Arabella Rivera Everything should be easier now right? I successfully avoided Gwen while going to the bathroom and I got the plan B. Now I just needed to take the damn thing. This shouldn't be hard, actually, it wasn't. But my fingers were cold against the box and my heart jammed in my chest. The anxiety was slowly eating me up, tearing me apart. One little pill, made me feel so queasy. It wasn't such a big deal right? It's not like it will kill me? Should I search up if there was anyone who died from taking this? Crap I can't, I left my phone in Gwen's car. I drew in a much needed breath and turned the box over. My eyes scan the small black words printed on the back as I read aloud. "Use for women to reduce chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex." As the words slipped out of my mouth, a flaming heat neared my cheeks until settling on them. There was practically no one in the bathroom except for, me. I was all alone, seated on the toilet seat, inside a small bathroom stall. It is no wonder I felt claustrophobic in this small space. I sighed rolling down my eyes to read the rest. A thin sleek of sweat sheeted on my forehead as I continued to read aloud. "May cause lower stomach pain, tiredness, headaches, breast pain, vomiting, dizziness-" I gulped. "God, what can this little pill not do?" I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes for a few seconds. This would've been much easier if I didn't have a fear of swallowing pills. I dreaded the stomach pain or the incoming nausea if I do swallow this pill. If you do? This is a must Arabella, you can't back out of this. My logical mind was right, but where was this bitch when I needed her last night? I peeled my eyes open and looked down at the box. Turning it over I exhaled another anxious sigh. " Okay you got this Arabella, just one little pill. It's not even that big, so you might not even feel it sliding down your throat." I laughed dryly while trying to pep-talk myself into taking it. Why was this so, tough? How can people swallow pills and not feel like they will get stuck in their throat? This was always an issue for me, swallowing pills I mean. Somehow swallowing Haiden's release wasn't at all an issue.Perhaps it was because pills normally tasted bitter, but Haiden, he tasted so sweet and- I clench my eyes tightly and release an exaggerated groan. I hated thinking about him right now. I wished I could just shut off my thoughts for a while, go numb without feeling. Impossible. It was impossible. I tore the box and took the small pill between my fingers. Nothing would happen, nothing bad would happen. In fact, you're doing something good, you're being responsible. Pep-talking myself was going nowhere, but I knew I had to do it eventually. I started counting. "One." "Two." I closed my eyes and pushed the pill in my mouth and swallowed. Bang "Arabella you better be inside here! I have been looking everywhere for you. I'm going to have you pay fees for having me walk so much!" Gwen hisses out loud as she slams the door shut. I coughed, my eyes bulging as I felt the pill ready to jump back up my throat. I swiftly swallow it back down, forcing it to slide into my stomach. "You better answer me you biatch! I'll even add interest on your ass. Do you know how hard it was for me to be walking around that big ass store with heels on!?" Gwen screeches, her heels clacking on the nasty tiles that looked to have been stained with piss or another unknown substance. " I'm here. I just needed to pee." I wheezed out as I swallowed my saliva. Jesus, she had the worst timing. "Fucking great, my feet were about to fall off." She grumbles and I heard the sound of the faucet being opened before the sound of water descending into the sink. I rolled my eyes. She was always so dramatic. "It has barely been six minutes, you would have survived." I pointed out while quickly getting off the toilet seat. I started to rip the box into tiny shreds, hoping the sound of the water hitting the sink would drown out the sound of something being torn. I lift the cover using my converse and dropped the tiny pieces into the bowl. "Yeah well, it felt like an hour." She snapped back. I looked at the tiny pieces of paper pulp and flushed away the evidence. Wiping the thin sweat between my brows, I turned around, inhaled a calming breath then opened the stall. Gwen's eyes meet mine through the mirror and her brows drew together to emphasize her line of worry. "You look like shit."I narrowed my eyes as I walked out of the stall. "Wow, gee thanks. I definitely needed that." I closed the door and strutted over to her. Her irises nearly disappear behind her lids as she looks at the ceiling. "I didn't mean it like that. You just look stressed or something. I don't know, like something's up your ass something." I lift a brow while pushing my hand under the running water. "You were wasting water you know." I pointed out, intentionally not answering her. She gave me an 'are you kidding me' look and blew out a breath that made a few strands of her blonde hair move away from her face. "Have you seen this place? It's massive and I'm pretty sure the owner makes more money than Bruno Mars. A little rise in the water bill wouldn't make him or her choke." She was exaggerating like usual. I rolled my eyes and closed the tap. Gwen pulled out a small lip gloss from her bra which made me raise a questionable brow. She clicks her tongue and turns to the mirror while shrugging. "What? This is a necessity." She murmurs as she thickly coats her lips with more of the shiny goo. I swore she was about to blind everyone who look her way. But knowing Gwen, I think that was exactly what she was aiming for. She'd probably want to end up on the news and be the girl known for blinding people with her gloss. Rubbing her lips together she turns to me. Her eyes suddenly lit up. "So good news. I got the guy's number. If I have a little more luck, by this week I'll hook up with him." Her voice has an excited edge to it as she pushes the lip gloss back into her bra. I stilled. That stony guy who gives me the creeps? She looks at her side image in the mirror, cups her boobs and pushes them up. "I swear I have the flattest boobs in the world," She turns to me and puckers her lips into a pout. "Mind giving me some of yours?" I made a disgusting face and took a step back. "Ew no. Get away from me weirdo." It was a joke, well kind of. Gwen's face reared with an amused smile before she giggles. After she calmed down enough, she sighs. "We should probably get going before we put a huge dent in your school attendance record. Don't want Miss perfect Arabella being late to school." Perfect. That word. I hated it so much. Gwen takes the caramelized popcorn packet she had placed on the countertop and hooks her arm around my neck. Pulling me towards her she dragged me towards the door. When we're out of the bathroom and nearing the exit of the store, I turned around and waved Donna goodbye, which she returned with one of her own and a happy smile. Gwen pushes the huge glass door open and we both walk out into the fresh morning air. "Geez I let you out of my sight for a little while and you already made yourself a new best friend. I feel betrayed. Oh how could I ever live another day." She says and dramatically places her hand over her heart. "Oh my heart." She cries, faking a painful whimper. I snorted and turned to her. Her eyes are already focused on something, or I should say someone ahead. Her blue eyes gleam with want. "Oh yummy. He rides bikes." I turn to her focus of attention and my eyes fell on the stony guy who couldn't mind his business. He swang a leg over his beat up motorcycle and starts it. Behind his neck, which I now noticed, was painted darkly with tattoos I couldn't see properly from where we stood. I had an inkling that those tattoos ran on his back too. "Hey Gwen?" I asked, gnawing at my bottom lip as we watch him drive away. "Yeah?" She asked, her voice breathy from watching the guy drive away. I tugged her along, seeing as her feet refused to move. "Stay away from that guy. He smells like trouble." I voiced out as we made our way to her unmissable car.