_______________
L E A V E
(n.) to cause to remain as a trace or aftereffect
________________
One year ago
° ° °
"HEY PARIS Fatter, " a couple boys smirked as they walked past the brunette, hitting her shoulder and snickering. She ignored them and dragged her hoodie farther down to cover her face and tightened the straps of her backpack, increasing her pace.
After today, they're going to regret ever bullying her.
"Hey, babe!" the brunette couldn't help but smile a little at her best friend's voice, the gorgeous Bleu Ivy.
Long, wavy golden locks that she had dyed silver over the break fell in perfect careless waves around her slim shoulders. Her tan made her look more alive, and made those silver-blue eyes pop with a bat of those long lashes. Her jawline was on point, her nose perfect, her lips luscious. She wore a black sleeveless crop-top, her toned abs showing. Her long, tanned legs were bare thanks to the ripped cut-off shorts she wore.
Stunning was an understatement for the famous Bleu Ivy.
Now their school of course had a dresscode. But no teacher ever really called Bleu Ivy out. She was nice to everyone, excelled in her studies, her parents sponsored the school, and she never caused any trouble. Most of the time, they let her go with whatever she wore or chose to ignore it. Bias.
She smiled her pearly whites at Paris, then moved to give her a hug that left Paris wheezing for breath. She would have hugged her back just as hard, if it weren't for the boys' echoing taunts still in her mind. So instead, she managed a small, "Hi."
Bleu cocked a perfect eyebrow as she pulled back to look at her. "What's with the shy Paris today?" She frowned, noticing the look of chagrin in her best friend's face. She cupped Paris' chin in her hand and lifted her head to meet her eyes.
"You were bullied again." It was a statement and Paris hung her head, not even denying it anymore. She was just so tired of hearing it all and she knew she should have been used to the insults by now. But every single time they teased her, she could feel some prick at her heart. It's smaller now, but it's still there. It's the same every day.
"It's no big deal, " Paris sighed. "Let's just go for lunch."
With a frown still marring her angel-like face, Bleu nodded and linked her arm with Paris', heading to the cafeteria. "I swear if they mess with you one more time..." Bleu grumbled and Paris smiled, loving that her friend was so protective of her.
At the cafeteria, people stared as usual at the two unusual best friends. Paris knew they all questioned their friendship, whether it was real or if Bleu was just using her for something. How could a girl like Bleu be friends with someone like Paris? Their eyes stuck unto Bleu with envy and admiration of her beauty, and they clung to Paris with malice and disgust.
Today is the last day. Paris knew she just needed to endure all of this for a few more hours. She has done it for a decade, why not a few more rounds of the clock? I don't know how the hell I'm going to explain this to Bleu.
As they approached their table, the tall blonde gently nudged a petite asian girl and she looked up to enthusiastically say, "Hey Paris!" then scooted to the side to make space for Paris' seat. Or rather, seats. She needed two of them to fit.
"Thanks, Brooke, " Paris smiled and gingerly sat down, finding it difficult with her size and weight. Bleu helped her gently, holding her bag in one hand and her arm in the other, navigating her.
Once she was seated, Bleu took her spot next to Paris and immediately started eating the food their friends had gotten for them.
"Um, where's our end of the deal?" a blond guy sitting across Bleu asked her, an eyebrow raised and a small smile playing on his lips.
Bleu rolled her eyes, "It's in my bag you doofus." He grinned and reached for her bag, rummaging around until he found what he was looking for.
"Yes!" he held up the chocolate triumphantly. "Owen Andrews is happy. The world may continue."
Paris and Bleu chuckled. Owen Andrews' parents apparently had a "horrifying" past with chocolate, and so forbade their children any at all. Their house was void of the brown goodness and they've always had vanilla cakes for their birthdays. And thus Owen and his twin, Olivia, lived a sad life, deprived of chocolates.
A blonde girl with chrome-blue eyes identical to her brother's groaned, "We got you an extra yogurt for that chocolate. Thank you so much." She made a grab for the chocolate bar in her brother's hand and he lifted it out of her reach.
"Hey!"
"Nuh-uh Liv. You ate a whole chocolate bar without sharing last time."
"But I paid for the yogurt didn't I?"
"Sucks to be you."
