WAS I ACTUALLY FORGIVEN?

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO

WAS I ACTUALLY FORGIVEN?

“I didn’t know I could still affect you like that. You’ve not changed Aaliyah. The washroom is still your place of solitude.”

“Kat,” I said, raising my defenses.

“I love your sense of fashion. Your clothes are so cute. Too bad they look better on me.” She walks towards me,

I break into laughter, clutching my stomach as tears pour down my face.

“Stupid, stupid Kat. You’re like the dollar store version of me. It’s too bad your mental issues are so bad, you don’t realize it. It’s purely pathetic if you ask me.”

“If I have mental issues, then you’re so fucking blind. You’re so stupid and trusting of others. I can’t wait for you to be completely ruined because it'll definitely come to bite you in the ass.”

“ You're absolutely mentally unwell. Get out of here and get checked, Kat. Leave before it becomes too late for you. This isn’t middle school. We’ve grown past those years and I’ve chosen to let you go. So do the same so I won’t fucking kill you for what you’ve done to me, because I'll never forget.” I lashed out, walking into her as she backed down. She was standing, back leaned on the sink as I stood in front of her. Good for her to fear me.

“You’d kill me like you did my brother?” She asks and my heart freezes.

I’d guessed that was the reason she was here at Royal Crest Academy. To find out her brother’s killer, but I thought she’d be gathering proof silently instead of accusing me first head on.

“I’m I supposed to have any idea who your brother is or something?” I asked, pretending to be ignorant. My parents tell me to never ever admit to doing something without a lawyer.

“Save those lies for the police. I know you did it.” She says.

“You’re crazy and I’m leaving so you stop spewing nonsense. “ I reach towards her and she visibly flinches. I take the paper towel behind her and step back, using it to wipe the water off my hands before tossing it in the trash. I fix my hair in the mirror and start walking out but she cuts me off, blocking my path out of the washroom.

"So your legs finally unfroze.."

Her hand lands on my breasts and before I can grab it or hit the intrusive hand, it's already flying back with my name tag in her fist. I stepped back in complete shock.

This bitch just ripped the name tag out of my shirt. I looked down and confirmed. There's now a gaping hole in my shirt where my pink bra is now visible.

“Nobody likes the better version of themselves. So I get that you don’t want to recognize me as your superior and rival, but I'll make you accept it soon. And trust me because you will. You will bow to me. You know why ? It's all because I know what you did, Aaliyah, and that’s why I’ll win this war. Niki was there that night and she told me everything. Niki is such a nice girl but you managed to even piss off someone like her. You’re truly something, Aaliyah Waters.”

“I already told your delusional brain that I have no idea.,” I began.

“I know you and my brother had a disagreement and you were the last person seen with him.” She cuts me off.

Intentionally saying ‘disagreement’ to piss me off, so I would defend myself and correct her that he sexually assaulted me, but I checked myself.

“I’m sorry. I really have no idea what you’re talking about. If you want to accuse me, come up with proof next time. As I said earlier, this isn’t middle school where you took everything that was mine from me. This is your last warning. Don't come for me or else I'll kill you.” I said before grabbing her arm and digging my nails hard into them enough to make her bleed before snatching back my name tag from her. I looked at her scratched and bleeding arm, satisfied with my work.

“You’re the cheer captain currently, no? See you at my tryout.” She says with a happy wave as I leave.

What did she mean by that? Tryouts were closed as we were getting to the end of the semester. She couldn’t have gotten Coach Torrie to open them just for her. And she was a crappy cheerleader in middle school. There’s no way she could impress the coach enough to be tried out or taken into the team, but I was still having an unsettling feeling.

I wish I could have ended the exchange without resorting to violence although she absolutely deserved that and worse.

I walked outside to see Kieran looking frantic as he threw open the classroom doors mentioning my name loudly and startling ongoing classes.

I groan as I approached him.

“Kieran.” I called out to him.

He closes the door to the room he had just opened before walking over and engulfing me in a hug.

My mouth lies agape. Kieran has been hugging me frequently these days and Kieran doesn’t do hugs, so that's something.

“Are you okay? Did she touch you?” He turns me over, checking me with his hands, his eyes are frantic as he checks me over.

“If she touched you, I fucking swear to God. Only He can help her.”

“Kieran, I’m fine. I can handle myself.”

“Don’t. I’d do that for you.”

“Kieran…”

“Don’t fight with me about this.”

He was frustratingly impossible. I could hold my own.

“Was that why you didn’t give me a heads up that my middle school bully, and Jer’s sister at that, is here?” I pushed him away from me. I wasn’t going to let this slide without confronting him. He allowed her to catch me off guard when he knew what I'd been through, all that therapy I went through because of the bullying.

“She promised to leave you out of it and I didn’t want to bring back those awful memoires by telling you. I thought I could keep her away, but ironically, I ended up bringing her to you. Besides, I don’t like it when you get involved with Jer’s death. I told you to stop butting in. You did not have a hand in killing him,” Kieran says.

He had a valid point, but how could he have trusted her words that easily? I was beginning to have my doubts. Was I really not being tricked ? Was this not in some masterplan for Kieran’s revenge? Was I actually forgiven?

“If I have mental issues, then you’re so fucking blind. You’re so stupid and trusting of others. I can’t wait for you to be completely ruined, because it'll definitely come to bite you in the ass.”

Kat’s words ring in my head. Was she referring to Kieran? Was that what she meant? I shook my head, refusing to let her get into my head and fuck with my thoughts and the trust I had for Kieran. Her strategy must be to separate Kieran and I by making us doubt each other. Why else would she show up with Kieran and, coincidentally, Kieran didn’t inform me of her arrival? I shouldn’t underestimate Kat. She was extremely cunning.