Shatter Me

I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other as three pairs of eyes stared- or more like glared- at me. They weren't obvious glares, but I could still notice them. I knew why they might feel distasteful towards me. My friends bully them and I don't try to stop it in any way. All I would do is laugh. "What is she doing here Frank?" Gerard snapped.

I winced slightly at the harsh tone of his voice. "She's a friend of mine," he insisted, putting his hand between my shoulder blades.

"Since when," Gerard scoffed, leaning back. "Her friends are always making fun of us. Since when have you become all buddy-buddy."

"We went to elementary school together," Frank explained, not moving his hand. "We were best friends-"

"Keyword: were," Mikey chimed in. "What's changed, huh?"

The boy beside me sighed, guessing that I didn't want my feelings to be revealed quite yet, "She's not what she seems. She's not her friends."

"No, she's not," Ray murmured. "She's worse."

"How so?"

The boy with the afro sighed, "She never says anything to help us. All she does is laugh at our expense."

Frank opens his mouth to protest, but I place a hand on his chest, stopping him. His hand drops from my back as I step forward to speak. "Look," I began to speak for the first time since I entered the house. "I know what I've done in the past. I laughed at you guys when I should've helped you. All I have to say at my expense is that I was scared. I knew that if I stood up for you guys, everything my family built up would've been wasted. I had no choice. If I made them look bad, I would be disowned. All I can say to you guys is that I'm sorry."

I back up, glancing at Frank, "This was a bad idea. I should go-"

"Wait."

I turn to see Mikey leaning forward. His hazel eyes stared into my green ones, making me feel uneasy. I shifted once more as he began to speak, "I want to give you a chance."

My jaw dropped as Gerard and Ray began to question his sanity. "She's different, I can tell."

"You said Amelia was different too," Gerard hissed. "Look what happened there!"

My heart sank. I had heard a rumor that a girl named Amelia Jones became friends with the four only to hurt them in the end. She was now the cheer captain with no mercy. She was their constant thorn in the side. "Just trust me on this." Mikey insists, getting up from the couch.

"Veronica," he says to me as he approaches me. "I am prepared to give you a chance. Just one. If you ruin that, you will never get another."

I nod, "I understand."

"See guys," Frank exclaims. "She's not that bad!"

I could see their distrust as I was invited to sit in one of the chairs. Frank offered me a cigarette, surprising the others. "Princess smokes?" Gerard sneers.

Mikey slapped his arm, "Hey, give her a chance."

I smiled at the boy with the mousey brown hair. He gave a quick smile before looking away, "So." he says, clapping his hands together. "Movie and beer?"

Ten minutes later, all of us had a beer in hand and were watching a movie called Contracted. It was about a type of STD I guess. It was gross and disturbing but...it was oddly fascinating. When the movie was over, they decided to play a game of Truth or Dare. Cliché, I know, but it was actually kind of fun. “Veronica,” Gerard smirked. “Truth or dare?”

Not going to lie, I was slightly afraid of Gerard. He hated me right off the bat. I know why, but that didn’t stop me from being a wuss around him. “Truth.”

His smirk seemed to grow, allowing me to know that I had made a mistake. “Have you ever seen one of us get bullied horrifically and still laughed about it?”

“Gerard-“ Frank warned.

I interrupted him with a soft voice, “Yes.”

“Interesting.”

My heart started to race as the game continued. I was hoping to avoid having Gerard ask me truth or dare, not wanting them to see what a horrible person I really am. I just wanted a chance. Soon, the inevitable came. He asked me the question. Knowing better than to say the truth, I reply with a dare. His eyes lit up as if Christmas had come early. My stomach dropped as I realize that was exactly what he wanted. “I dare you to tell us the most recent time you laughed at one of us being bullied horribly.”

“Gee,” Mikey starts. “She doesn’t have to-“

Again, I interrupted, answering the question with a dead expression, “Last week, Molly, Kurt and I cornered you and Frank. They called you fags and tried to get you to kiss each other for a picture.”

“And what did you do?”

Mikey tried to stop me from answering, telling me that I didn’t have to indulge him, but I did it anyway, “I laughed.”

Gerard shook his head, “There was something else, wasn’t there?”
Tears began to well up as I stared at my hands, which started to fidget at the harsh questioning. I knew I was in the wrong, but I couldn’t help but feel like shit. “I was holding the phone to take the picture,” I whispered.

The entire room was silent. Not a sound could be heard. That was it. There goes my only ray of hope. Jumping up from where I was sitting, I rush outside, ignoring the sounds of my name being called. Tears were falling down my face, smearing mascara around my eyes, making me probably look like a raccoon. I ran straight home, knowing that I would never be able to shake my past, to start over, or end the pressure held over my head. I would always be the perfect cheerleader living in her perfect world with her goddamn perfect family.

Why did I even think they could change that?

Notes

I hope this is somewhat realistic. I didn't want all of them to forgive her right off the bat. I hope you all liked this!