Olivia growled and smacked her brother behind his head, making him yelp and smacking her back.
Paris, Bleu, and Brooke looked on with amusement. Both twins were athletically built and excelled in whatever sports they tried out in. They were only in their sophomore year and universities were already sending them scholarship forms. Now watching those athletic arms take turns smacking each other was amusing to say the least.
"So what are you gonna do over the summer, Brookie?" Bleu asked after taking a spoonful of her yogurt. "Is Brooke Chang finally opening her own mathematics university?"
"Har har har, " Brooke replied, sticking out her tongue. "You white people and your asian stereotypes. I swear. Don't make me eat your dog."
Paris choked on her food, laughing.
"Careful, fatty, " a deep voice snickered and Bleu felt Paris tense beside her at the words. "Piggies shouldn't be choking on lettuce like that. And what's with the greens? Are you on a diet?" He mocked-gasped, covering his mouth. His friends laughed behind him, slapping his back and commending him on his burn.
"Shut up, Collins, " Bleu muttered. "Go be an asshole somewhere else."
"Awww you letting your pretty little girlfriend defend you now? I bet you can't even kiss for shit." Paris scrunched her eyes shut, her fists clenched against her lap. Collins then directed his words at Bleu. "Baby, if you need a real toe-curling kiss, come out back in my car later, " he leaned in closer to the blonde. "I'll show you a good time." What he said didn't even make sense. At all.
She expected Bleu to just sigh, flip her hair and tell Paris to ignore them, just like she always did whenever Paris was bullied. She strengthened her. Paris couldn't imagine going through elementary, middle school, and high school life without that blonde by her side. They've always been there for each other through thick and thin, and have learned to focus in their own little world and ignore what people said about them. Their friendship was strong and so who cared what other people thought?
But what Bleu Ivy did that day shocked Paris beyond her imagination and forever burned it in her memories.
Bleu suddenly stood up, causing the table to scrape loudly against the cafeteria floor and everyone to stop eating, looking at what she'd do next.
"First of all, Collins, " her tone was low, menacing. "What does kissing have to do with your original subject? Organize your thoughts before you speak because you're not making sense." She paused and Paris looked up to see the blond-haired jock's jaw clench. He opened his mouth to speak but Bleu cut him off. "I'm sick of you constantly bullying her when she hasn't even done anything to you!" She got closer to his face, making him gulp.
"And second, just to answer your stupidly idiotic statement, Paris Carter's boyfriend is going to be the luckiest guy in the world. My best friend is kissable, unlike you, whose idiotic words can't help stumbling out because you've got no lips to stop them." A series of OHHHs and BURNs echoed through the cafeteria at Bleu's jab at Collins' thin lips.
"You bitch, " Collins moved and his friends held him back, muttering in his ear to calm down and not hit a girl. The school would go on an uproar if they heard Bleu Ivy got a scratch.
"You don't believe me?" Bleu's silver-blue eyes were on fire, her stance protective. "Watch."
She reached down, cupped Paris' face, and kissed her.
Paris' heart stopped. What was she doing? Why was she kissing her best friend? Why is she liking it?
The chubby brunette was so surprised at Bleu's actions, she didn't register the complete and utter silence in the cafeteria. Her lips are softer than they look, was all her jumbled mind could conjure up.
After what seemed like forever but was really two seconds, Bleu pulled back, a look of shock on her face, mirroring that of Paris'.
Everyone was staring at them, Collins' and his friends' mouths hanging open.
"I told you she was kissable, " Bleu Ivy said shakily, trying to smirk in triumph over her best friend's bully and main source of pain.
She then smiled a dazzling smile down at Paris, "I'll see you later. I just remembered I needed to do something at home with mom."
"B-but-"
"Yeah, I'm going to have to skip classes. But it's our last week anyway and so I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"
Bleu Ivy stooped to gather her bag, patted the still-shocked Collins on his cheek, and walked out as the cafeteria erupted with applause.
________
"Have you said goodbye to Bleu?" Paris' mother asked her as they hauled the last suitcase into their car.
"Yeah, " Paris lied. "I told her we were leaving today."
"What did she say?" her mother frowned, most likely wondering why the blonde wasn't here to see her best friend off.
She kissed me.
