To Start Over (Book 1)

The Marks They Left Behind

Flashback

After the photo incident, everything changed at school. As I said, rumours here spread fast. My parents found out about the photo, but they never asked how I felt. They just left me alone and grounded me for three weeks. The picture was taken from the internet. After that, Mom and Dad left for a business trip without even telling me. One night, I overheard them talking, and it broke my heart. I always hoped that, no matter how much my parents disliked me, they would still be there if I was falling apart. I was wrong. They saw me as a disgrace and even wished I hadn't been born a girl. I didn't know what to do, so I went to my room, shut the door, and cried myself to sleep. Three weeks. That's how long it had been since I last spoke to Emily and Issac—my best friends, or so I thought. I called. I texted. I begged them to meet me.

Nothing. I had always been there for them, always. When Emily's parents were getting divorced, I held her while she cried. When Issac was scared to share his truth, I promised I would stand by him no matter what. But when I needed them, they weren't there.

The next day at school, everyone stared at me as I walked in. I went straight to the cafeteria, hoping to find my best friends. To my surprise, they were sitting close together, acting like nothing had happened. It was as if I hadn't spent three weeks alone, struggling, while they did nothing to help.

I walked up to them, my heart pounding in my chest. They stopped laughing.

Emily flicked her hair over her shoulder and looked up at me, using that fake accent she always put on when she wanted to sound cooler.

"Livi, we didn't know you'd be coming today."

"How... how are you, Liv?" Issac asked, his voice shaking. He always stutters when he's nervous.

I let out a sarcastic laugh. "If I had told you, would you have stopped thinking only about yourselves?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, Livi, it's not a big deal. Don't make a scene," she said.

Tears filled my eyes. "I needed you both, but instead, you were with each other instead of comforting me."

"What do you want us to do, Livi? You know Oakwood is a small town, and every story spreads fast. My mom found out and didn't want me to go to your house. I'm sorry, but I can't go against her. You know I'm trying to fix my relationship with her."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She had spent years hating her mother for leaving their family. Now that she decided to forgive her, did that mean she had to leave me behind?

"So when did you get together?" I asked them.

"One month ago," Issac said. That explained why they weren't there for me that night. It hurt so much, but I just nodded and walked away without another word.

After my fifth period, I walked to the gym for cheerleading practice. When I entered, everyone was gathered in a corner, staring at me.

"Why isn't anyone in position? We don't have much time. Get in place, we'll start with the basics," I told them.

Stacy stepped forward with her arms crossed, smirking.

"I think you should step back, Olivia." My stomach dropped. "What?"

She looked around at the rest of the team, but no one met my eyes.

"Don't look so surprised," she said sweetly. "You were the first one to be voted off."

My breath caught. Voted off?

I looked at Emily.

"Don't look at her. She was the first one to vote against you," Stacy said. I hadn't even been told.