Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Indianna

Tai was already exhausted, unused to Brooke's bubbly personality. After a brief tour of the school, Brooke handed Tai her timetable and locker combination.

"I checked your schedule already. Your first class is with me!"

Tai faked enthusiasm.

"Fantastic."

"It's gym," Brooke pouted.

"Not a sporty person?" Tai wondered.

"Let's just say it's not in my blood," Brooke shrugged and smiled at Tai when the bell rang. "Shall we go to the changing rooms?"

"I don't think you'll take no for an answer," Tai muttered. "Lead the way."

Brooke grinned, turned on her heel and walked down the hallway, which was slowly starting to get busy.

"I'm sure you'll learn your way around really quickly. I did when I moved here," Brooke said. "And I'm awful at directions."

Tai raised her eyebrows.

"You were new?"

"Yep, I moved here nearly two years ago," Brooke nodded. "Best and worst decision of my life."

"That guy—was he an ex?"

Brooke stared at Tai in horror and shook her head rapidly.

"God, no!" Brooke cried. "He's—He was my cousin."

"Was?"

"Let's just say blood isn't as strong as it seems," Brooke muttered. "We don't talk anymore."

Tai shrugged and nodded, following Brooke in silence as she talked about the school. Tai honestly couldn't care less, but Brooke seemed nice and sweet, and Tai didn't want to be mean.

When the two girls finally made it to the changing rooms, Brooke led Tai over to the corner, where Tai spotted a red-haired girl sitting next to a brown-haired girl. They were talking quietly, and Brooke sighed softly.

"Hey," Brooke called.

The two girls looked up. The brown-haired one smiled softly.

"Hey, I missed you this morning," she said.

Brooke pointed to Tai.

"Sorry, I had to leave early to meet one of the new students! This is Tai. Tai, meet Indianna and Kimberly."

Indianna smiled, while Tai raised her eyebrows when Kimberly simply looked her up and down and nodded curtly.

"Just ignore Kimberly. She's always a bit... sour," Brooke said.

Kimberly glared at Brooke.

"Feel free to tell Brooke to shut up. She never stops her endless blabbering," Kimberly snapped.

"I'm sensing tension," Tai noted.

"Be nice," Indianna pleaded. "Please."

"She started it," Kimberly shrugged.

"And I'm ending it," Indianna said. "Not today."

"Are you okay?" Brooke asked seriously.

Tai eyed Brooke curiously, sensing that her question meant something more.

Indianna shook her head.

"Not really," she said and took a deep breath.

Suddenly, she froze and looked up at Tai with wide eyes.

"What?" Tai asked.

"Um... nothing," Indianna coughed.

"I'll go and get you a kit, and then you can get changed," Brooke said cheerfully.

She glanced at Indianna before walking away.

"God, is she ever upset?" Kimberly muttered and shook her head.

"Yes," Indianna said immediately. "She hides her pain every day."

Kimberly shifted uncomfortably and suddenly turned to Tai.

"So, new girl," she said, though she didn't seem remotely interested in Tai. "What brings you to town?"

"None of your concern," Tai said coldly.

"Lose the attitude, why don't you?" Kimberly tutted.

"You first," Tai shrugged.

Kimberly narrowed her eyes at Tai.

"Watch yourself."

Tai raised her eyebrows.

"Is that a threat? Aren't you scared you'll break a nail?"

"It's not a threat," Indianna groaned. "Kimberly isn't good with new people."

"Neither am I," Tai said and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Okay, how about you two just don't talk to each other?" Indianna said, becoming flustered very quickly. "I can't handle pointless bickering today!"

"Indie, babe!"

Indianna groaned and covered her face with her hands.

"I can't deal with anyone right now!" she whispered.

She looked up as a brown-haired girl with a large chest and fake eyelashes sauntered over to her.

"You've been ignoring my texts, babe!" the girl said. "Why?"

"Stacy, please. Can I just be left alone right now?" Indianna asked quietly.

"Why? What's wrong, babe?"

"Everything!" Indianna groaned. "Please, not today."

"I think you should leave, Stacy," Kimberly said sternly, standing up and facing her.

"No, Indie is my friend. She always has been. Unlike you, she doesn't hold stupid grudges," Stacy huffed.

"Grudges?" Kimberly gasped. "Do you think she actually wants to be around you? She may not hate you, but you're a reminder of the one person she wants to escape from! Now do everyone a favour and fuck off."

Stacy's mouth dropped open, and she looked at Indianna in shock.

"You're going to let your little follower talk to me like that?"

"Sorry," Indianna muttered. "I'm just not in a good place today."

"Stacy," Brooke called as she walked over.

Her tone was softer and kinder, but it wasn't exactly friendly.

"Not today."

"You know where to find me, babe," Stacy said.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder before walking away.

"Sorry 'bout that," Brooke said cheerfully and handed Tai a pile of clothing.

"What the hell was that about?" Tai asked.

"You don't want to know," Indianna muttered.

She suddenly groaned, jumped up and rushed towards the toilets.

"I'll go," Kimberly sighed. "You stay and babysit the new girl."

Brooke huffed as Kimberly walked past her and pursed her lips.

"That girl rubs me up the wrong way."

"She seems delightful," Tai said dryly.

Brooke laughed.

"She cares about Indie. That's all that matters. I can handle her being a bitch most of the time if she cares about Indie."

"What's up with that girl?" Tai wondered. "She seems... depressed. Really fucking depressed."

"It's because she is," Brooke said simply and glanced at Tai. "Look, it's not a secret, but don't go talking out loud about it. Her boyfriend died. He was murdered."

"Shit, I thought this town was safe," Tai gasped.

Brooke gave Tai a look.

"It used to be."

"When did it happen?"

"About a month ago," Brooke murmured and shivered.

"That's shit," Tai said quietly.

"She has good days and bad days," Brooke shrugged.

"And that girl, Kimberly, is her bodyguard?" Tai guessed.

"Bingo," Brooke nodded.

"Well... I'll try not to be a bitch to her, then," Tai said.

"We'd all appreciate that," Brooke nodded.

Indianna stumbled into the toilet and hurried into a stall, lifting the seat before emptying the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

Kimberly followed behind her and grimaced as she reached forward to hold Indianna's hair back.

"Just so you know, I did not sign up for this," Kimberly muttered and looked away from the mess in front of her.

Indianna chuckled slightly but groaned when she was sick again.

"God, it stinks," Kimberly whined.

"I can't exactly help it," Indianna mumbled.