Free Hillary_Flesh and Blood by Angel Gelique

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    ~3~
     
    For months following her rejected revelation, Hillary seemed to transform into a quiet, sullen version of her former self. She resumed school but no longer participated in any extracurricular activities. She completed her homework assignments and prepared for exams but did only the bare minimum to pass her classes. Her friends tried tirelessly to figure out what had caused her to become so withdrawn. At her father ’ s urging, she sometimes smiled just to appease them, made up excuses for her behavior, explanations for their taxing questions. Mostly she grunted monotonous short answers or shrugged them off altogether. Many of her former “ best friends ” had given up on her, offering little more than a wave as they passed each other by in the school halls.
    Yet, she had a handful of die-hard friends who refused to give up so easily. They had no intention of abandoning a friend in such apparent need. Each time Hillary tried to persuade them to move on with their lives, they reassured her that they would always be there for her. Each time she tried to ignore them they became even more persistent with their efforts. Her attempts to alienate herself were met with unannounced and unwelcome visits to her home . H er insults only served to renew their resolve to help.
    The former Hillary would have been moved by their loyalty and steadfast camaraderie. The tainted Hillary detested their good-willed tenacity. She cursed their efforts, their concern. Couldn ’ t they just mind their own business? Didn ’ t they have anything better to worry about? They were so intrusive, inviting themselves over to meddle in her affairs. They brought unw anted gifts...stuffed toys, bouquets of flowers, candi es and treats...what was she, a n infirm patient in a hospital? It aggravated her immensely. Yet, the more she protested, the harder her friends tried to “ help. ” Until she became physical....
    Her longtime friend Jacqueline, “ Jax, ” showed up unexpectedly one night toting a DVD and a bagful of microwavable popcorn and movie theater candy. Hillary was outraged.
    “ Just leave, ” she said, clearly agitated.
    “ Nope, we ’ re gonna watch this first...you ’ re gonna love it, ” Jax said, waving the DVD in front of Hillary ’ s face.
    “ I ’ m not kidding, Jax...you need to go, ” Hillary warned. She could feel her anger elevating with each passing second.
    Jax stood there, smiling, still waving the DVD in front of Hillary ’ s face, tauntingly.
    “ Why doesn ’ t anyone hear me when I speak? ” Hillary shouted loudly, “ Am I speaking a foreign language? I said no! ”
    With a quick and mighty swipe of her hand, Hillary knocked the DVD out of Jax ’ s hand and onto the floor. In the process, her nail grazed Jax ’ s left cheek. Tiny beads of blood surfaced over the three-inch scratch on her face. Jax gasped as she palmed her face.
    Hillary frowned. She didn ’ t mean to scratch Jax. She just wanted to be left alone. She opened her mouth to apologize but shut it and crossed her arms in front of her instead. She eyed Jax with an unfamiliar loathing.
    Jax, growing increasingly uneasy in Hillary ’ s presence, said nothing. She was both shocked and hurt, believing that Hillary purposefully scratched her. She bent forward, picked up the DVD and walked out of Hillary ’ s room.
    Hillary knew deep down that she should be upset, that she should follow Jax and apologize for her outburst and inadvertent violence. Yet, that spot deep down, the spot where her conscience used to dwell, was nearly a dark void now .
    Instead, Hillary smiled. I t was a tiny victory for her, a small accomplishment in her mission for solitude. It was a fleeting smile. S he didn ’ t feel like smiling...why should she? She wasn ’ t happy. She was numb to everything around her, going