Last Year

nine

Monday morning Amelia got up and got ready for school. She fixed her things and made sure she had her worksheets. She picked up her phone and read a text from Kate that she couldn't pick her up because her car needed fixing.

She replied that it was okay, she was going to get a ride with Mark. She hurried outside and knocked on Mark's door.

"Mark! Are you up yet?" She called out.

His reply was muffled so Amelia knew he was till in bed. She opened the door and went inside. True enough, Mark was still sprawled on his bed.

"Hey- whateryoudoin?"

Amelia tsked him. "You have to get ready for school. I have a quiz first period and Kate can't pick me up. I have to go with you."

"But, but- I don't have to be in school until 10 today.. It's 7:30 in the morning! Way too early, Lee!" He grumbled.

Amelia sighed. Mark had some advance classes last year so there were subjects he did not need to go to class for.

"Well, my class starts at 8:15, dummy! Can I borrow your car then?" She asked. "Maybe you can ask Alex or Clark to pick you up...?"

Mark groaned and held up his finger signaling her to wait a minute. He groped for his cellphone and speed dialed a number.

"Dude- you up? Great. Can you pass by my house? Lia needs a ride to school."

Amelia sighed. "Why can't I just take the car?"

"Thanks, man! See yah!"

Mark sniffed. "Alex's on his way to pick you up. Now, go away! I need to sleep!"

Amelia sighed and threw her hands in defeat. It was bad enough that she had to inconvenience Alex in taking a detour just to pick her up, she was nervous that she was going to be late for first period Chemistry!

She decided to grab her bag and wait by the driveway for Alex. He lived just a couple of blocks down a good 5- 10 minute drive.

Right on cue, she spotted his pick up truck rounding the driveway. She waved and hurried down the steps. The passenger seat opened and she climbed in.

"Hey, Alex! Thanks for picking me up on such a short notice!" She greeted brightly.

Alex smiled and tugged her hair. "No problem, Lia. Got everything you need?"

She nodded and they were off to school.

Finally, Alex and Lia reached the school parking lot. He eased into the space beside Clark's Jeep. They were both laughing at Alex's joke and were still giggling like crazy while getting out of the truck.

"What's so funny?"

Clark apparently just arrived in school as well. He was getting down from his Jeep. He was dressed in a blue plaid polo shirt and khaki shorts. Amelia had to admit, the guy cleaned up pretty well.

Amelia laughed and pointed at Alex. "He's hilarious!"

Clark raised an eyebrow. It disappeared behind his blond hair that covered his forehead.

"Hey Alex! Where's Mark? Why did you take Amelia to school?" 

Is he jealous? Amelia mused.

Alex and Clark exchanged handshakes.

"Mark's being lazy! Oops! There's the first bell! Thanks for the ride, Alex!" She called out and waved goodbye to both the guys.

The two boys waved back and shook their heads as they walked slowly towards the school.

Alex sighed as he watched Amelia enter the school.

"Tristan is such a stupid dickhead!" Alex muttered. "Amelia's one of the nicest, sexiest - man she's perfect! How could he let her go?"

Clark frowned. He wasn't sure he liked hearing Alex say stuff about Amelia's perfection. Yes, they used to discuss how she had grown up to be a babe but it never bothered Clark until very recently.

"Well, too bad we can't date her, right?" Alex added.

Clark's frown deepened and he nodded.

"I thought you're into Ana? You did ask her out last week." Clark said.

"Yeah. Ana is gorgeous but let's face it, Lia is way better. But since I don't want to be dog meat and fed to the piranhas, I'm keeping my hands off her." Alex replied. "Besides, I'm pretty sure I'm not her type..."

Then he gave Clark a funny look before tapping him on the arm as he jogged ahead and headed to his own class.

The day churned on like any other school day. Melissa was sent to the principal's office for shouting in class. It was due to the fact that Keith hadn't stopped dogging her steps since 2nd period Literature.

She had screamed "GET AWAY FROM ME YOU MONGREL!" Much to the surprise of their teacher and class.

The three girls made their way to the lunch room and grabbed the first vacant table they could find. Amelia slumped down and placed her head on top of her crossed arms. Katie sighed and Melissa was sulking.

"I can't believe we still have three more hours after lunch. I don't know what's up with today but I'm feeling lethargic!" Katie groaned.

