I was seething at lunch. Peggy and I usually ate at the bleachers but they were crowded today so we decided to go to the cafeteria.

Too

Many

People

"Ohmigosh so he just, put his arm there, no warning, no consent just, BOOM WEAR MAH ARM" I nodded as we found a table. It was near the back.

Katie and Izzy were already sitting there and we waved.

"What are y'all talking about?" Izzy questioned. Peggy and I exchanged glances and laughed awkwardly.

"Well-" I started but Peggy cut me off. "Noah put his arm around Isa in the hallway and it was only because his ex was walking past with- " she paused her rant. She didn't want to hurt Katie. "-someone he didn't like and so he took advantage of Isabel and she went off and she didn't even get a picture of him being mad which I'm kinda sad about-" Peggy continued to talk nonstop but I didn't hear her.

I looked around biting into a fry and then froze. There was a fight. Some short read head was getting beaten up by James. These kinds of things didn't happen a lot. So naturally everyone was watching.

James held the kid by the collar off the ground. He was saying something and punching the ginger in the gut and face. To my surprise, the kid don't cry or look sad or anything. He looked like he was ready to fight back.

While everyone else pitied him, I admired his bravery. I could see how he was trying to stay strong.

Don't get me wrong, I will fight for my friends and I will defend them from anyone. I'm just not up to fighting an angry James. A confused one, yes. A sad one, yes. An angry one, that's a no.

I noticed that no one was stepping up to help. That I understand but some kids were videotaping the whole thing!! That's disgusting.

I tapped Peggy's shoulder still not looking away and pointed towards the action. She and the girls looked over and their jaws dropped. We've heard of fights but never seen one, that didn't include me beating the shit out of James at the mall.

"Should we-" I started asking if we should help but Izzy cut me off.

"I don't think we have to- look!" She pointed to James and I saw what she saw. Teachers were all trying to split up the fight and ended up being a part of it. At this point no one had noticed that the red head had escaped and was walking around. Care free. Like he didn't have a million bruises.

I actually laughed at how little he cared.

The I saw out of the corner of my eye that Katie had walked over to him. They were deep in their conversation when James realized what had happened. He didn't do anything because he had been dragged off to 'containment' whatever that means.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Peggy asked talking a sip of her milk shake. "I don't know maybe they're old friends?" I guessed.

"Nah, I would know him and I've never seen that dude in my life. Does he even go here?" Izzy commented. We all shrugged and watched as Katie and the small dude hugged. She dragged him over to our table and we all shifted pretending that we weren't staring.

"Hey everyone! This is Matthew! Matthew, this is Isabel, Peggy, and Izzy." She pointed to us.

"Nice to meet you all!!" He said with a wave. His voice was kinda low for the size body he had. We all waved and Katie told us about him. To be honest I spaced out. That never used to happen before...

Damn ADHD-

Suddenly my phone buzzed and I looked down at it.
—————————————————
Noah❤️❤️: Hey babe! A lot has happened today. I'm kinda bummed out. Can we talk later? Like FaceTime?
—————————————————
I didn't know what to say. I was still really mad at him for taking advantage of me but Olivia, for all he knows, doesn't. I decided to answer later.

"I mean it looks like I'm not the only one who gets into fights" I heard Matthew say. I looked up and saw everyone giggling and laughing.

I assumed he was referring to my black eye so I decided to say, "I don't know. Peggy why don't you tell him..." I smirked at her and she turned red.

"Ok fine! This one-" she pointed at me, "decided it would be funny to wake me up with an AIRHORN one day. So as a reflex- no- as defense, I punched the closest thing to me," she paused and mumbled, "which was Isa's eye"

We all laughed and I fake glared.

>•<

Back at home, I was studying and typing on my laptop. Next thing I know, a wild Peggy yeets herself through the window and scampers over to my bed.

I sigh and close my lap top. What's the point? I know I won't get any work done. "May I help you?" I asked calmly

"No just bored." She says picking at her fingernails. "OOOH" she exclaimed as she picked up my phone.

"Oh wow, Is' (like isa but just the first part) someones trying to get ahold of you" she said and threw my phone at me.

I gasped and dove for it. "Peggy why the hell would you throw my phone?!" I screeched. I noticed it was vibrating.

I looked down at the home screen and saw, 10 messages?! I know that doesn't seem like a lot but for me, it is.

I unlock my phone and see that all 10 are from Noah. Well 9. One was from Peggy. It said 'coming over '

I decided to read them.

—————————————————
Noah❤️❤️: can we talk now?

Noah❤️❤️: do you want me to call you?

Noah❤️❤️: your not picking up or answering

Noah❤️❤️: you ok

Noah❤️❤️: did I do sm wrong???

Noah❤️❤️: are you and at me?

Noah❤️❤️: Im sorry for whatever I did

Noah❤️❤️:sorry Im spamming you

Noah❤️❤️: just worried

Noah❤️❤️: Im prolly being annoying, I'll stop.

—————————————————
I couldn't help but smile. He was trying so hard!! He must really care-

About oliva. Not me, Isabel.

Peggy has been reading over my shoulder and looked at me. "I know what he did was bad but you should probably call him." She said.

I nodded and put my hair up. Peggy took off my glasses. "What're we gonna do about that bruise?" Peggy asked concern laced in her voice. I shrugged.

"Maybe I'll just show one half of my face" Peggy laughed and I laughed too even though I was serious. She covered my face in concealer.

It felt weird having this much makeup on when I wasn't even leaving the house. But of course Peggy still smeared it all over me.

She told me not to but I still wore my sweatpants and sweatshirt because this man would not () make me get out of my comfy clothes.

I clicked the FaceTime button and waited.

Finally it said connecting and Noah's face popped up on my screen.

We smiled but mine was fake. I was mad at him. He was dating me! Not ... me. Wow I sound really stupid right now.

"So what's up?" I asked him in the best fake genuine voice I had.

"Today was just kinda a bad day." He explained.

I saw an opening to make him uncomfortable and because I was mad at him, I took it.

"Wait wait woah woah. Hold up. You had your arm- around her?" I scoffed. It was fun seeing him get nervous.

Noah slowly nodded. I leaned back and crossed my arms. I made my nostrils flare and stuck out my bottom jaw. "Mhm" I mumbled. "Do go on"

He frowned and tried to explain. "Yeah I mean she's my friend and she's been there for me and I dont know I felt like I had to" my angry face faltered when I realized that he was truly sorry.

I gave him a sad smile and leaned forward. "If i were her," I started knowing perfectly well that I WAS her. "I would think you were trying to take advantage of me so that Amy got jealous." He squirmed a little and looked me strait in the eye.

"You know I like you right? I like you, Olivia Brent, not Amy Sullivan. I am just about the luckiest person ever to have scored someone like you."

I couldn't help but smile. God I was so confused. I opened my mouth to say something but he cut me off.

"Here lemme make it up to you okay?"

"Okay"

"Theres a party with all my school friends on Friday night. You wanna come with me?"

My heart stopped. A party? I've never been to a party! Not one with all the popular people?! Oh god I with I could turn back time to that vending machine and say 'Isabel Marcus'

But I couldn't. I had to go.

"I'd love to." I smiled warmly. He smiled too.

"Okay I have to go now but I'll talk to you later"

I waved and hung up. That was when I realized Peggy was sitting at the end of my bet silently cheering.

"Isa's going to a party!!"

I ignored her and pointed to my face, " take this off my face please"

<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Long-ass chapter today but I haven't posted in a while. Don't forget to go outside and get some sun on those beautiful faces of yours.

Love you all

1603 words