//------------------------------//
// Confrontations 
// Story: The New Kid 
// by GodOfBBQ 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 5


Confrontations


You’re getting very worried. It’s been about ten minutes since Gilda left class to use the bathroom and you can’t help but feel that something horribly wrong has happened.

And it’s all your fault.

‘Oh Christ! I can’t… I can’t live with myself anymore! I’m a heartless beast!’

Every so often, you’d get awkward stares from the teacher and your fellow students since you’re only sitting in your desk, staring into nothingness with unblinking eyes. 

On the outside, you seem like a motionless, quiet person. But on the inside, a full fledged war is going on. A war of emotions blow up inside you. Guilt, Sadness, Anger, Petty, and Disappointment in yourself cause so much damage inside.

Knowing that you had literally did the one thing you never wanted to do in the first place sickened you. You've become many things during that small moment of pushing back at Gilda.

An antagonist, a bully, a hypocrite, and a dishonest bastard of a human.

You had to do something to fix this. But what could you do? Gilda probably didn't want to talk to you so you couldn't go find her. You had no idea where she would be even, so that just cancels out finding her even more. 

But the only way to fully solve problems with someone, was to encounter it face to face with the person. If not face to face, then that makes you and that person a coward. You've been raised off this statement, now that you think about it, you've been raised off of many different statements. Some were pretty obvious like, 

1)Always treat women with respect and kindness.
2)Always tell the truth
3)If you get in a fight, be sure to win if you don’t want to look forward to another fight at home
4)Never, ever hit a girl

That fourth one was broken. More than just broken, it was snapped in half, burned in the fires of hell, then fed to the demons who resided there.

And the fifth one, 

Always, no matter what circumstances. If a problem is your fault, then ask for forgiveness and try to fix whatever you did wrong.

Thoroughly thinking about these golden rules of your life, you know that even if it doesn't work, you have to find Gilda and apologize for how you chewed her out. You take a deep breath, preparing for the worst of what talking to her could bring.

You raise your hand and ask with newly gained pride,

“Miss Cherliee, may I use the restroom!?”


~***~


You walk down the halls of Canterlot High, wondering what you might encounter when you talk to Gilda. Will she break your nose? Will she squash you like a bug? So many possibilities for her to let her anger out, it almost made you faint then and there.

As you walk down the hallway, the sound of footsteps follow you. Thinking that it was someone else, you turn your head back to see nobody. You then just figure it’s your footsteps that are making the noise. As you keep walking, you stumble on a lump of something.

This something yelped in surprise.

“Hey! Watch it Dorkosaurus!” You hear the voice shout. As you turn around, the voice silences and you’re left with a now more timid and saddened Gilda who hugs her knees tighter to her chest. You look at the wall behind her and you notice the bathroom sign behind her.

‘Well… She did go to the bathroom.’ You think to yourself.

“What are you doing here loser? You can’t be here, it’s the girl’s bathroom.” Gilda says without making direct eye contact with you.

You shake your head.

“Gilda, you’re not even in the girl’s bathroom. You’re only sitting in front of the door.”

“Can I come out now!?” A voice asks from the girl’s bathroom.

“Shut up newbie!” Gilda shouts while turning her head to face the door.

“Who’s in there?” You ask pointing to the door.

“The new girl… I think her name’s Sonata or something.” She says dismissively.

“Oh c’mon Gilda let her out. She’s not the… Sharpest knife in the drawer. She won’t make it in their by herself.” You say with worry in your voice. Gilda finds this funny however. You don’t know what she’s laughing at, you’re dead serious.

You roll your eyes and decide to take a chance. You get closer and you sit next to Gilda. She hugs her knees even tighter at your approach.

‘What’s up with her? Just twenty minutes ago she was antagonizing me like there was no tomorrow. Now she’s acting as if I’’ beat her up… Again.’

“Look, Gilda-” You’re interrupted.

“Don’t tell me someone else is sitting in front of the door!” Sonata shouts angrily.

“Sorry Sonata!” You say.

“Oh, hi Anon! It’s OK! Besides, I made friends in here!” She replies.

“Probably with the rats…” You say sarcastically, electing a chuckle from Gilda.

‘Okay, faze one is complete! Put her in a good mood, Check!’

“Listen Gilda, I've thought about what I've said, and I’m sorry. For everything, I shouldn't have insulted you like that and you-” Once again, you were interrupted.

“No, no it’s my fault. You asked me to stop, and I kept messing with you. I had it coming.” She says solemnly. It saddens you even more knowing the fact that you've belittled her so much where she’s actually regretting her choices.

‘I really screwed up now didn't I?’

“Okay, I don’t want to start going back and forth saying “I’m Sorry” so I’m just gonna say it. You didn't deserve all that was said. You deserved to hear some things, but not all of it. I was letting off some steam and it wasn't fair to you that you were caught in the crossfire… Even though there wasn't really any crossfire to be caught in. It was kind of intended…” You finish off, as you look to Gilda for some sort of response, instead you’re met with a teary eyed face of Gilda who was too busy looking at the ground than looking at you.

“It’s not the fact that you just said what you said, it’s the fact that most of that stuff is true… Just, take away the cage part and the mother then you got my life. When I was born, my dad wasn't happy. He’d wanted a boy, but being a girl he loathed instead of loved me. So, I sought to see the approval of him by being more of a boy than a girl. My mom was taken out of the picture right after I was born. She died of an overdose of some pills the doctors gave her. This left my dad to be a drunken abusive man. Whenever I’d make the smallest slip up, I’d be beat with a leather belt. That’s why I didn't want my grade lowered, I knew my dad would see it and he’d most likely beat me for it. He keeps saying he wants me to be tough, have thicker skin. But he also wants me to be smart in the head, not be a total imbecile. When I was young, I always thought he was just this, big monster of a man. It took some time to realize that all he was doing, was preventing me from becoming him. That’s why I still tolerate his way of, parenting. Because it’s effective. But in the end, I always find some way to screw it up”

You’re left there, sitting alone with Gilda in the empty and almost creepy hallway of the school with the occasional passing of a teacher or janitor here and there. You can hear sniffling, from both Gilda and from behind the door you two sat in front of.

Sonata had heard the whole story as well.

‘Poor thing. Wasn't even apart of this and she still got an earful’

Aside from the noises of sniffling and whimpering coming mostly from the bathroom, it’s completely silent. The echos of the footsteps down the hallways are almost silent to you. All you can sense at the moment, is the sound of Sonata’s whimpers, and Gilda’s sad sitting posture. 

You’re left with not much to do. What can you do? What could you do that’d fix this whole thing? 

With somewhat of an idea, you straighten out your back and you say,
“There there, everything’s going to be fine…” You awkwardly move your hand, not really knowing what to do with it at the moment. Whether to pat her back, or pat her shoulder. 

“Anon’s here…” You’re arm still moves on it’s own, not knowing what to do with itself. Suddenly, you’re saved by the one thing you’d never expect coming.

A hug, from Gilda. She had wrapped her arms around you, still in her sitting position, she’s mostly hugging your side with her head looking down while being supported by your shoulder to hold it up.

Her hands clasp onto your other shoulder. As you sit there, really confused of you should do. Strands of Gilda’s feathery looking hair falls in front of your nose. You can smell hints of coconut.

‘Huh, I took her as lemon scented.’

Your sight returns to her hands on your left shoulder again. Not knowing anything else to do, you gingerly place your hand above her two hands. Comforting the two hands.

‘Where’s that damned passing period bell when you need it!’ You think to yourself, you then think of something else to replace the thought.

‘Eh, who am I kidding. I hope this lasts a little longer...’