Harper scoffs. “Now I knowthat’snot true. John never slept with Lydia, and I don’t think Lydia has ever even talked to another guy while she’s been with Eli. She’s too in love with him.”
The other girls all laugh like what she said was funny. “Well, I wouldn’t blame him if hedidcheat on her. I don’t know what he sees in her anyway.”
“I really don’t see the point in y’all always talking about them,” Harper says. “Their relationship isn’t really your business. Plus, Lydia has a lot going on…like mentally. It’s not like she always thinks clearly when it comes to Eli.”
Really?
The tears start to sting at the back of my eyes, but I hold them in, still leaning on the door in front of me.
“See? Even her friends think she’s crazy.”
“He probably just feels too bad for her to leave her.”
“She looks like she’d try to kill herself if he broke up with her.”
“I wonder how easily I could get Eli to hook up withmewhile he’s with her.”
Harper cuts in sharply. “I think you guys need to stop talking about them. I don’t know why everyone is so obsessed with their relationship in the first place.”
“Whatever. Don’t start being weird like her. She must be rubbing off on you or something.”
I hear the girl tell her friends to come on, and they all leave the bathroom together. I slowly open the door to walk out and stop when I see Harper still standing there at the sink. She catches sight of me in the mirror and quickly turns around.
“Lydia—”
I shake my head, still trying to force back the tears, but they’re doing a damn good job at forcing their way out.
“Really, Harper? That’s how you think about me?”
“I tried—I tried to tell them to stop.”
“Barely, Harper! You basically gave themmorereasons to talk about me.”
She starts to stutter, trying to explain. “I-I didn’t—I was just—”
“It is what it is, Harper,” I tell her through tears. “You already picked your side anyway. I haven’t heard from you in how long now? Not once since prom night…” I look at her in the face, the hurt starting to show in my expression. “Not once…I thought we were friends.”
“We were—are—”
“No…we’renot, Harper. Not anymore.”
Her worry slowly shifts into annoyance. “Whatever, Lydia. Keep playing the victim. It really does fit you perfectly.”
I narrow my eyes at her, the anger that’s always hidden under the surface fighting to come up. “Fuck you, Harper.”
“Yeah? Fuck you too, Lydia. And by the way…I always thought you were too good for Eli…butI guess you two are actually perfect for each other. You deserve however he ends up treating you.”
I can’t even respond back before she’s walking out of the bathroom. I walk over and grab the sides of the sink, looking up at my tear-streaked face in the mirror.
How did I get here? How do I keep ending up in these situations? Why am I so fucking unlikable?
Another girl walks into the bathroom, and when she looks up at me, concern is written all over her face. I don’t recognize her, and I don’t understand the pity in her expression, but I know I don’t want it. I don’t want anything from anyone anymore. I’m so sick of feeling this way.
I quickly wipe the tears from my face and rush out of the bathroom, wanting to be anywhere but here.
I barrel down the hallway, too wrapped up in my own thoughts to notice what’s in front of me—until I collide with someone. Their hands grip my arms, steadying me. When I look up, I see Eli. He looks confused and then looks around like he’s trying to figure out what’s wrong with me and who made me cry.
“Are you okay?”
