Chapter Twenty-Two

"Dylan told me what happened. I got to admit, it wasn't good what you did but..." She hesitated as she fought for the right words. I could tell she wanted to make amends but she wanted to close the matter smoothly. My mind then drifted back to what I had do to Dylan. I had been such a bitch. "...you're my friend, I want to stick by you. Dylan is really upset, and I know you regret what you did, I understand! I want to make you both friends again."

"I don't know, Tash. It's not a very good idea, I mean...he hates me enough as it is. I can't even look at him now."

She looked at me with sympathy. "Alice, that's not true. Just go up to him and apologise, you can make this work." I widened my eyes, "Apologise? How is an apology going to make this ok?"

"Trust me. I've got it planned; you are going to make up with Dylan. I promise you."

With that, Natasha led me out of the school corridors and outside nears the benches where everyone hangs out. I hate the benches, one of the worst places of the school grounds! What was Natasha doing? She knew I hated going anywhere near there. Natasha held my wrist in a hard grasp as she yanked me round the school building until we were facing the benches. Three boys and two girls were hanging out there, just casual talk and the girls giggling like utter sluts. One of the three boys was Dylan, and he sat on the table of the bench, his elbows rested on his knees. He looked deep in conversation with one of the girls, but his face seemed unbothered by whatever the subject was.

"Go over there and talk to him." I heard Natasha say and push me forwards. "W-what no way! I-I can't!" I stammer. Natasha sighs, "Of for god sake, Alice...the worst he can do is tell you to fuck off. Just talk to him!" Her voice comes out louder than what I'd like, and I glance towards Dylan who stills sits at the benches. He's looking straight at me, but as soon as our eyes meet, he quickly looks away and starts laughing dramatically with the girls he is talking to. The girl will her hair over her shoulder deliberately and flirtatiously. He scrunches my face up and look back towards Natasha. She's looking at me with pleading eyes. "Please?"

"Fine." I huff and turn towards the benches. God, this is so embarrassing. I glance over my shoulder towards where Natasha remains standing. She shoots me a hopeful smile and I return her a hesitant one. I look down at the ground as I slowly walk up the grass and towards the benches where the group sit and chat. The two girls are giggling like mad and the two boys are talking about how they had recently banged one of them. Typical banter.

Bravely, I suck in a deep breath and take five long steps forward and when I look up I'm only five footsteps away from where Dylan is sitting. He knows I'm standing here and I obviously want to talk to him but her legends he hasn't noticed me. Straight away I know what game he is playing. I exhale, "Dylan...?"

He then looks up and our eyes meet. The girl he's talking to shoots me a dirty look. Dylan doesn't notice he just has his eyes fixed with mine; his expression full of expectance. I clear my throat and look down at my entwined fingers. "Can we talk?" The girl beside him laughs and tosses her hair over her shoulder again, "I've heard about you. You're the whore who sleeps with everyone, aren't you?"

What did she just say? My blood begins to boil, and I glare at her in warning to back off, but she doesn't. Dylan glances towards her but says nothing, fucking hell, say something! This is hard enough as it is.

"I doubt he wants to talk to you of all people. And don't give me that dirty look." The girl snickers and presses her body against Dylan. I feel my insides tremble and my fists automatically clench at my sides; I'd do anything to punch this slut into the middle of next year but I remind myself to contain my anger. I have to keep my temper under control. Dylan leans away from the girl and looks back towards me, "What do you want to talk about?"

Is he fucking serious? "You know what about, don't act dumb." I snap and take in a deep breath. "I'm sorry, just please. Can we go somewhere else so I can explain?" My voice is pleading, and I give him my best puppy eyes. He gives me an annoyed look but nonetheless, he jumps of the top of the bench and steps in front of me. The girl behind him crosses her arms and turns towards the other girl. "You fucking used me, Alice. And you think you can just come over to me and casually say sorry. Do you think we're going to make up?"

