Get Back to You 131 New resolve

School ended, and everyone was heading back home with their friends.

Ivy stood outside the classroom, along with Bridgette.

"Don't do anything weird."

"Don't even THINK weird."

"Stay put and go through the entire week. I'll visit your parents and tell them that you have extra club activities."

Ivy kept preaching Bridgette continuously.

...

"They won't even care," Bridgette ridiculed.

"Well, they are going to, when they see their daughter coming home late continuously for a week. They don't need to know all the details for now. So, let me handle your parents."

Ivy reassured.

"Thanks," Bridgette said. Her words barely contained innocence.

"It took me an entire day for you to talk to me. You don't have any clue, don't you?" Ivy groaned.

Bridgette grimaced.

"Where is Carmel-"

"-and Sara?"

Bridgette stirred.

"They left."

"Carmel pestered me already during lunch after you went to the Principal's office. They are worried too, you know."

Ivy informed. She believed that Bridgette needed her friend's support right now. It will be the only way for her to bounce back on track, or else this incident will influence Bridgette to act alone and avoid any attachments. It might lead her on a dangerous path. Ivy worried for her friend more than ever.

Whatever she was agonizing in the past has occurred.

Lillian Grey's warning inflected the gossip girls to reflect upon their actions until now. Everyone took a step back and witnessed their behaving brought upon such a situation.

Instead of overlooking the situation at hand, the girls decided to face themselves and the truth. Carmel and Sara chose to give Bridgette time and the space needed for her to realize her mistake.

"Worried, you say," Bridgette smirked.

"Bri..."

"Things happened. Let it go."

"I don't know why the hell you went ahead and did all that shit."

"I don't get it why Carmel suddenly stopped talking to you. Sara's only giving her company, but they both would never leave you alone."

"I don't get any of these."

"God Damn it-" Ivy cursed out loud in bitter.

Bridgette kept quiet.

Ever since the broadcast incident, Carmel and Sara have been distancing themselves from Bridgette.

Added to that, Bridgette hasn't confronted Carmel about Mike. None of them spoke to each other except for Ivy constantly nagging Bridgette. In the end, Bridgette gave in to Ivy, to inform about her one-week detention and an apology letter to the school authority.

Bridgette faced a severe trail with Mr. Clarence, the school principal, for her improper behavior. When told to bring in her parents, Bridgette shrugged off by saying that her parents wouldn't care. Mr. Clarence decided to forgive Bridgette's action with a warning along with, with a week worth after-school detention.

Shocked from the discipline and complex confrontation with the school's principal, Mr. Chester Clarence, Ivy started advising her friend to stop getting into troubles or making them.

"Call me as soon as you reach home."

Ivy said while looking at the ignorant Bridgette not being attentive.

"Alright, at least text me."

"You don't need to talk, but let me know when you reach home safely."

Ivy said and tapped gently on Bridgette's forehead. She then left the place.

Bridgette saw her friend Ivy's efforts and felt grateful. She didn't want to show it out but seeing Ivy being with her when her other friends neglected to approach, made Bridgette understand the worth of having a good friend despite her rude personality.

They say when you get into trouble by yourself, people will escalate from your life and will not be there with you.

In Bridgette's case, she has a very loyal friend, who cares for her well being. Secretly gushing from Ivy's support, Bridgette went to her detention.

***

Lillian and Anna stayed back with Giselle for a few minutes before her counseling session. They both learned that Diego had already left earlier.

Soon, Giselle got a call from Mr. Baron Tucker, the school student counselor. Lillian and Anna left the saying their goodbyes.

***

"Welcome Ms. Giselle, Please have a seat."

Baron invited Giselle with a welcoming smile. Giselle nodded and took the seat.

"Shall we begin?" Baron proposed.

Thus, Giselle's counseling began.

In the next twenty minutes, Baron learned about Giselle and her past. It was hard to open up in the beginning. Baron didn't invade Giselle's privacy, but he wanted to know about Giselle discovering her sexual identity and a few things related to her past school life.

Baron also learned about Giselle's confession and bullying. When asked with the other person's identity, Giselle hesitated at first. Baron didn't insist her to spit out the name of the girl she fell in love. Instead, he advised her to keep the romance at a distance.

"For now, let's stop it."

"Ms. Giselle, you're a young student now. Make use of this opportunity to reach out for your dreams and choose a field that you're passionate about."

"Young teens mind always tend to wander and explore."

"I'm not against it, you know. However, with the things getting complicated, I think you should only focus on what's in your plate right now."

"Education."

"Complete your school and get on to the next stage of your life."

"I'm sure you will find the right person for you and fall in love with them."

Giselle appeared convinced. Everyone has their first love, but it doesn't mean that all end on a triumphant note. Giselle sensed that her feelings for Lillian should be kept at bay and move on. After getting rejected directly, Giselle should feel grateful for Lillian standing up for her to everyone.

The Lillian Grey she is experiencing now is a good friend and not someone who's returning or realizing her feelings about some lame confession from the past.

'I should end my feeling for her.' – Giselle decided.

The counselor added a few points and comforted Giselle and gave her the strength to move on. He also recommended Giselle to possibly stay away from the person she confessed, meaning not to reopen the past feelings she's trying to suppress.

Giselle knew she cannot avoid Lillian Grey from now on, but the thing she can do is to receive the friendship Lillian is offering. Giselle chose to grab the hand that's helping as a friend and decided to put an end to her childish young love.

The counseling session ended with Giselle feeling cleared about her emotions. However, her feelings remain uncomfortable, to which Baron consoled her saying that time will heal things naturally.

He requested Giselle to drop visits in the future in case if needed. Giselle agreed.

Not the extraordinary session, but Giselle's clouded mind realized and began to think about her life and the decisions she has to make.

For starters, Giselle planned to end her feeling for Lillian as a potential lover. She never knew about Lillian's sexual identity. Just like the rest of the world, Giselle can only say that Lillian Grey is a straight young teenager, unlike Giselle, who knew that she was a lesbian after reaching a certain age.

With a dead end in front of her, Giselle doesn't want to nurture her first love anymore. It might sound as simple as Baron said. However, Giselle felt glad that she never had the chance to take this feeling to the next stage except for confessing to Lillian Grey.

The rejection did ease out in her head as the young Giselle thought it might never turn out good.

When she came out of the session, the time was already five PM in the evening. The school looked empty with only a few club activities going around, Giselle packed up her things and walked towards the exit. On her way, she saw Bridgette in her detention room.

Immediately, her heart pained from sighting the blond girl. She hated Bridgette with all her might. If not for this girl, none of it would have happened. Giselle never thought about coming out at that time. She wanted to express her love for someone she felt.

If not for this blond girl Giselle won't have to get bullied unnecessarily or receive those stares from everyone in the school who know her. The girls began avoiding Giselle, and nobody talks to her. The solitude comprised with the presence of Lillian Grey and her friends.

Despite all these, Giselle did feel that this incident might help her in overcoming her difficulties and make the right decision from now onwards.

She reached the exit, and as she walked outside the gate, someone called her name.

When turned around to notice, she found Lillian Grey standing in the sides with her school bag still handing on her shoulders. She never left the school and hung around until now, waiting for Giselle.

Initially feeling shocked, but it turned into relief that Giselle found a good friend from Lillian Grey.

"Hey!"

"Got time now?" Lillian asked.

Giselle looked at ease and happy, along with a faint haze from the sudden appearance.

***

Chapter end