Seven:

Mr. Brunner congratulated me. I swung by his office after I finished all my classes to tell him about the blog, but he was already a step ahead of me.

He'd already talked to Mrs. Bowl and they decided that, after a close check up of the stats, my blog had successfully attracted a lot of attention from the students.

He didn't say anything about me mentioning Michael, though, which was a relief.

Mr. Brunner gave me a wide smile and shook my hand, apologizing for doubting me at first. Apparently it didn't matter what my blog was about, as long as it was popular. It sounded a little bit shallow to me, but I guess it was normal since the blogs were all a part of the Eagle High website, and they needed the popularity in order to maintain a good reputation among the other schools.

As I thought about it, everything was a matter of reputation and popularity.

Just like in Michael's case, my inner voice offered.

But what will Michael have now, that I'd probably ruined both for him? And just because of my blog.

If that's not sellfish, than I don't know what is. (As you probably guessed, I was still struggling with the guilt.)

I thanked Mr. Brunner and exited his office with a smile on my face, but with a tormented mind. I got to keep my post as a blogger, alright. But was the cost worth it?

Stop feeling guilty, Bree. People who feel the guilt won't be successful.

That was my dad's favorite quote. He always told me that people who care so much won't get too far because they will be others' steps to climb.

My dad was a successful business-man, so I guess he knew his words. Still, he often took his business too seriously.

With that thing in mind, I got out of the school and climbed into my car. I pulled out of the parking spot and turned on the radio just in time for 21 Guns by Green Day to burst through the speakers.

I sang along to the lyrics I knew by heart and didn't care about the funny looks the other drivers were giving me while we waited for the green light. I loved listening to music. (Who didn't?) It's always been the greatest escape for me. Music made me live in my own world, far away from any stress and worries. Just me in my world.

I arrived home faster than I hoped. I parked the car on the sidewalk and turned off the radio. I got out of the car and faced the cold air that made my face sting, and hurried my steps across the front porch.

I unlocked the door and entered inside, saying hello to mom and dad on my way to my room. I wasn't really in the mood for chat. I just wanted to listen to music and maybe read something.

I reached my room and dumped my school bag on the floor with a thud. Without any hesitation, I climbed on my bed and opened Wattpad from my phone.

Notifications sprung on the screen. I watched in awe as my phone buzzed into my hands.

Since when did I have so many notifications? What sort of divine miracle took place?

I tapped randomly on one of the notifications. I waited impatiently as the screen opened to my private messages.

Messages?

Sure enough, there was only one bolded name on the screen.

@MichaelL99.

I felt my stomach dropping. My palms grew with sweat almost instantly. I tapped on his name and all the seven messages he had sent me were displayed before my eyes.

@MichaelL99: I know you posted that thing about me on your stupid blog.

I can't believe you did this.What the fuck is wrong with you!?

I did nothing to you. I even tried to act nice with people at school, and THIS is how you treat me??

You ruined my reputation. Now everyone thinks I'm a geek. Thank you.

And who are you anyway?

Fuck that. Don't even answer. I have no idea who you are, but you'd better stay away from me. Don't you ever talk to me again, here or in school.

And let me tell you something that matches my current social status: I hope you step on a lego.

Ouch.

I felt as if an arrow had been shot through my back and pierced my skin.

His words really hurt. Especially the last part. He hoped I would step on a lego? Well that was just rude.

I couldn't blame Michael though. Thank God he didn't know it was me who posted the blog.

I could feel even more guilt settling into my stomach.

Should I delete the blog?

That might not be a solution. Mr. Brunner might ban me from any future blogging. I couldn't risk that.

Should I tell Michael it was me?

No... He would hate me forever. It had been okay for me to use to hate him before, but I couldn't live knowing that he hated me.

I needed people to like me. I wanted everyone to look at me and think about me as that kind, helpful sweet person they could always count on. It was a matter of self esteem, I guess. I needed validation from those around me.

I closed Wattpad and went to my playlist instead. I chose a random song and pressed play, placing my phone on the bed as the first lyrics echoed throughout the room.

I put all of my thoughts in the back of my head, determined to sit back and just relax.

Yes, feeling guilty was stupid. Michael had been treating me pretty bad himself.

Freshman year had been especially hell.

That's when I'd used to have a crush on him. I was being my awkward self around him, always stitting next to him in class. He was aware of my little infatuation with him, but we were barely speaking to each other anyway so he never brought it up.

