Chapter Text
Another day, another fucking mess. I can’t even breathe without the air feeling thick with something sticky, like failure. It’s not even 9 AM, and I’m already being dragged to the principal’s office by some clueless secretary who thinks she has authority over me. Whatever. It’s just another day of my brand of chaos. In case you were too dumb to know, my name is Nicole, and I'm probably getting expelled from high school.
I can hear Jecka behind me, trying to keep up in her ridiculously high heels. She’s always trying to act like she’s above the mess, but I can see the cracks in her shiny, preppy persona. Her eyes flicker to me, but I can tell she’s holding back. She’s always been this way — scared to get her hands dirty, scared to upset her little universe of comfort. I’ve been dragging her into my storms for years now, and sometimes I wonder how much longer she’ll put up with it.
You’d think getting expelled once would be enough, right? But no, this is just the latest in a series of my “disruptive” behavior, as they like to call it. Honestly, I think they just don’t know how to handle me. They can’t see the truth — that I don’t belong in this goddamn high school. None of us do. This place is just a breeding ground for boring, pathetic little lives, all marching to the same beat, pretending they’re special.
“Nicole, you can’t keep fucking doing this,” Jecka says, her voice higher than usual, too calm for my taste. She’s always so controlled, like she can’t let herself spiral. It pisses me off, but I don’t show it. I can’t.
“Please, Jecka, not now,” I mutter, not in the mood for another one of her moral lectures. I swear, it’s like she thinks she’s the goddamn conscience of this school, and I’m some demon trying to destroy everything. Whatever. It’s just another reason for her to stick around, right? She’s scared to be alone, and I’m just the tool to keep her tethered.
I take a sharp turn into the principal’s office, and she follows me like she always does, like she has no choice. The room smells like stale coffee and cheap plastic, the kind of air that gets into your lungs and makes you feel trapped. Principal Lynn is sitting behind her desk, looking at me with a level of disdain that only a grown woman could pull off. She’s the kind of person who thinks she’s in charge, but all she really does is sit there and pretend her authority matters.
“Nicole,” she starts, and I swear I can see her eyes twitching in annoyance. “You’ve done it again. Another suspension. How many times does this make? Five? Six?”
I shrug. "Who’s counting?"
She glares at me, but I don’t care. What’s she gonna do? Send me to some boot camp? I’ve been kicked out of better places than this.
Jecka stands there, fiddling with her fingers. She doesn’t say anything, but I can feel her disappointment, like a heavy weight on my chest. She thinks I’m ruining everything, and maybe I am. But I don’t care. She’ll get over it.
“Nicole, this behavior is unacceptable,” Principal Lynn continues, her voice rising in that fake, concerned tone. “You’re expelled. Effective immediately.”
I tilt my head and grin. “Wow, that’s a real shocker. What’s next, Principal Lynn? You gonna tell my mom? Or better yet, make me feel guilty?”
Jecka looks at me, her expression unreadable, and I can feel her pulling away. I hate it. I hate that she’s starting to doubt me, that the cracks are getting wider. But this is just who I am. I can’t be anyone else, and I’m not going to try.
Just as Principal Lynn is about to say something else, the door slams open, and I freeze. I don’t need to turn around to know who it is. Jecka’s new best friend, Kelly, stands there, looking like she’s ready to throw down. The look on her face is one I haven’t seen before — a mix of anger and desperation.
“Nicole,” she snaps, voice sharp. “You’re really gonna leave me hanging like this? After everything?”
Jecka steps forward, but she’s not looking at me. Her gaze is on Kelly, and her face twists with some emotion I can’t quite place. It’s not anger, but it’s definitely something heavy.
“What are you talking about?” Jecka asks, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m not leaving you—”
But Kelly doesn’t give her a chance to finish. She cuts her off, and the words hit like a punch.
“Are you serious? You’ve been hanging out with her all this time, letting her drag you into her shit. And now you’re just gonna act like everything’s fine?”
Jecka’s eyes widen. “Kelly, that’s not—”
“I’ve had enough,” Kelly snaps, turning to me. “You’re a fucking wreck, Nicole. You’ve screwed everything up, and now Jecka’s gonna have to deal with the fallout. You think she’s gonna be your fucking sidekick forever?”
The silence in the room is deafening. Jecka looks at me, and I see it — the shift. The realization that maybe, just maybe, she’s done. And I don’t blame her. I’ve always known it would come to this. I’m a tornado, and people can only stand so much before they’re swept away. But that doesn’t stop it from hurting.
Jecka’s face contorts, and I can see the decision forming. She takes a step back, her shoulders slumping. “I... I can’t, Nicole. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep following you down this path.”
The words hit harder than I expected. The one person who’s always been by my side is finally letting go. But I can’t be the one to stop it. I don’t know how.
“Jecka…” I start, but the words catch in my throat. She’s already walking toward Kelly, leaving me standing there like I’m invisible.
And then, as if the universe couldn’t fuck me over enough, the principal’s voice cuts through the air again, a smirk playing at her lips.
“Congratulations, Nicole,” she says, her tone dripping with satisfaction. “You’ve just ruined your last chance. You’re going to be separated from your little friend here... for good.”
The plot twist hits me harder than anything else. I don’t know whether to laugh or scream. Either way, I’m alone.