"Oh, she said she didn't like saying goodbyes last-minute so she said them today at school." Then to make it more convincing and to stop her mom from asking anymore questions, she added, "She cried the whole morning today and went straight home. We're both hurting."
Claire Carter, an older, skinnier version of Paris, nodded sympathetically as she hugged her daughter. "I understand sweetie. Are you regretting this decision?"
"No, " Paris said quickly, ignoring the lump in her throat at leaving without a word. "I need to do this. I want this."
"Then let's go! " Matthew Carter said from the driver's seat and Claire gave her back a rub, smiling. "Your dad's just excited for the food I packed for this trip." Mother and daughter shared a soft laugh as she moved to help Paris into the car, then shut the door and sat at the front seat.
As their car drove away, a moving truck followed, and the whisper of their empty house was the only sound left.
I'm so sorry, Bleu, Paris felt tears roll down her cheeks. I love you. Why did you have to kiss me and turn that love into a different kind?
A few hours later, as the sun started to set, their neighbor was seen patting the back of a tall blonde to comfort her. Her kneeling form sobbed on the sidewalk, right outside Paris Carter's empty house.
________
S H O C K
(v.) a disturbance in the equilibrium or permanence of something
________
One year later
° ° °
"HEY SEXY, " a voice whispered in the blonde's ear as she worked to get her locker open. The tall blonde softly laughed, turning around to wrap her arms around the jock's neck.
"Sup, Dean, " she said in a mock-deep voice and giggled, tiptoeing to kiss him on the cheek. "I've missed you all summer, you know."
"Not as much as I have you, " Dean pouted, his hands resting on the stunning blonde's shapely hips. "Thailand was a bore since I stayed at the hotel the entire time. I thought of you to keep me sane."
"Awwww, " she replied, giving him an eskimo kiss, rubbing their noses. "You know what? I like you, Dean Collins."
"And I like you a lot, Bleu Ivy, " he replied as they gazed into each other's eyes.
A collective groan sounded around them and they rolled their eyes before pulling apart to address their friends.
"Get a room, " Olivia Andrews pretended to vomit. Beside the athletic blonde, her twin brother nodded his head, grimacing.
"You guys, it's senior year!" Brooke Chang was the only one in their group who physically hadn't grown at all since their sophomore year. However, she was this little ball of sunshine, and she had a big heart to compensate for her lack of height. "We gotta live while we're in high school. If they want to have sex in public, let them."
"Good god, Brooke, " Bleu pinched the bridge of her nose and shut her eyes. "I really, really don't need that image." She too, fake-vomitted.
"I don't know babe, " Collins purred, pulling her against him. "It might not be so bad."
"Disgusting, " Bleu shoved him away and he laughed.
"I'm kidding, babe, " he threw his arm around her shoulder to guide her to her first class.
Bleu half-heartedly laughed with him, knowing deep inside she meant what she said; the thought of having sex with Dean Collins was disgusting. It wasn't because he's been with numerous other girls since freshman year, nor was it because she was afraid to. She was completely fine with kissing him, holding his hand and such, but the thought of being completely naked and pressed together made her unsettled.
"Oh, by the way, my parents and I went to the mall yesterday, " Brooke chirped. "And I saw this really hot girl that made me go gay for a full minute."
"A hot girl, huh?" Owen snickered. "I thought you were the hottest?"
"Sweet, Owen, real sweet, " Brooke patted his cheek. "Anyway she looked super familiar though, and mom said she goes to the same school as we do. You think she's a senior too? She looks old enough to be."
"Or, " Olivia cut in, wiggling her eyebrows. "She's a teacher. Ooh! A lesbian affair. Scandalous."
"I'm not a lesbian, " Brooke grumbled, crossing her arms in front of her chest and looking adorable instead of intimidating. "And just because I said she was hot doesn't automatically mean I'm into girls."
"Whatever you say, sweet pea, " Olivia sighed, pinching the petite asian and making her squeal.
"A new girl, huh?" Collins mused beside Bleu. "Well then, let's make her feel welcome." He smiled and Bleu matched it with her own.
° ° °
Bleu's first class was AP Physics. And she was late.
"Sorry I'm late, Mr. Hopps, " she was slightly out of breath. "It won't happen again."