One day though, I spotted him next to my locker, making out with Marie Elizabeth. She was a freshman too, but the word around school said that she was one of the most experienced girls of Eagle High. Which kind of explained a lot of her favorite spare time activities.

The sight made me sick. I wanted to punch that girl right then and there and remove her mouth off of my crush's, but I just rushed to the bathroom instead. I hid inside the stall and wept like child. Pathetic much?

And since then my infatuation turned to hate. I'd been on an 'avoiding' spree with Michael for a full month, before I realized that carrying a grudge on him was immature. After that I managed to be in the same class with him without wearing a permanent scowl on my face.

I'd been somewhere between the I can/can't stand you line with him for a couple of years now. I had no idea where I was in his eyes - but all I knew is that I didn't want to cross the 'hate' line.

Hence the reason I couldn't confess to him that I was the biatch who ruined his reputation.

The song I was listening to took an abrupt halt as my phone rang.

I snapped out of my thoughts and read the caller ID.

It was Chloe.

"Hey, Bree," her cheery voice spoke from the other side.

"What's up, Chloe?" I smiled.

"Just got home from school. You'll never guess with whom I talked to today."

"Like you said, I never will. So, who?"

"You're making this too easy," she sighed through the phone, "It was Carly Duncan."

Her name made me shudder as I remembered our conversation from the other day.

Chloe and Carly were in the same photography club at school, so they spent quite a significant amount of time together there.

Apparently Carly had recently discovered that she could also take pictures of something else other than embarasing photos of students in the school showers. (She had quite a talent for creeping up in the bathrooms, though.) She would take the pictures and use them to manipulate those poor people in order to get what she wanted.

Kind of what you did with Michael, my inner voice reminded me.

Shut up, voice. My case is totally different.

Okay, maybe it wasn't. But my point was still valid.

I tried to keep an excited tone as I said, "Is that so? What did you two talk about?"

"Other than the fact that you sent HER the screenshot instead of me, she actually said she was organizing a Valentine's day party this Saturday."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And she said I could come, too! Can you believe it?" She squealed, making my ears ache.

"That's great Chloe," I said half-heartedly.

"It is, isn't it? I can't wait to go! I heard the whole popular gang will be there. We totally need to pick you a cool outfit. I was thinking about that top we saw yesterda -"

"Woah, hold on a sec." I made a double take. "What do you mean by pick me an outfit?"

"Why, you can't go to a party in your black hoodies."

"But you know I'm not going... Right?"

"Bree, sometimes the bad case of mood killing which you seem to be having makes me scared, did you know that?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious, Chloe. You know I don't like parties. Plus, I'm busy with all the blog stuff, ya know..."

"You're going," she insisted. "Because as the fantabulous best friend that I am, I care about your social life and I'm not going to let you rot inside your room with your eyes fixed at that computer slash phone of yours for the rest of your life. Okay?"

I felt as if I was running an argument with my mother. Except that mom hadn't mastered the courage to speak up her worries regarding my geeky behaviour just yet.

But in Chloe's case, her mouth had no filter for her thoughts.

And I had to admit. She had a point here.

I let the silence fall between the two of us as I tried to find more arguments as to why this party was such a bad idea.

Valentine's Day was in only two days. If I could survive a party on the worst day of the year, I certainly deserved a prize from the Community of Introverts. Being lonely on Valentine's Day was a thing. But being lonely on the Valentine's day on a party surrounded by the popular, non-single people, was another.

Still, I wanted a break from all that blog stuff. And maybe Chloe was right. Maybe the numbness I felt whenever I got up from the desk chair was a sign I was growing roots already. I was pretty sure even plants moved more.

"Ugh, alright," I said, not being able to find more excuses. "But you have to make a compromise."

"Which is?"

"I ain't wearing no dress, honey," I chuckled at my own choice of words, to which I heard Chloe snort disappointedly.

"Aw, alright, alright. As long as you let me be your Valentine."

I laughed. "You're actually saving me from utter loneliness here."

"Same."

I chuckled. I started to feel a little better about my choice already.

What I didn't realize at that moment was that the party was going to change things. A LOT.

________

Phew that was a long chapter. Thank you so much for reading this, hope it wasn't boring :3

Please vote and comment cos it really motivates me to keep updating!

I'm just curious, since Valentine's Day passed already, how did you guys get to spend yours? Were you a pringle like me? XD (Did you get the reference?)

Also check out Pandaness_LM 's book, Initially, it's awesome!

Once again thanks for the support, see ya to the next update :D

Cheers✌