Fragments by M. R. Field

at what she did in just a few minutes. She’ll really hurt me if I tell on her!” I sobbed loudly and Hazel wrapped her arm around me, pulling me tightly to her chest.
    “Trice,” she said softly. “Honey, you have to tell someone. I know you are under a lot of stress right now with your solo, but I will tell you now,” she moved me back so she could look directly into my eyes, “that those bitches are going to pay.” Her eyes hardened. “I know you’re scared, but enough is enough.”
    Hazel rarely got fired up, but I could see the harsh determination in her gaze. I sniffed and nodded, leaning closer into her.
    “Trice, I’m not happy with them, either,” declared Haze. “No more are you going to hide from those moles. We will stand by you as you tell your family, and we will stand by you at the school. Remember, Trinity’s dad’s a mean lawyer. I’m sure we can get him in on it if shit hits the fan.”
    The thought of making a huge deal out of this scared me. Foolish, I know .              
    “I know,” I whispered. “Can I just have this weekend and then we’ll work out what to do?” I shivered at the thought of telling someone.
                  By the time the bell went, I was still crying soft tears. I knew that I looked like a mess, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get home.
    “Please don’t say anything …” I begged them. “Just give me until after the concert … I just need … that.” Both girls nodded. We climbed on the bus to whispers from the Mole Patrol friends, saying, “Oh my God! I heard she’s, like, suicidal or something,” while looking directly at me.
                 
    *              *              *              *              *
    That night, I had somehow managed to disguise my arm by wearing a loose-fitting long-sleeved top. I knew that I could’ve made up some type of lie for my mother, but I was too drained to think of anything. I felt like the world’s weakest fool. For years, I had been kicked, shoved, and teased. Of course, it would have to be the weekend of the gala for them to hurt me. The walls of my chest felt tight as I felt tips of darkness slip in further. Would I ever be free from them? I kept hearing Hazel’s words, ‘ Those bitches are going to pay ’, on repeat in my head.
    I sighed and closed my eyes. Images of Stacey grabbing me and cutting me shattered the pleasant pictures I was trying to see. The guilt I felt from not fighting back sooner—for letting them get to me—plagued me. I was tired of the façade that everything was okay. Not once did I tell my parents. Robbie and Alex knew some girls were ‘mean’, but they just thought it was typical high school bullshit.
    I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths. Focusing in on Hazel’s words, my chest relaxed as I’d had enough. They would not ruin this weekend for me. No more running; only living. I just wanted to get my motivation back to do my routine. I was going to use this moment and showcase it. My costume would have to change, and while I lamented to Trin about it on the phone, she gave me another idea that would, in fact, suit my solo perfectly.
    I lay in bed, staring at my ceiling, wondering what tomorrow would bring. Would I do a good enough job for the scout? Or after all this time and practice, would I make a colossal mess and screw up any chance I had at the senior class? I wanted this so badly. I started pep talking, telling myself that I was ‘going to nail it’ and that it was ‘too late to back out’.
    Staring at my ceiling, my phone beeped. I lent over and froze at the name that appeared on the screen. Alex. Anger pooled inside of me. If he had ignored me and kept Stacey happy, none of this would have happened. I angrily unlocked my phone and looked at the message.
     
    Alex: Hey Bea-Bea! You still have that concert tomorrow?
     
    Arsehole , I thought. It was a gala. I began