Chapter 106: Chapter 106 Harassed
"No, I’ll be fine. It is just this one left." I say to Curry and Maverick. Sounds like I am trying to convince myself more than them. I had been incredibly lucky that we had the other eight classes together. Mrs Richardson or whatever she goes by now is a little stricter and disciplined than the other teachers.
I don’t know if I still have that little favor of hers.
The small consoling aspect is that no one can outrightly misbehave in her classes without getting punished with detention. It does not matter to her whether they are privileged or scholarship students.
That’s why she is the most hated teacher. But she is my favorite. She doesn’t give a damn about power dynamics and worship money and status like the principal.
So they keep their picking on subtle during her class. I take a deep inhale and exhale as I enter the class. Mrs Richardson is not here yet. I should have waited until she showed up, but it is too late to try and come out now.
I find an empty seat in a corner where gazes wouldn’t bore into me so much. Drowning out snide remarks from people I pass. Masking the inner turmoil screaming that I don’t want to be here.
I busied myself by doodling on my notebook. I do not even give a glance at the person that comes to sit right besides me.
"Hi, are you new here?" Asked a gentle voice. I turned, my eyes looking straight into a pair of warm, friendly brown ones. On a close look, I found him to be someone uniquely familiar.
"You." I say with gentle surprise.
"I thought you wouldn’t recognize me." He smiles. He has a sweet smile. "You said your name is Gwendolyn right?"
Not right. But he kinda gets it. We had only met once when I still used to work at the noodle shop.
"Gweneth." I say.
"Right, Gweneth. Sorry about that. My name is Rex." I remember that he had also told me his name that day. I never thought that I would see him again ever since I stopped working. But here he is of all places.
"Do you school here?"
"Yes."
"A freshman?"
"Not exactly since it has been a while. But yeah."
Just Ms Carla comes in, asking us to settle down. The class is turning out to be actually great. I did not feel quite alone because of Rex.
But the people sitting behind were hell bent on disturbing the little tranquil moment when they start throwing balled papers at my head. I looked back to see the culprits behind me. Boys with smirks too wide for their faces, trying to look menacing but it only makes them as ugly as hell. Their smirk drops when Rex looked at them too. "What the fuck is their problem? Why are you being treated like this?" He sounds pissed and concerned. And I find it a little unusual.
"Don’t you know? I’m a target." I say blankly, trying to make it sound and seem like it did not bother me.
"A target?" He repeats the word with disbelief etched on his face. "Now it all makes sense." He mutters that.
I do not even have time to think about whether or not I should ask what he means before Mrs Carla notices us. "I am aware that you have been away for long and that you must really want to catch up and what has been going on, but please save whatever discussion you have for later. Oh! and see me when the class is over." She tells him. I noticed that he seemed sort of angry—like he could not wait for the class to be over.
The closing bell rings much later. Signifying the near-end of my misery for the day. "Alright. I guess that is all for today. Put it on your minds that you would be reading scenes tomorrow. You can pick a partner, or chose to do it yourself. Have a nice day." I got up immediately she ended with a singsong tone. I had long arranged my things. I make a beeline for the door, almost racing out and being amongst the very first to leave the class.
I clench my teeth in silent mortification as I pretend to not notice a guy with his phone taking pictures of my backside. It started at the cafeteria earlier. I just don’t know what everyone in this school problem is. I make another mental note to stop wearing this tight jeans from now on. It accentuated my legs and thighs way too much. Thereby bringing me unwanted attention that could count as harassment.
I subconsciously look back startled as I hear a sharp, smashing and scattering sound. Rex is standing in front of the guy who was taking pictures of me. He looks furious. The phone was on the floor. I walk away, refusing to believe the obvious. Telling myself that it could not have been about me. Maybe he had gotten pissed off by something else the guy did. Someone else in this place showing concern for me all of a sudden? That is not a thought to dwell on much less believe.
I hastened my footsteps to go the parking lot to carpool with Curry and Maverick. Making it the last gauntlet of stares that I have to go through for today.
A hand slaps on my ass. I turned sharply to see a boy with salt and pepper hair.
"You were right, Cody! Her ass is deliciously soft. It would look great when it jiggles." The boy who had slapped my ass goaded loudly.
Everyone began hooting and laughing. I continued moving, my whole face stung with humiliation. No doubt, I’d be crying when I get home.
I stop, and freeze to a spot when I see him. I brace myself, thinking and expecting him to come at me as usual. But he just walks past and did not even spare me a glance.
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