"Bah, it's your first day of senior year, " Mr. Hobbs waved a hand. "What's that word you young'ns use now? Chill. Let's chill." The classroom filled with laughs from everyone and 'aww's from the girls. Mr. Hopps was the nicest teacher they had, and everyone loved him. He was supposed to retire two years ago, but the students kept begging the school to take him back so here he is. Old, funny, and loved.
Bleu smiled and walked to sit down at her usual seat. Every year, she sat at this seat at every subject of everyday. Everybody knew it belonged to Bleu Ivy, and it was a silent agreement in their batch. Nobody else sat at the fifth seat at the very front row, save the beautiful blonde setting her bag down on it.
"Ok, now that Miss Ivy has seated her wonderful self down, let's begin this most dreaded subject." The class chuckled.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door, and Mr. Hobbs walked over to open it.
"Hi, " a soft voice greeted Bleu's ears and she froze.
No, it couldn't be.
The girl and Mr. Hobbs talked in low voices, while Bleu craned her neck to get a better look. She couldn't see anything since Mr. Hobbs and the door was blocking the way and she clenched her fists in frustration. She had to see.
"I'm sorry, class" Mr. Hobbs said apologetically. "I'll be right back."
He followed the girl out and closed the door. Bleu immediately walked to the door to look. All she could see was the tall, lanky form of Mr. Hobbs, and beside him, the girl Bleu suspected to be someone she's been waiting for. But it couldn't be her. This girl had long, wavy, brown hair that fell to her ass, and what a nice ass it was. Her slim, tall form was slightly facing Mr. Hobbs as they walked and talked. Bleu saw a glimps of a jawline and luscious lips, but not the girl's full face.
"That's the girl I was telling you about!" Bleu jumped at Brooke's voice and clutched her chest.
"Brooke! You fucking scared me!"
"Sorry, " she didn't look sorry at all. "Isn't she H-O-T?"
"Yeah, " Bleu mumbled distractedly, amazed at how round and perfect the new girl's ass was. "Did you hear her voice? It sounded familiar."
"Like I said, " Brooke shrugged. "She looks and sounds familiar."
Bleu had a feeling in her gut; she'd recognize her immediately once she saw her face.
° ° °
For the rest of the day, Bleu kept looking out for glimpses of the new girl, and Dean noticed.
"Who are you looking for?" he asked her while they sat down on a bench and he pulled his football gear on. "You've been craning your neck for the past hour. It's tempting me." He almost growled that last part and Bleu had that weird feeling in her stomach again. He's been pushing her to have sex with him lately, and she both ignored and rejected him every time. It just didn't feel right.
"Oh, nobody, " Bleu reassured her boyfriend, giving his lips a peck before standing up. "I'm going to go use the bathroom real quick. I'll be right back to watch your tryouts."
He nodded, his focus entirely on the field. He was reapplying for varsity so he was trying out today. Football was practically his life.
Bleu hummed as she walked past the field and into the school building. People greeted her as they passed by and she smiled and said hello in return.
"Oh!" something hard bumped against her and she stumbled back, her back hitting the wall of the restroom. "I'm so sorry I-" Bleu Ivy abruptly stopped as she beheld the sight before her.
A goddess stood in front of her. Her long, wavy brown locks fell perfectly around her, framing her impeccable face. Her collar bones, the hollow at the base of her throat, her jaw, her nose: carved by God himself when he decided to take his time. Her green eyes were framed with impossible long, dark lashes, accented by perfectly arched eyebrows. Her full lips were parted in surprise.
But it wasn't just her stunning beauty that caught Bleu Ivy's full attention. It was the fact that she knew this girl back in sophomore year. This was the fat girl everyone made fun of. This was the girl she always protected. Until one year ago.
"Paris Carter."
________
A N G E R
(n.) a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism
________
"PARIS CARTER." Bleu couldn't believe her eyes. Her best friend was actually back. Right here, in front of her, after a year of complete silence.
"Hey, " that soft voice touched her ears again.
Before she could help herself, a slap loudly echoed across the restroom and Paris' head whipped to the side.
"I guess I deserved that." The taller brunette touched her reddened cheek and looked at Bleu in the eye.
"How could you just leave like that?" Bleu's voice was low, her fists trembling at her sides. "You broke me, Paris, after all we've been through together you just upped and left. After all that I've done for you, the least you could do was tell me. Tell me where you were going."
