Chapter 54: "I forgive you."

I crumpled to the ground after the realization of what I had done. This couldn't be me. I wouldn't do this. I hate violence. Why didn't I stop?

"Lidia? Lidia it's okay." Audrey tried her best to comfort me.

"Why the hell are you asking that freak if she's okay?" Sophia shrieked in anger.

"Hey! You watch who you're calling freak! Lidia was defending herself against bullying!" Audrey took a step forward.

"She wouldn't have had to defend herself if she didn't insult me!" Sophia shrieked once again.

"Lidia wouldn't insult anyone if that person didn't do something wrong. Just you wait till we get back to school. You're in for a hell of ride for even thinking of her badly." Audrey chuckled humorlessly.

Sophia took a step back, recognition of what was to come after Christmas break dawning on her. Reality came back to me as I said "No."

They both turned and looked at me. "What do you mean no?" Audrey asked cautiously.

"I've already done enough damage. The school will call my brothers and tell them I got into a fight. I'll explain that I started it. No one else will get hurt because of me." I stated.

"Lidia she-"

"No!" I shouted and stared at Audrey.

Audrey narrowed her eyes. My bottom lip was trembling. I was so close to letting out a sob. I was so close to being him. I couldn't be him, I'm not going to be him.

Her eyes softened when she saw the fear in my eyes. Only she could see the fear since only she knew the truth. She walked back over to me and opened her arms. She cradled my head as I graciously welcomed her embrace.

"It's alright. It'll all be over soon."

It was the next day, and we were leaving at 3:00 on the dot. Or at least that's what they told us. It's currently 9:45 and I've shunned myself away from everyone. I'm the talk of the town. Well I've always been but right now, they don't care about anyone but me.

It's getting old.

Some teachers came and talked to me yesterday and said how their calling my brother and blah blah blah. I stopped listening after they told me I'm not in trouble. Why do they say that? They say you're not in trouble but go ahead and degrade you in front of everyone.

"Children! It's time for the awards ceremony!" The lady who announced the rules all that time ago said. Also, I know we're kids but did she really have to call us children? Like children are middle schoolers but we're high schoolers.

Everyone gathered around and got into a herd. I quickly found Audrey. "Hey, sorry about snapping at you last night." I apologized. I didn't mean to, really, There was just so much happening in my head.

She flashed me a small smile. "It's okay. I should've stopped and thought about what I was doing."

I scoffed and leaned my head on her shoulder. "Yeah, you and me both."

The lady drawled on and on and on about how this is such a good class and that sort of stuff. Never really saying any 'awards'. Audrey would softly pinch me every so often and I would look over to see her wiggling her eyebrows.

Can you imagine something serious being said and then out of nowhere you hear a snort? Yeah well that was me. I was the one who snorted because Audrey rolled her eyes and wiggled her eyebrows at the same time.

"-and I proudly present our winners! The-" she drawled out which was very annoying, "Scissor Tail Fly-catchers!" She said and smiled widely.

My face dropped. I'm apart of the Scissor Tail Fly-catchers. And so is Sophia and Lexi.

You have got to be shitting me.

I quickly looked at Audrey. My eyes pleading her not to let me go. She grabbed ahold of my arm. "C'mon girls! Don't need to be so shy!" Announcer Lady said, still freaking smiling.

"I'm sorry." Audrey sadly whispered as I looked at the stage. I walked up there. My other cabin mates were already up there. I sucked in a sharp breath when I saw Lexi's messed up face. I trudged up the steps. The whole camp was quiet as I stood beside Kya.

Announcer Lady continued to speak but I tuned her out as Kya looked at me. Her resting face didn't falter as she gazed upon my small smile. I sadly looked forward. Everyone hates me. Not a single soul besides Audrey and Evan like me. Well that was what I thought until I felt her head lean on me.

That lean suddenly made almost everything seem better. I was snapped back to reality as I heard my name being called. "Lidia would you do the honor of coming and getting your trophy?"

Eyes wide, I walked up to the microphone and took the trophy. "Thank you everyone." I quietly said as I heard a scoff behind me, making me shrink just the taddest of bits. I was about to walk away when a thought occurred. "Why is it mine?"

Announcer Lady chuckled a little bit. "Well what do you mean?"

I stood up with my back straight, staring her head on. "Why do I get to keep it?"

She nervously chuckled some more. "Well my dear you made all the winning points so-"

"Yeah but that's all. That's all I did. If anyone should get this trophy it should be one of the people who actually did something." I said. I don't know where I was going with this but I hoped something would come to mind.