"I thought I dozed off in Literature class." Amelia said, yawning.

"But then someone screamed her head off..." Kate replied, teasing the sullen Melissa.

"Oy! Leave me alone!" She grumbled.

"Well, you can't blame the guy for trying, Mel. You were making out heavily with the guy. He'a smitten! Aw, just look at him ogling you..." Kate teased.

"Speaking of ogling," Melissa replied dryly "Laura has been burning a hole at the back of your head since we sat down, Lia."

Kate c****d her head and sent a glare towards Laura's direction. She raised an eyebrow and made a shooing action with her hand. Amelia grabbed her hand.

"Leave it. She's not worth the time..." Amelia said.

Melissa straightened up from her slouched position.

"Well, she's not leaving you alone. The biatch is headed this way."

"I need to talk to the slut." Laura arrived at their table and declared imperiously looking down at Amelia.

"Really, Laura. Such language!" Melissa drawled shaking her head. "I think I have some soap here. Come on, let me scrub that mouth clean!"

Laura just gave her a bored look. She gave Amelia a little push on her shoulder.

"Come on, Amelia. We can either discuss it here or in private. Either way, it's your funeral." Laura threatened.

Amelia sighed. "What do you want?"

"You don't have to do anything she says, Lia. Just go away, Laura!" Kate hissed.

People in the lunchroom were starting to stare. There was a ripple of murmurs before a hush fell over the hall.

"I want to talk to this slut! What's wrong Lia? Too guilty? You just can't help yourself, can you?" Laura cried, her voice rising in volume.

Amelia remained seated although she was gripping the edge of the table.

"I have nothing to say to you. " Amelia murmured. "Leave me alone."

"No! Stand up and face me b***h!" Laura yanked Amelia's arm and pulled her out of the chair. There was a collective gasp from the crowd. Unfortunately, it was the same time Alex, Clark and Tom arrived at the cafeteria. They were stunned at the scene before them.

Amelia twisted her arm free and glared at Laura. She wanted nothing more than to punch the girl in the face but that would be stooping down to her level. Besides, she and Tristan already took a lot from her when they betrayed her. She was not about to give her any more satisfaction that she had gotten to Amelia.

"Leave me alone!" She said once again and turned around to grab her bag from the table. She was caught off guard when Laura pulled her ponytail hard.

"Hey!"

"Ow!"

"What's your problem!"

Amelia staggered backwards and as clumsy as she was, she ended up on the floor. She winced since her hair was still in Laura's grip.

"Let go you psycho!" Amelia growled and managed to wiggle free. She scrambled to her feet, slipping but managed to stand up.

"You b***h!" Laura shouted, lunging at Amelia. She raised her arms to keep Laura from clawing her face with her perfectly manicured hands.

"That's enough!" Kate shouted and she pulled Laura off her friend. "What. is. Your. Problem?"

Laura was pulled off by one of the cheerleaders who seemed as shocked as those who were watching. Amelia looked down her arm where Laura had managed to scratch her; a few scratches broke skin.

"Why can't you just leave him be?" Laura hissed at Amelia. Her brown eyes blazed with anger, her skin flushed.

"What? I have no idea what you're-" Amelia replied.

"Tristan! I know he called you! Why can't you keep your filthy hands - "

Amelia gasped. "Oh my god! That's what this is all about?"

Laura pulled free from her friend and tried to lunge at Amelia again. This time, Amelia stepped back and glared.

"You leave Tristan alone!" Laura threatened. "Or so help me, I'll -"

"What? Hurt me? Kill me?" Amelia snapped. "News flash, Laura. You already did. You don't have to worry about me. Tristan is all yours!"

Laura grabbed something from the nearest table and threw it at Amelia. It was a glass of coke and before everyone could react or move, Amelia ended up splattered with the soda from head to foot.

"Oops. My bad... Stay Away!" Laura hissed and then stalked out of the cafeteria her friends in tow.

Melissa and Kate quickly moved forward to help Amelia.

"That b***h! I can't believe she attacked you!" Kate growled.

Amelia tried to smile but she was starting to shake. The aftermath of the anger, humiliation and a whole bunch of other emotions started to disperse making her whole body tremble. Plus the fact that she was drenched in cold cola!

