22. Mistaken identity

Mistaken identity

GAbrIELLA

Two days pass and not one of them comes looking for me. I’m not sure what hurts more, that the manipulating bitch has taken my place in their lives or the fact that I’ve been forgotten.

I’ve spent the last couple days hiding from everyone in the library and no one has even noticed me hiding behind the restricted section stacks, not even the librarian who walks into the restricted section’s first row of stacks then walks back out every night around ten. I’ve filled in my days reading the books from that section instead of going to classes and I’ve filled my nights with tears and pain. Hunger is the only thing that finally drags me from my self-imposed exile.

I make my way to the cafeteria, finally taking note of everything around me. Guys in the halls turn their heads as I move past them. Girls sneer or smile, nodding their heads in greeting or snubbing their noses up at me. Every look makes me stand taller and every nod makes me feel less alone.

I hover in the doorway of the cafeteria, unsure where to sit. My gaze travels over the table where the guys are grouped around the bitch. They’re all smiling as though they don’t have a care in the world. My heart breaks all over again, but I shuffle along the line, collect my tray and some food without paying attention to what I’m selecting.

I’m just turning to move towards a table at the end of the first line of tables, when the girl beside me speaks, “Melody, where have you been the last couple of days. I thought you were going to go ahead with the plan.”

My head rears back. Who the hell is Melody? I repeat my question out loud, looking the girl in the face as she frowns up at me. “You’re Melody. Did you have another seizure? Hit your head?” She looks horrified. “Oh girl, I’m freaking out, please don’t tell me you have amnesia.”

“Right, I think I need to go see the nurse. I’m not feeling quite myself right now.” I mumble the last part as I shove the tray into her hands. I glance over my shoulder once I’m in the hallway, making sure the girl hasn’t followed me before ducking into the nearest bathroom.

The face staring back at me is my own. I can’t understand how in the hell the bitch has pulled this off but somehow, she’s pretending to be me and the guys haven’t noticed. It’s the only explanation I can come up with. A plan worms its way into my mind and I smile at my reflection. “Guess it’s time to bring out the big guns.”