"But Lidia naturally you would get it-"

"But Kya's the reason we won the first game. None of us would've known our cabin mascot. And-and Cammi was basically all of our strength in Tug-of-War. Sophia was the one to know how to correctly balance almost all the hats. And Lexi," I looked back at her as I was finishing my rant, "she made every single point in corn hole except one. If anything I should get the award for being the laziest.

"Here Lexi come up here," I motioned for her to join me. Her broken face looked hesitant but eventually gave up and she stumbled up to the microphone, "this should go to her. She was a key factor in all of our wins. That being said, here Lexi, you have the trophy." I smiled and pushed the trophy outwards.

My peers were taking this in like a sponge takes in water. "Lidia, this-this is your trophy." Her eyes were wide as she slowly talked to me like I was a baby.

I continued to smile. "I have a lot more at home. A family friend once told me my brothers need to be humbled. This is my way of humbling them. So here, take it. You deserve it." Her mouth kept opening and closing.

I finally put it in her hands and walked back to the group. I stood there smiling as Lexi said her thank you's. I walked back down to Audrey. Her face was one of the most confused ones ever.

"What? Do I have a zit?" I asked her.

She slowly shook her head as she gained her composure. "No it's just, no White has ever given up a trophy. Like ever."

I chuckled softly. "Well that's why we needed to be humbled."

Fast forward to getting on the bus. Me and Audrey were waiting in a little pod of some sorts. "Oh shit!" Audrey exasperated.

"What? What's wrong?" I hurriedly said.

She looked annoyed as she said "I flipping forgot my phone. I'll be right back." She ran back to her cabin to find her phone which was pretty fast.

I watched her run and chortled as I faced back to the front when Lexi appeared in my vision. "Holy Jesus. Gosh, sorry Lexi. Didn't see you there." I panted as I held my heart.

"Is this some sort of gift? Like to say your sorry for punching me or something? If it is, it's not going to work you kno-"

"No," I cut her off, "I gave you the trophy because," I sucked in a breath. I looked her straight in the eyes and smiled, "I gave you the trophy to say that I forgive you."

She looked as if I had just said I was going to steal her first born child. She scoffed as she said "You gave it to me to say you forgive me? For what?" She tilted her head and crossed her arms.

I sucked in a breath. "I forgive you for being rude to me this whole entire trip. I forgive you for jumping me and my best friend. I forgive you for sharing a story that was not yours to share," her eyes were saucers when I finished. My eyes were watering as I finished but I didn't cry. Never cry in front of your enemies, "I forgive you Lexi. I also hope you forgive me because I really am sorry for punching you. You seem like a genuinely nice person and I hope that whatever beef between you and me, between you and my brothers, dissolves. Now if you excuse me, I have to go lecture my best friend about losing her phone. Goodbye Lexi."

She stood there stunned. I walked away without a second thought. "Hey, why were you talking to Lexi? She wasn't threatening you again, was she?"

I chuckled. "No, it's fine. I said all that needed to be said. Now c'mon, I don't want to get the bad seats." I said and we rushed to the bus.

We loaded the bus and Audrey instantly fell asleep. I smiled as we weren't even ten minutes into driving and I heard Audrey's soft snores. Coincidentally we sat behind Lexi and Sophia. I knew it was morally bad to listen to their conversation, but I have nothing else to do so why not?

"-ait Sophia will you just listen to me! What I'm trying to say is, they don't like you. As harsh as Lidia said it, she was right. They don't care about you." Lexi sounded tired.

"Well then who does Lexi?!" She spit back.

"Me! I care about you! As a best friend an-and differently too." Lexi said quietly at the end. I almost let out a gasp.

"No way." I whispered underneath my breath.

"Lexi, so you mean to say that you-"

"Yes Sophia! I've liked you ever since we became friends. I've liked you tirelessly. It hurts me to hear you talk about all these boys that you think you're in love with." She explained.

"Lexi I-"

"Don't. Just-just forget I even said something."

"No! Don't forget!" I said underneath my breath once again.

"Lexi I won't forget-"

"Sophia I said just drop it oka-" Lexi said but was immediately cut off by what I assume was a kiss.

I immediately jumped straight back in my seat. "Holy shit. I've just witnessed something only written in books. I-I," I looked over at a sleeping Audrey, "gosh dammit Audrey.Why do you have to sleep all the time?"

I spent the rest of the bus ride high in the clouds I call my thoughts. I wasn't really expecting what I would come home to though.

Y'all I feel so bad i haven't posted. Please, please forgive me. I hope your guy's summer isn't as lonely and boring as mine. Love y'all! I hope you liked it and don't forget to vote, comment, and obviously like:)