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Chapter Five: Maggie

Days have passed since my last encounter with him. With Evan and much like I was that day, I'm pretty sure of one thing as always.

Pretty sure that my life is now very much over.

Okay, that's borderline over-exaggerating, but you get the picture.

Ever since that day, I was pretty much in a neutral state of mind. For example, after the whole incident, I came back home feeling pretty proud of myself, giving myself a mental pat on the back whilst simultaneously chanting at the back of my head "Yeah! You showed him who's boss!"

I had that mentality. The invincible, no one can touch me now mentality.

Then the much more logical but rather anxious side of my brain interrupted my moment of victory. Little by little, a whole recap of what had really happened sunk in and made me realize what I had just done, and to say the mental voice that blossomed afterward due to the moment of recollection, was a tad bit less encouraging this time.

Troubled thoughts instantly came spiraling down such as ones like "Oh my God, what have I just done? What was I thinking? Was I even thinking straight?"

All the way to "He's gonna kill me. He's gonna kill me and he's probably gonna ask every student to gang up on me and beat me to a pulp like what they did in that Taiwanese drama."

Or even more ridiculous ones such as "I should just move to Alaska, what's even the point of living at this point? I should just set myself on fire."

I was in a major frenzy, and it didn't help when I realized I had more time to regret all my life choices considering it was Friday, meaning I wouldn't be able to see Evan for two whole days after our last encounter. Giving myself more time to commit to the actions that I've made.

Which you think would be a tad bit therapeutic, right? Wrong.

Absolutely, goddamn wrong.

* * *

I've reached a whole new level of complete and utter insanity.

With the amount of time both Saturday and Sunday had provided for me to reevaluate my life choices, it was also probably enough time for me to go bald in such a short amount of time due to the excessive amount of hair pulling I've done with realizing how reckless I was.

But then it'll vaguely bounce back to being absolutely crazy to me being absolutely calm. Reassuring myself that "Yeah, he deserved it. What I did was right." that I wouldn't even be surprised if everyone around me assumed I had gone completely mad at this point.

That's what happened on both Saturday and Sunday, but when it came to the following morning where I was forced to go back to school, that's a whole new topic.

Down to the moment I woke up, got ready, and even when I was drying my hair I was continuously mouthing to myself "You'll do great, he won't be able to do anything."

But then it'll suddenly transition to:

"Oh my god, he's probably gonna run me over with his car the SECOND I step into school. You might as well set yourself on fire now. Like right now. Seriously, do it."

My mother probably sensed the overwhelming panic radiating off me from a couple of doors down, especially when I had gotten down to eat breakfast. I had the kind of body language that showed I was more than ready to karate chop anyone's head off if they even looked at me the wrong way, and she was instantly aware of it.

"You seem a little bit... distressed, so early in the morning." she pointed out as I looked up at her, taking a seat at the dining room table "Is there something wrong?"

"No, it's just... school stuff." I excused myself in a rather unconvincing tone.

She tilted her head, dubious "Well, you know you can talk to me about anything and I'll do my best to help you, okay?" she offered as I gave her a soft smile in return.

"Of course, mom." She then gave me a quick kiss on the side of my head, chattering away as I completely shut my mind off from my surroundings.

I don't wanna have to bother her with childish issues such as me pissing off Evan Williams and the damage of what that can do to my social status and how it was stressing me the hell out.

Because as nervous as it made me feel, for someone who had to take care of me all by herself, hearing about stupid crap concerning school popularity and a bunch of socialites she doesn't even know should be the least of her worries.

After twenty minutes of time flying by and me mindlessly shoving a spoonful of Froot Loops into my mouth, she asked "Are you done with your breakfast, sweetie?" and I nodded, grinning as I handed her my emptied bowl and stood up.

"I'll be heading off now, see you later when I come home. Love you." I said, kissing her on the side of her head as she bid me goodbye.

And just as I was halfway out the door, a voice stopped me "It seems as though you forgot something, dear."

I looked up to the source of the voice and smiled at the sight of our long-time houseworker, Frank, who came to me with my school bag in hand.

"Thank you, Frank," I said, taking the bag from him.

He nodded "Of course, dear. I just hope everything's alright with you now. I've noticed that over the past few days you've been quite stressed so I hope it isn't anything too serious."

"Oh, it's nothing, just a couple of issues regarding... school. That's all."

"Really? Knowing you, that seems hard to believe." It is. But at the moment I wish it really is the main source of my worries right now.

But I just plaster on a smile, a forced one at that "Well, we stumble every once in a while."

"Well, you'll do just fine," he said, grinning as the corner of his eyes crinkled with lines due to old age as he fixed the collar of my uniform "You've been working hard on your studies so if you feel like you need the time off, don't hesitate to do so."

"You know that's never an option," I teased.

"With your brilliant mind, I think it's best to reconsider,"

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I'll see you later, Frank. Love you."

"Love you too, sweetheart." and as I headed out, I couldn't help but think more of what Frank said.

I understand what he meant, I've always been very dedicated to my studies, and all throughout the years, my issues have always been regarding school and nothing else.

That's why I don't want to have to make them think any differently from that by bringing up a rather foolish matter that doesn't concern either my future or is tolerable enough to be considered as an issue. I might've worried and fretted about the whole Evan situation too much, however, I know it's not something I wouldn't be able to handle.

Maybe it's too early to say that now, but I've dealt with much bigger issues with people like him.

If I have done it once, I sure as hell can do it again.

* * *

Arriving at school, I'm not as anxious in comparison to how I was a few hours ago.

