I decided to be completely honest with Ann-Marie as well as myself. I know that whatever she’ll say is going to be derogatory. She’ll try to put me down and put herself first, with the idea of boosting her self-esteem, undoubtedly. What is this girl going to say? Surely unjustified beliefs about her relationship with Jules, along with mine. Yet even though I know what she says is faulty, she still affects me. 

It’s time Ann-Marie and I had a real talk. Not a dispute. But a way to talk things out. She won’t understand, I’m sure of it. Except that, she must understand what I think of her. My enemy clearly judges me as a heartless bitch, although it’s not the case. We both have hugely different beliefs, and so I’m not anticipating the moment quite well. 

When the time comes, I step outside to meet her at the Gift Shop. I comprehend that she might leave me there in the cold, but I don’t think so. Ann-Marie wants to affirm it right in front of my eyes, to make a bigger effect. It might change anything, maybe or maybe not. I only wish for her to stop harassing me, and to get a realistic version of life. 

As I reach the Gift Shop, I notice her standing in her pink hoodie, her hood on as she glares at me with disdain and amusement. What did I do to deserve such an aggressive glare? Nothing. But she believes I have made her life a living hell for some reason. When this girl was the one who began being on my back last year only because she wanted to. People are bored, sometimes, and they do the worst they can because they know they have the freedom to.  

Ann-Marie is an overly confident teen. She surely believes that everything she has in mind as simple thoughts are the truth. When it really isn’t. It does matter whether it is or not if she’s convinced or something bad-which is quite negative. 

“I didn’t think you’d actually come.” The girl whistles in fake admiration, raising her brows. 

“Why would I not? You could’ve just decided to lead me in that empty classroom and shit, but you didn’t.” 

“I could’ve. I was about to that, it tempted me.” Ann-Marie admits with a smirk, her eyes shining with amusement. 

“You would’ve?” I ask rhetorically, but I’m not shocked at all. I have to say I panicked when she stole me away, but it would be fine even if she’d do it again. “I’m not surprised; it’s the kind of things you’d do.” 

She raises her brow again. I’m certain that she stops herself from strangling me. With the way she looks at me, it appears she genuinely despises me. She then shakes it off, shaking her head, her mischievous smile back on her lips as she sticks out her tongue to wet her dry lips. 

“That’s not the reason why we’re both here, Nora. We can talk about it calmly like civilized human beings.” 

Civilized human beings, she says. And yet I don’t think both of us are “civilized human beings.” Only one of us truly is, I believe. But I can’t say it in her face. She might get angry and begin insulting me carelessly just because she knows it’s true. It’s useless to try and argue with Ann-Marie. 

“Whatever. I hope you know what I think of you.” I tell her, keeping an unreadable expression as I rub my arm firmly. 

“That I’m a barbie? A blue-eyed two-faced bitch that sees everything wrong and the way she wants it?” She inquires, though she doesn’t give me the time to reply, “That’s what everyone would say. You would need a description of how I see you.” 

I pause for a second. Does she not know how she sees me? I see it in her eyes, in her face, by the way she glares at me like I’m some trash that ruined her life. I don’t believe that I am the problem. But in her opinion, I broke her. When she was the one who did it to herself. She’s inconsiderate of anyone who isn’t her at all. 

“You tore me apart, Nora.” Ann-Marie states feebly, keeping her composure, and yet the corner of her lip twitches, betraying an odd emotion that I haven’t seen before; vulnerability. “My family hates me and some of my friends despise me now!” 

“How could you be this selfish to believe that you haven’t done anything wrong!” I hiss, scoffing silently, “It’s your fault if they turned their backs to you, I have nothing to do with it.” 

“Bullshit.” My nemesis bawls in fury, her body shaking as she glares at me, “Everything is your fault. Why can’t you just admit it? Give him back! I deserve him after everything I’ve done!” 

“You’re the one who should admit you did it wrong, Ann-Marie. It’s not like I came to your house and asked your parents to hate you or played tricks with your friends and Jules. It’s not my fault this happened!” 

She slaps me hard across the face. I pause for a moment, taking in the sight of her angry eyes. Her gaze is filled with anger, but also pain, despair, and confusion. She seems to feel bad in some way, but she’s too stubborn and prideful to think that she ever did something wrong. My skin itches, but I don’t mind it. I eye her curiously, realizing how affected she is. I haven’t seen her like this before. Truth hurts. 

“In case you forgot, I’m his main girl.” Ann-Marie replies simply, dusting off her hands on her pants, “You’re just a sidekick. Don’t you dare believe that. I’m just warning you, nothing more. I’m no bad guy in this, Nora.” 

Of course. I knew for sure that she was going to say this. Utter her dirty little lies and try to make me believe that she’s his number one. Well, she used to. But not anymore. Ann-Marie is really on my case this year, and she won’t stop. And I won’t lower my guard, because I know she’s willing to try everything to ruin me and to get her own Jules back. 

As long as she doesn’t go to my friends...Perhaps she will. Yet I won’t be surprised if she does. I’ve learned enough to learn how to cope with this. I won’t make the same mistakes that I made last year. I flinch at the pain slightly, going back home. This’ll need to be explained, I suppose. 

*** 

“Nora, what happened?” My dad asks in worry as he rushes to me. 

“Nothing. I just rushed to a meeting with a friend, that’s all. But it’s fine now. Is the supper ready now?” 

“It is, why do you bother? That’s not the point, what happened to your face? You look a little sad and thoughtful all of a sudden, Nor-Nor.” He insists, leading me to the dining room, where the grandparents are already settled. 

“I believe things are going to be more complicated than I thought it would be.” I speak, my voice a mumble as I sit next to him and twirl the spoon in the boiling soup. 

“What did you say?” 

“Nothing.” 

He wouldn’t understand, and yet I know that I’ll have to tell him eventually. I’m just not in the mood for discussing all of this. I didn’t expect her to slap me too. I believe that he surely realized that my cheeks weren’t red from the cold, and that something happened. It’s too bad, I know it’s only the beginning.