"Look I...I know that. That's what I told Natasha, but she's desperate for us to make up." I try to explain but Dylan's expression immediately changes to ours anger. "Are you saying, your just apologising because Natasha told you to! You are some piece of work, Alice! You really

"No! No! I been trying to apologise to you for ages, but I didn't have the guts! I'm so sorry! I really, really am!"

"I love you!" He snaps.

"What?" I gasp. My knees suddenly begin to tremble, and I can't believe what he's just said. He nods and begins to breathe through his nose as if to contain himself, "I fucking love you! Don't you get it! And you used me. You just needed a fuck!" I say nothing just stare at him; he was right I had used him. Please world, kill me. I want to die, just kill me. Even standing here and looking him in the eyes is enough to stab me straight in the heart, how could I have done such a crude thing to him? I was so messed up!

"So, go back to whatever fucking whole you crawled out from, because guess what...!"

"Dylan-"

"I'm done! So, I hope that fuck was worth it, I hope it was worth it all."

I feel my eyes fill and I reached out for him, but he leans away. "Dylan, please..."

"Go away, I can't even look at you. You make me sick."

"Please...please..." I whimper in tears as they slowly begin to trail down my cheeks. I hunk this is the first time I've cried in years; I haven't cried so badly since my parents died. Dylan's expression is sad, and I can tell he is hating to see me cry right now but I don't expect him to give me sympathy because of it. And he doesn't.

"Fuck off." He says in a calm voice and turns bud back on me, walking back over to me if the girls. One if the two boys walk towards him and swing an arm over his shoulder. I can tell their all gossiping about me and chatting about what a whore I am. The whore of the school. I couldn't have out it better myself.

I turn back towards Natasha and run towards her. "See!?!" I shout in her face and barge passed her, our shoulders collide, and I feel her stumble back. "Alice, wait!"

"No! Leave me alone!" I walk fast in longs strides, my hoodie hanging tightly of my head, making sure t cover my hideous face. I was I know; Dylan was right. Revolting. I was so sick and revolting. I push the doors open, entering the science block and stride down the dark corridors as one of the light bulbs on the ceiling flicker. I can still hear Natasha's footsteps thumping urgently from behind me. "Alice!"

I turn around and our faces meet. She suddenly haunts in shock. "I told you! I told you!" I scream furiously.

"No! You ran! It was you this time!"

"It wasn't! I told you! He. Hates. Me!" I literally spell it out, she just isn't getting it, "He hates me!"

"Just give him the time to cool down. He'll come around." She tries to convince me but I continue to shake my head and hold my palms out to stop her. "No, no! I dint care anymore! He's done and so am I! I want to die!" I scream louder than ever before, and Natasha tries to wrap her arms around me but I push her away. "Don't you get it!? I. Want. To. Die!!!"

"Don't say that!"

"I want to fucking kill myself, oh yes I do! And guess what, Tash! I fucking will!" I shout.

"What going on here, girls?" A low voice speaks, and I instantly turn around on my heels. Mr Gates. Oh, just great.

"We're fine, Sir." Natasha say and tugs on my hand to pull me out of one of the exit doors but I snatch my hand away. Mr gates is look down at me, his walkie talky clutched in his right hand. "You can fuck off an all!" I scream and glare up at him. Mr Gates looks down at me in shock, "Excuse me, young lady?"

"You heard! Fuck. Off!"

Natasha gasps and tries to grip onto my arm, but I aggressively shove her away from me, "And you! Just fuck off! All do you! I've had enough! Fuck off! Just fuck off!"

"Alice, calm down." Mr Gates says in a low voice. "Would you like to go down to the cooler room to cool off for a bit?" It wasn't really a question, more of a suggestion. I purse my lips and nod, "Yes. Whatever, just get me away from this fucking hell whole!" Then slowly Mr Gates guides me down the corridor and leaving Natasha standing alone. I ignore her, all of this was all her fault. I told her I didn't want to do it, she never listened. I was done. With her, with everyone.