Chapter 4: Someone Outside the Stall
I don't know how long I stayed in that bathroom.
Long enough for my eyes to swell.
Long enough for my chest to hurt like something was clawing its way out.
Long enough to hate myself for crying over people who didn't give a fuck whether I lived or died.
My mascara was ruined. My face was blotchy. My nose was red like I'd caught the flu or been punched in the face—honestly, either would've been less humiliating than what happened in the hallway.
Fuck them.
Fuck this school.
Fuck today.
I was hunched over the sink, gripping the edge like it was the only thing keeping me upright, when I heard it.
A knock.
Not loud. Not aggressive.
Just… there.
I flinched so hard I almost slipped.
"Bathroom's occupied," I snapped, my voice cracking like a traitor.
There was a pause. Then—
"Yeah, I figured," a voice said. A girl's voice. Calm. Soft. "I'm not trying to rush you or anything. I just… wanted to check."
Check what?
I wiped my face aggressively with my sleeve, already annoyed. "Check on who?"
Another pause. Careful this time.
"On you," she said. "You kinda ran in here like the world was ending."
My throat tightened.
I hated that someone noticed.
Hated it even more that they were right.
"I'm fine," I said quickly. Too quickly. "You can go."
She didn't.
Instead, she stepped closer—close enough that I could see her sneakers under the stall gap. Black Converse. Scuffed. Real. Not intimidating.
"I don't think you are," she said gently. "And that's okay."
That pissed me off more than anything else.
"You don't know me," I said. "So maybe don't analyze my mental state like you're my therapist."
She let out a small laugh—not mocking, not loud. Just… human.
"Fair," she said. "For what it's worth, I'm Sadie. And I promise I'm not here to be annoying."
I stayed quiet.
My reflection in the mirror looked pathetic. Mascara smudged, eyes glossy, shoulders shaking like I was about to break in half. I looked weak. And I hated that a stranger was witnessing this version of me.
Sadie spoke again. "I saw what happened in the hallway."
My stomach dropped.
"I wasn't staring," she added quickly. "I was behind you. And those assholes—" she paused, choosing her words, "—they were out of line."
I clenched my jaw.
"They weren't wrong," I muttered. "I tripped. Like an idiot. In front of everyone."
"So?" Sadie said. "People trip. Doesn't mean they get to act like feral bitches about it."
That earned her a breathy laugh from me before I could stop myself.
"Shit," I muttered. "I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine," she said. "Laughing doesn't mean you're suddenly okay. It just means you're human."
I stared at the sink again, my hands trembling.
"I don't want anyone's pity," I said. "I just want to be left the hell alone."
"I'm not pitying you," Sadie replied immediately. "I'm pissed for you."
That made me look up.
She had stepped into view now—leaning against the counter, arms crossed loosely. She had kind eyes. Sharp ones too, but kind. Like she knew when to push and when to shut the fuck up.
"They laughed because it was easy," she continued. "Not because you deserved it."
"You don't know that," I said.
She shrugged. "Maybe not. But I know bullies. And I know humiliation when I see it."
Silence settled between us, thick but not uncomfortable.
I finally sighed, my shoulders slumping. "I hate this school already."
Sadie nodded like she'd expected that. "Yeah. It has that effect."
I wiped my face again, sniffling. "I shouldn't be crying like this. It's embarrassing as hell."
"Cry all you want," she said. "Anyone who says they don't is either lying or dead inside."
I huffed. "You always this comforting to random breakdowns?"
"Only the ones that look like they're about five seconds from punching a wall," she said. "Figured I'd intervene."
I met her eyes in the mirror.
"Thanks," I said quietly. "For not being a dick."
She smiled. A real one this time. "Anytime."
The bell rang, loud and sharp, slicing through the moment.
"Fuck," I muttered.
Sadie straightened. "You gonna be okay walking out there?"
I hesitated.
"…Yeah," I said, though it wasn't entirely true.
She nodded anyway. "Cool. I've got next period down the hall. If anyone says shit, I bite."
I snorted. "Good to know."
As she turned to leave, she paused. "Hey, Evelyn?"
I stiffened. "Yeah?"
"You didn't deserve that," she said firmly. "Don't let today convince you otherwise."
Then she walked out, leaving the bathroom quieter than before—but not empty.
I stared at my reflection one last time.
I still looked like hell.
But for the first time since stepping into this goddamn school, I didn't feel completely alone.
And that scared me almost as much as it comforted me.