Chapter Thirty Four
Primadonna

GOING BACK TO school wasn't an easy decision. Sydney had a long talk with her parents and they discussed whether or not she felt healthy enough to go back.  As much as she wanted to stay home,  Sydney knew she couldn't hide forever.  Sooner or later she would have to face everyone.  The only people she wasn't ready to see were the ones that caused the fight in the first place.

Sydney finally got out of those sweatpants and old T shirt and into her normal, bright and colorful clothing. Her hair was out of its raggedy ponytail and now in loose curls. It felt refreshing to actually get out of bed and make herself look like her old self again. It was one step closer to forgetting what happened. A baby step, more like.

The second Sydney walked into school, the walls around her stared to close and she felt as if she couldn't breath. Everyone was staring at her and whispering about her.  The were police officers standing by and checking the student's bags for weapons.  She felt like she was in jail.  Then,  her eyes trailed over to the staircase and she felt like she was going to pass out. 

Crack.  Snap.  Yelling.  Crying.  Shouting.

Just before she was going to turn around walk out,  she heard someone say her name.  "Sydney."

Demetri's tall frame caught her eye. Behind him were Chris and Nathan. She blinked a couple times. "Oh, hey Demetri."

"I didn't think you would be coming back." He admitted and tightened his grip on the straps of his backpack.

"Neither did I." She replied, her eyes flickering to her shoes.

"I was,  uh. . . I was worried."

She looked back up at him.  "You were?"

He let out a small laugh.  "Yeah.  We're friends. . . right?"

A year ago,  and even before then,  Sydney never saw herself being friends with someone like Demetri.  She used to think being friends with girls like Yasmine was the only way to uphold her popular reputation.  She had a history of being mean to Demetri.  She always remembered nearly breaking his nose when they were little.  A lot changed in a short amount of time.  She nodded.  "Yeah,  of course we are."

He smiled.

"I'm sorry I didn't respond to any of your calls and texts,"  she continued.  "I uh,  I haven't talked to anyone actually."

Demetri nodded.  "I understand.  How are you feeling now?"

Sydney tapped her heel lightly on the flooring.  Her brown eyes looked around her at the people that were still staring at her.  Usually,  she loved the attention but now she wanted to take her heels off and gouge their eyes out so they'd stop looking at her.  "I feel awful but I'm trying."

"Well,  uh,  I don't have much knowledge or experience on protecting others,  but. . . if you need anything,  you can come to me."  He offered awkwardly,  pointing to himself with a small laugh.

Sydney smiled genuinely.  "Thanks,  D."

She joined him in a circle with Chris and Nathan.  "Glad to see you back,  Sydney."  Chris said,  Nathan agreeing with a nod.

"Thanks guys.  It feels weird."  Se said and ruffled Nathan's hair.

"Have you been to see miguel?"  The small boy asked,  looking up at her through his glasses.

She frowned slightly.  "Uh,  n-no,  not yet."

They nodded and decided not to push any farther,  not wanting to upset her. The four walked down the hall and a group of freshman girls walked by. They smiled flirtatiously at Demetri. "Hey Demetri," one of them said as they passed by.

Sydney looked at demetri in shock.

"Someone knows who I am." Demetri said in utter shock. "A human female. I thought being friends with a popular girl was lucky enough."

"Good for you, mate." Sydney said and patted his arm.

"You're famous now, meat." Chris added.

When they turned around, they came face to face with Hawk, Mitch, and Bert. Sydney waved at the young boy and he quickly waved back.

"Got something to say?" Mitch asked, looking at Chris.

"Yeah, check out my new Lit book," Chris responded and held up his text book. "It's a lot of hard headed shit on here, y'know what I mean?"

Sydney smirked to herself.

"The security isn't enough to protect your scrawny ass," Hawk sneered at Demetri while looking him up and down.

Sydney took a step forward and glared at him. "Maybe not but I will.  You really want to test me?"

Hawk glared right at her and went to say something but Counselor Blatt walked by and stopped when she saw how close they were to each other. "Everything all right here?"

"Oh, we're all buddies here," Demetri faked a laugh and stepped between Mitch and Hawk, wrapping his arms around them. "Isn't that right, fellas?"

"We're all great friends, Counselor Blatt." Sydney added while wrapping her arms around the two smallest boys, smiling a perfectly fake smile.

"Yeah."  Hawk said with a bitter smile.

"Don't you all have somewhere to be?"  Blatt asked sternly.

"Yes, Counselor Blatt." said Nathan.

When she walked away,  Mitch threw Demetri's arm off him and walked away.  Hawk and Bert following him. Sydney and Demetri had different first periods but he promised her she could sit with him at lunch.

They left and Sydney stood by herself. For the first time, she felt uncomfortable by the amount of stares and whispers.