"Come on, let's get you out of here." Melissa whispered. She grabbed their bags and started to steer Amelia back towards the hallway and out of the cafeteria. When they started walking, murmurs and buzzing started.

The guys met the girls by the door and glared at the people who were gawking and whispering as they passed by.

"Is she okay?" Amelia heard Alex ask Kate. She just shook her head and continued walking out towards the empty hallway.

"We can use the bathroom here." Melissa suggested. "I have a spare shirt in my locker. Let me get it!"

Kate shooed the guys knowing that Amelia did not want them to see her break down. She asked them to go and get their lunch.

"We'll fill you in later," Kate called out. "Just go tell Mark-"

"No!" Amelia snapped. "Please don't tell my brother..."

"He will still find out eventually. Something like that does not go unnoticed or undiscussed in this school, Lia." Tom said.

Amelia shook her head. "Then let them tell him. I just don't think I can handle his reaction right now. Please, guys..." She pleaded, her back turned away from them.

Kate glared at the group who eventually nodded. "That's settled, let's get you cleaned up, Lia."

Amelia smiled at Kate gratefully and they disappeared inside the bathroom. Amelia was still shaking but she managed to wash her face in one of the sinks as Kate checked each cubicle for signs of other people.

"Great, we're alone. How are you sweetie?" She asked Amelia, looking at her in the mirror. Her friend's hair was a mess, the soda had sort of formed a gel like consistency making Amelia's hair firm up.

"I-I'm going to be fine. I just can't seem to stop shaking. I think I'm having an anxiety attack." Amelia whispered noticing that her hands began shaking even more. She gasped and felt the familiar tightening in her chest, fear creeping up from some unknown space in her mind coming full frontal.

"Lia- hey, Lia!" Kate called out but to Amelia, her voice seemed far away. The edges of her vision started to dim. "Lia..."

Everything went black.

Amelia opened her eyes and blinked. The light was too bright, she squinted. She blinked some more until her eyes adjusted to it. Once her vision came back, she groped for her glasses but instead of finding them, a pair of hands grabbed hers.

"Hey! You're awake!"

It was Kate.

"Why are your eyes red and puffy, Kate?" Amelia whispered. "Where am I? What happened?"

"You're in the clinic." Kate answered handing her the glasses.

Amelia sat up and put them on. She looked around and realized that they were indeed in the school clinic. She glanced at her right and found Melissa smiling but her eyes were worried. She looked at Kate and realized that she might have fainted in the bathroom.

"Did I- Oh- I'm sorry, Kate. Did I faint?"

Kate nodded, her eyes brimming with tears again.

"You started shaking and turning white. You were gasping for air and I did not know what else to do. I kept calling your name but- but- you-" Kate sobbed.

"I'm going to kill Laura!" Melissa hissed as she stood up and went to comfort Kate.

"I'm sorry for being such a cry baby but seeing you fall on the floor, shaking and almost lifeless- well, I- I started imagining-" Kate babbled.

"Kate!" Amelia cried out, cutting her off. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I'm sorry. But, I'm fine... I feel fine." She reached out her hand and reassured her friend by squeezing her hand.

"How did I get here?" Amelia asked Melissa as Kate tried to compose himself.

Melissa nudged her head towards her left side and Amelia saw Clark seated on one of the beds, lost in thought. His expression was unreadable, he did not say anything.

"He's been pretty silent since it happened." Melissa whispered.

Amelia frowned. "Ugh. I hate Laura with such vengeance!"

"Um- well- not as much as Mark does..." Melissa informed Amelia.

She gasped and turned to look at Melissa. "Where's my brother? Did he do anything stupid? Oh no!"

Melissa shushed her. "Stop freaking out or you'll get another attack! Mark's fine. The guys managed to pull him away and out of the school before he could do anything to Laura. I think they're in the football field helping him cool off. I've never seen him so enraged except for last year..."

Before any of them could speak, the school nurse reappeared and smiled at Amelia.

"I called your parents and your father is on his way." She supplied. "I hope you're feeling better... I was hoping you had medication with you for these attacks but your friend said your bag did not contain anything."

"Oh-" Amelia blushed. "I - um- I don't bring them to school... I really didn't want anybody to know..."

The nurse shook her head. "Really, Amelia. Anxiety attacks can be dangerous especially if you are on your own. It helps to have your prescription handy."

