” I said barely over a whisper.

“Oh good, you had me worried sick. Now where are you? I scanned through the class, and I didn't find you. I knew something was wrong. You never miss History. I waited for you and you didn't show. So now I snuck to the bathroom to call you. Is everything okay?”

“Old. Art. Room.” My voice cracked, choking on tears. He hung up immediately.

Two minutes later, I heard someone running down the aisles. He got to the entrance, he tapped lightly on the door.

“Hey, Bri. It's me” I gathered my strength and hoisted myself off the floor, unlocking the bolt, opening the door for him to walk in. He saw my dishevelled hair from running my hand through it so much. He crouched down to meet my eyes, and he sat next to me, putting his arm around me, pulling me close.

“Hey, don't cry, babe” He pulled me closer to his chest letting me cry on him freely. I loved the way he always made me feel comfortable and never judged me no matter what. He gently stroked my shoulder, whispering calming words into my ears. Fifteen minutes later, the bell rang. Students started swarming out into the hallways.

“Do you want me to take you home?”

I nodded. He always knew what to do or say. He didn't even push me to say what was making me cry; he just wanted me to feel better. I keep falling for this boy every day. He stood up and carried me in his arms. He started walking through all the students, giving us stares. Our relationship wasn't a secret or anything. It was just weird seeing a tall handsome basketball player carrying a crying girl. We reached the school's exit and he made his way to his car parked in the parking lot. The college doesn't exactly have conducive hostels, so everyone basically lived off-campus; except those who genuinely can't afford that. We stumbled upon Rex, leaning against his car, taking a cigarette. He turned to look at us, surprised. He scoffed at the scene, turned around and walked away from us. He was so arrogant all the time. It was annoying. Rex was the bad boy in our school. Rumoured to belong to the most dangerous mafia gang in the country, and working with one of the most powerful men in town, he always gave that bad boy energy everywhere he went. James placed me gently in his car and drove me home. The drive was quiet but the tension in the air was thick.