"I know Bleu, and I'm sorry I-"
"No, Paris, " Bleu's jaw clenched and she moved closer. "Sorry isn't going to turn back time. Sorry won't bring back a year of constantly thinking about what I did wrong to make you leave without telling me. Sorry won't unbreak a heart only a best friend could shatter. So shut the fuck up."
Paris bit her lip and nodded, tears filling up in her green orbs. Bleu felt her heart drop at the sight, and she restrained herself from reaching out to wipe her tears away.
"And so you left for what, " the blonde gestured to her body. "This? To lose weight?"
The brown-haired beauty looked to the ground, her voice trembling, "I couldn't let you protect me all the time, " She looked back up, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I wanted you to be proud of me. I wanted the beautiful popular girl to be seen walking with one just as pretty."
"That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life, " Bleu scoffed. "You know I don't give a flying fuck what other people thought. I-"
"Babe?" a knock sounded at the door, Dean's voice muffled behind it. "You've been in there a while. You ok?"
"Yeah, " Bleu looked back at Paris with resignation. "I am now."
She turned to leave and felt a hand gently hold her arm. Her heart stuttered and she looked back at the brunette.
"What?"
"You're dating..." Paris swallowed, fear evident in her eyes. "Dean Collins? My... bully?"
Bleu took her arm away from the other one's hold, somehow needing distance. "Yeah, well he was there for me when you weren't."
"O-oh, " The blonde dropped her head. "I see." Then she grabbed her backpack and walked out, but not before whispering, "I'm sorry. You don't owe me anything. I'll stay out of your way."
She opened the door and stiffened when she saw the dirtied-up jock leaning against the frame. She rushed past him and he looked back at Bleu in surprise.
"Was that Paris Carter?"
"In the flesh, " Bleu murmured, those tear-stained green eyes imprinted in her mind.
________
The next day, the school buzzed with the news. Paris "Farter" was back. And apparently a lot hotter. Some say she did it to get revenge. Others say she got stranded on an island and starved. The rumours were typical, but they all viewed her the same. Girls wanted to be her. Guys wanted her. Heck, even a few girls wanted her like that.
Bleu didn't give a shit.
So why did her heart skip a beat when she walked in her Physics class the next day and a certain brunette sat at the back? She was surprised Mr. Hobbs took in Paris at such short notice.
Today those long, slim legs were encased in black skinny jeans, her toes painted maroon red and in delicate sandals. She wore a silk blouse, the soft fabric molding themselves around her curves and even hanging off her bra cups. Bleu wrenched her eyes away from her ex-best friend's very appealing chest area and took her usual seat at the front. What was going on with her?
Someone passed her a note and she opened it, silently groaning and rolling her eyes.
Paris Carter got HOT mama. How are you still straight?
-Brookie
She turned in her seat to flip the short girl her middle finger and the latter's eyes widened, her hand covering her mouth as she laughed. It was so unlike Bleu to flip the bird. She even swore this morning when her toes hit her kitchen counter. And she rarely ever swore.
She knew it started when Paris came back into her life, but she had no idea why.
During the lecture, Bleu couldn't help but sneak a few glances behind her, mentally slapping herself everytime.
Paris' rich, mahogany hair was tied up in a ponytail, little wisps escaping to frame her face. Her green eyes twinkled as she laughed at something her seatmate said, and Bleu felt something tug in her. No, I'm not jealous.
"Omg Paris, you're practically my best friend!" an annoyingly high-pitched voice giggled and Bleu growled.
She was mine first. Get your own human, Susan.
She shut her eyes. What was she thinking? She slapped her for goodness' sakes. She knew without a doubt that Paris Carter hates her guts now and she knows she hated her in return.
Yeah, you should hate her, she thought to herself. She left you, remember? What kind of a best friend is that?
"Ok everyone, now pay attention. We will be having an experiment on Newton's Laws of Motion, and instead of using apparatuses, " Mr. Hobbs paused for dramatic effect. "We'll be using our own bodies. So I will be choosing the partners."
Bleu groaned inwardly. She really wasn't in the mood to be bumping and pressing her body against someone else for the sake of this stupid-
"Bleu Ivy and Paris Carter."
Oh, God no.