Amelia looked down on her hands. "I haven't had any attacks for a while now... This is the first time in months."

"Well, you shouldn't take this lightly. I don't want to hear news that you're lying on the pavement somewhere unable to move or do anything out of sheer fear."

Amelia wished the nurse would just leave. She did not want her friends to know about her condition of having panic or anxiety attacks. It was something she wanted hidden along with a couple of skeletons in the closet.

"Anxiety attacks? Since when did you have them? Why didn't you tell us?" Kate asked, sniffling and squeezing Amelia's hand.

"I did not want anyone to know and be weird around me." She mumbled. "Besides, I'm all better now..."

"It would have been nice to know that you get these panic attacks, Lia. I mean, at least we'd know what to do and-"

Amelia frowned at them. "And what? Baby me some more?" She snapped. "Everyone acts like i'm something so fragile; walking on eggshells around me making sure that I'm not hurt or i'll break...I-I just want to be treated normally!"

She immediately regretted her outburst when she saw the hurt look in her friends eyes. She sighed and fisted her hands, gripping the bed sheet.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to sound so bitter. I'm sorry I did not tell you..." She sighed, closing her eyes. She did not want to cry because it would mean that it might come again. The possibility of stepping back into the dark and just being lost.

"Oh sweetie.. It's okay. We're the ones who should be sorry- We love you. Seriously, we're just worried. Don't say that you're not going to go all bonkers when the situation is reversed and I'm on that bed..." Kate muttered.

"Thanks." Amelia mumbled feeling sad.

The bed that Clark had been sitting on creaked as he stood up and left the room. The girls exchanged looks and Melissa shrugged.

"He's been weird the whole time. I was on my way back from my locker and I saw him hang around outside the bathroom, alone. Then, Kate screamed and he shot forward like a bullet and went inside. I was about to follow when both of them emerged, Clark carrying you." Melissa stated. She sat on the the edge of the bed and continued. "He took you to the clinic and snapped at the nurse to check on you. While Kate stammered out what happened, Clark just stood at the foot of the bed looking at you while the nurse took care of you."

"When they said you were going to be fine and that you now just sleeping, Clark just sat on the opposite bed and waited. He only moved when Mark came asking what happened. He wanted to rush out after Mark but he looked at you and stayed. The other guys went after your brother to make sure he did not do anything rash."

Amelia moved her arm and winced. She looked down and saw the scratch marks that Laura laughed.

"Wow, you should've probably gotten a tetanus shot or anti-rabies shot..." Melissa joked. "I'm sorry Amelia but she might even have infected you with her STDs..."

Kate and Amelia looked at Melissa incredulously. And, that's how Robert Chandler found his daughter, laughing like crazy with her two friends.

"Come on, Dad. I can't miss anymore school this semester!" Amelia pleaded.

Robert had managed to get Amelia excused from the rest of her remaining classes for the day and requested that she might be given a few days off from school as well. He had been livid with the principal stating that if the school cannot protect its students from each other, he'd be filing a lawsuit..

"It's a petty fight- teenagers always do this. It's natural, Dr. Chandler. We do our best to discipline them but sometimes, a few get out of hand." The principal reasoned.

Robert Chandler did not want to hear of it. Instead he stalked out of the Principal's office with Amelia in tow and announced that they were going home.

Now, Amelia was tucked in her bed arguing with her father and mother about going to school the next day.

"Mom... Come on. It's just one attack. I've never had it since months ago!" She reasoned.

Lillian Chandler smoothed her daughter's hair back and smiled. "We'll see, honey. I'm sure if you get a couple of days rest, you can go back to class. Just- just don't be difficult about this, Lia."

Amelia scowled but did not say anything. Damn that Laura monster! She muttered in her head.

"Honey, I promise. If I see that you're really okay by tomorrow or the next day, I'll personally drive you to school myself." Her father chimed in. "It's just that fainting while having a panic attack can be really dangerous. You could altogether stop breathing... What if your friend wasn't there?"

"You should have taken your medication with you." Her mother added.

Amelia maintained her silence, refusing to say anything else since it seemed moot at this point. She heard her parents sigh and they both got off her bed telling her to rest and then shut the door. Not having any choice on the matter, Amelia felt her eyes grow heavy and soon fell fast asleep. She hadn't felt so tired in a long time.