Maybe I just let the whole thought go over my head. But can you blame me? It was the first time I ever really called out anyone like that, or at least that boldly for that matter. Whom of which hasn't really known to be called out for any of his mistakes before and was praised for it even.

He's always at the top, untouchable nor dared to be touched or questioned or even criticized, and if you ever tried to do him wrong you'd end just like his recent victim, Mandy.

Speaking of who, still haven't left my thoughts.

I wonder how she is or if she's doing alright, knowing Evan's influence it probably won't take long for some students to start flocking around her - talking shit behind her back and to try and humiliate her just to avenge Evan's honor or some degrading bullshit like that.

For what it's worth, at least she has someone who didn't think much of her intentions as ill and is more than willing to understand her side of the story.

That someone being me.

* * *

Classes are the same as always.

Sitting through my third period which is English Literature, I listen attentively as my professor breaks down our assignment today regarding Shakespeare's works over the years. I scribble down some notes before looking up to check what the time is. 9:58 AM.

"Okay, so just to make sure everybody's on the same page, the assignment is to do an essay tribute of Shakespeare's works, pick about two or three, and contrast each of their own individual plots and see any basic similarities about Shakespeare's writing and how he formulates his plays." Mr. Whitman noted just as the bell rang, signaling the end of classes.

"Be sure they reach up to 2000 words or more." he noted as the students started vacating the room "Ms. Carter, may I please have a word with you?"

I redirected my gaze back to Mr. Whitman just as I finished stuffing my books and notes neatly into my bag before nodding and walking up to his desk "Yes, sir?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I adored your essay regarding Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It was very well-thought-out and I loved it just as much as your peers did," he told me as I beamed.

"I guess Jane Austen just brings out too much of the inner writer in me," I said playfully which surprisingly he chuckled at.

Mr. Whitman wasn't necessarily an approachable figure, but he always gave off a vibe that he wasn't completely hard to get along with, at least for me that is. Get on his good side you might even get a nod or two as a sign of good morning when you show up at his class early.

That's why I considered not only him as my favorite teacher but also his class to be my favorite, apart from the fact English Literature was just a general favorite of mine "Thank you for informing me about it nonetheless, sir. Enjoy your day."

With that, I walked out of his class with a huge smile on my face. I highly expected this day to start off horrendous but shockingly, it went well just like any other normal day for me.

Two more classes left before lunch starts, and hopefully, I wouldn't have any sort of encounter with you-know-who that could potentially tarnish this lovely day that had just begun. It's too early, first of all.

"Maggie! Wait! Maggie!"

Startled, I stopped in my tracks as I whirled around only to be faced with the one person occupying my thoughts ever since I first walked into school this morning.

"Mandy," she gave me a radiant smile, calming my worries and assumptions that she somehow ended up in the deep pit here in Henderson High after her breakup with Evan "How are you?"

"I'm good. I just wanted to check up on you but I realized I never got your number," she said with a sheepish smile as I chuckled.

"Well, give me your phone so I can save my number and we can start texting and exchanging calls from there," I suggested, which she nodded, digging through her pocket right away.

"Sounds great," she chirped adorably whilst handing me her phone, making me shake my head in amusement as I took it and started punching down my digits.

"So how are you? How have you been? After the whole thing with Evan and all?" I asked the second I finished saving my number in her contacts and handed back her phone.

She pursed her lips "Surprisingly okay. I mean it sucked that it had to happen and I'm not expecting to move on right away. After all, six months is a pretty long time."

"Has he tried to do anything to you after that? Because usually when someone tends to piss Evan off, he goes out of his way to make sure the whole school... you know..."

"Oh yeah, no. Actually, after the breakup, everybody acted almost nonchalantly towards me. It's like nothing ever happened. Sure, I'd get the occasional side glances which means they're probably aware that a breakup did happen, but other than that everything's been normal."

"Even with my ex-friend," she rolled her eyes at the term "-Kassie who supposedly pissed Evan off because of how she secretly wanted to sleep with him behind my back. Apparently, she had a little quarrel with him last Friday and she's been talking shit about him since this morning. But even so, Evan didn't make a single move to debunk whatever she's been saying." Mandy said and I couldn't help but knit my eyebrows together in confusion.

He's been silent?

You'd think with everything that happened last week, he'd be all over the place making sure everyone would've moved to Antarctica. With Mandy cheating on him and that Kassie girl pushing his buttons and practically threatening him, he would've at least been screaming Bloody Murder by now. But apparently, he's been anything but? That's weird.

"That's weird, alright," I muttered out loud as Mandy nodded.

"Right? It's so not like him. I mean, it's not like I want him to mess with me, but you'd think with everything that's happened he'd at least try to do some shady stuff? But him being silent after everything that's happened seems so odd of him. He's always been so vengeful."

"Hey, Mandy! Hurry up! Classes are gonna start!" Mandy and I turned around and caught sight of a girl waving in our direction.

Mandy puffed out a breath "Looks like I won't be staying for too long, how about after school? Let's hang out?" she offered as I smiled.

"We'll see. I'll text you if I don't have anything planned."

She nodded before giving me a small wave, which I returned before she walked away.

I would've followed her and got to my class as well, but it's almost as if I was glued to my spot. Rethinking about everything she had told me and feeling my mind almost buzz with curiosity.

It couldn't have been because of what happened between us, was it? No, I shouldn't think too highly of myself to like that. To assume that because of me, he's suddenly switched gears.

But what if? It couldn't have possibly been anything else because before I decided to call him out, he was more than happy to act like his usual self. So why?

"How come he still hasn't done anything yet?" I asked mainly to myself, almost in a whisper.

"... Why? Do you want me to do something, Carter?"

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