Chapter Four: ❝ When in doubt, blame it on your bladder ❞

I NEVER THOUGHT having a friend in school would be such a big deal. But apparently, when that friend is the new guy and he's a total babe, people take notice.

And they don't just take notice, they stare. It's like they've never seen me before. Which, to be honest, they probably haven't.

The feeling of so many heads turning in my direction as I walked down the hallway with Jason was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. It was so uncomfortable, I swear I could feel my blood boiling and my breathing was all messed up.

If I hadn't been so focused on trying to breathe normally, I'm pretty sure I would have felt the rash that was raging up my skin. It was like I was allergic to attention or something. I was just so used to blending into the background like a chameleon, so having all those eyes on me was a total shock to my system.

I couldn't handle it. In desperation to escape, I blurted the first thing that came to mind. 

"I need to pee. My bladder is about to explode," I said so quickly, in what was probably the most awkward and unnatural way possible. 

And then, without waiting for a response, I dashed into the nearest restroom, feeling like a total idiot.

What the hell, Scarlett?

I stood there, staring at myself in the mirror and I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with me.

I was so pathetic and it didn't really make sense. I mean, I wasn't a total social outcast or anything. I had friends (acquaintances), like the guy who always borrowed a pen from me in History class or the gay couple I sat with during lunch on most days and I was also pretty good at making small talk.

But for some reason, the idea of being in the spotlight made my skin crawl. I was just not cut out for that life; high school was already hard enough without having to worry about being the center of attention.

While still deep in thought, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching the bathroom. As the door creaked open, a pungent perfume filled the air, almost overpowering me.

I turned to see some glitter girl walking towards me, her every step announcing her presence with a jingle of her diamond knuckle rings. She had a contagious energy, and I couldn't help but notice the way her designer heels clicked against the tiles.

As she approached me, I could see the details of her lavish outfit, the intricate patterns of her dress, and the delicate embroidery on her purse. Her glossy hair was styled to perfection, and her makeup looked like it had been done by a team of professionals. She was definitely a Top Drawer.

"Hey! Is everything alright? I saw you run off breathlessly just now," she said, her voice laced with concern.

Wow, a Top Drawer who actually cared about something that wasn't related to the latest designer bag or Instagram filter. I felt a bit surprised.

"Everything's fine. I was just really pressed." I replied, still a bit dazed.

"Yeah right, when in doubt, blame it on your bladder." She chuckled, and I politely laughed too. 

"Schooling here can be overwhelming, sometimes, you know? Even with my 5 million followers, it still feels like I don't really have anyone." She muttered.

I clucked my tongue, "Ouch. I can only imagine what that's like. But you seem to be handling it all pretty well."

She sighed, "Thanks, I try my best. But it's like everyone expects me to be perfect all the time. And honestly, sometimes, I just want to scream."

I chuckled slightly, "I wanted to scream back there." 

"I could tell, I hope everything works out for you. And if you ever need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to hit me up on Insta." She squeezed my hand and smiled.

I smiled back, "Thanks, I appreciate it. What's your handle?"

"It's just my name, Nora Wagner, all lowercase, without space," she replied, winking before walking out of the bathroom.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself. Maybe not all Top Drawers were shallow and self-absorbed after all.

I looked at myself in the mirror one last time, taking a deep breath before I stepped back out into the hallway. I wasn't sure what the day had in store for me, but I knew one thing for sure: I was never going to walk with Jason again.

Not that he had done anything wrong, of course. But the attention that came with walking with him was just too much for me to handle.

So long to walking back home together every day after school.

As I made my way to my locker, nobody was staring at me anymore and I felt a little relieved. The novelty of having a hot new neighbor would eventually wear off, and things would go back to normal. Or at least, as normal as Ivy League High could ever be.

And facts be told, I really needed those 5 minutes in the bathroom to at least breathe properly.

The day went by in a blur and I didn't see Jason once since I ran off to the bathroom like a character from a bad horror movie. You know, the one who always runs away from the killer and ends up tripping over a twig or something.

I just hoped he didn't think I was some weirdo now.

A/N

Phew! Cheers to another chapter down. See you in the next one! 

YES! IT'S A DOUBLE UPDATE.

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Loads of love from me

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