That feeling quickly went away when she saw a familiar head of blonde hair walk into the front entrance with moon. When Yasmine saw her, fear struck in her eyes. She had covered up the bruises she gave her with makeup up.

"Really moon?" Sydney questioned, looking between the two of them.

Moon sighed. "Guys, don't be this way. We were best friends at one point,  remember?"

"Were we?" Yasmine questioned. "Cause I feel like someone was jealous for the majority of the time."

Sydney scoffed at her. "Jealous? Of what? Someone who got a front wedgie at a party and got a drink dumped on them? Yeah, I'm shaking in my Jimmy Choos."

They seemed to be getting closer to each other because Moon quickly stepped in between them. "Guys, please, let's not do this. Something terrible happened here. Shouldn't that be a sign that we need to forgive and move on?"

"Sorry Luna, but I'm done being forgiving." Sydney said and glared at Yasmine before bumping into her shoulder when she passed by her.

Walking down the hall,  Sydney felt completely alone.  Her and Sam weren't talking,  Aisha had to change schools,  and her best friend was in a coma.  One minute they were all together on the first day of school,  excited for a new year and the next a karate rampage happened and injured multiple people and nearly ended someone's life. How could things go so wrong so fast? 

Things didn't get any better when she walked into her English class to see Charlie already there.  When he saw her,  he immediately got an apologetic expression on his face.  Sydney looked at one of the boys that was sitting in the front row.  "Hey,  move,  now."

He quickly got up in fear and moved seats.  Sydney sat down,  plopping her bag next to her feet.

"Sydney,  please talk to me."  Charlie said from where he was sitting.

Sydney pretended like she didn't hear him.

"I'm sorry, Sydney." He pleaded, leaning forward on his desk.

Sydney didn't respond and only crossed her legs. Her phone rested on her lap and she looked down at it, knowing at this time Miguel would be sending her a text saying he hoped she would have a good day.

The past three hours were completely dreadful. She avoid everyone at all costs, wanting to get to class and out as soon as the bell rang. She was grateful for Demetri and did as she promised and sat with him at lunch. It was the oddest thing ever. She used to be the one making fun of him because he sat at the loser table and now she was technically sitting at the loser table. Only they weren't losers. They were her friends.

But Sydney couldn't ignore the multiple eyes on her. They were starting to get to her. She could hear her name being said from people as they walked by. They were treating her like a zoo animal and like they were staring and pointing at her through the glass. It was like an alternative universe.  Sydney was no longer the West Valley popular girl but the girl who's boyfriend fell off the second floor balcony and was now in a coma.

Suddenly, she felt like she couldn't breath again.

Chris noticed her heavy breathing. "Hey Syd, are you alright?"

Her face turned a light shade of red and she felt like her throat was closing up. She touched it with her hand.

"Sydney, you're turning red." Demetri said in worry.

"Yo, I don't think she can breath."

"Sydney!"

The sudden uproar caused more stares and they saw Sydney breathing heavily and holding her chest, signaling that she couldn't breath.  Her breaths started to turn rigid.

Demetri's voice was fuzzy in her ears.  "Sydney, calm down. Sydney."

It was too much. This was all too much for her to handle. Sydney stood up swiftly and grabbed her bag and she sprinted out of the cafeteria. She ran as fast as she could to the girl's bathroom and swung the door open. She took out the bottle of pills from her bag and dumped three in the palm of her hand. She swallowed them and leaned her hands against the white sink.  Her nails scratched against it harshly.

All her feelings unraveled and she bursted into tears.  Her throat burned like crazy but she could breath.  Only it hurt to breath.  Everything was hurting.  Her throat,  her chest,  her stomach,  her bones,  and her heart.  Her entire body felt like it was on fire.  Her cries filled the entire bathroom.  She looked at herself in the mirror.  She was a complete mess.  Her mascara ran down her face and stained her under eyes.  Her hair was a mess from tugging on it.  Her fountain was streamed with tears.  She never felt so ugly.

She needed Miguel.  She needed him so badly. 

With shaky hands,  she took out her phone and looked through her contacts till she found his name.  She clicked on it and held her phone to her ear.  When it got to his voice mail,  she cried again at the sound of his voice.

"Hey,  this is Miguel.  Sorry I couldn't come to the phone.  Leave a message and try again.  Beep."

"Hey Mig,"  she said shakily and sniffled.  "It's me.  she's.  Your girlfriend,  In case you forgot.  I uh,  I know you won't answer because you're still in a coma but. . . I just needed to hear your voice. It's getting so bad here. My anxiety is so bad and I can't control my attacks. I-I miss you so much, love. I need you so badly. Please wake up."

The voicemail ended and she cried again. She held her phone to her chest. "Please wake up."

Sydney and Demetri's friendship is top tier