Michaela
The rest of my classes up until lunch were fine. My friend Emily was even in my science class.
“Have you heard the rumours?” April said far too loudly, a couple tables down. A very April thing to do, if she wanted to be heard or get attention, she was always loud enough to get it.
“Michaela is stalking James! They’re in English together and she bribed Mrs. Becker, to make them partners,” she continued in a voice shrill with delight. My face heated up in a flame and I felt the room sway as I got dizzy. This isn’t happening, I thought, feeling sick to my stomach.
“You okay?” Emily asked, patting the top of my hand that was curled into a fist and slightly shaking on the cafeteria table. I cursed my hand for shaking, an annoying habit that happened when I got angry or anxious, at least it was just my hands right now, but still it was an annoying habit.
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, trying to plaster on a smile and make light of the situation but my stupid hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
“I don’t know, maybe because people are spreading lies about you and laughing,” Tara said, still not comprehending sarcasm.
“Oh that, whatever. I don’t care what people say about me. It’s just because their lives are so boring, they have to find stupid ways to amuse themselves,” I said, plopping a green grape into my mouth. I didn’t like purple grapes and especially not the ones with seeds, only green for me.
“You’re so strong Mike, I would care for sure. I’d probably be crying by now,” Tara admitted. Oh, I will be the second I get home and close my bedroom door. I’m not strong, it’s all an act and one that I can play particularly well. Em changed the subject easily by talking about her history teacher, who apparently was a complete pervert and kept checking out all the girls and staring at their boobs. He was worse than all the boys and on top of that, he was old and a sexist. I had history right before gym with this Mr. Renner, the same teacher Em was telling me about.
Mr. Renner was exactly like Em had explained; a total perv, actually worse. He stopped class to ask me to stand up so he could read my shirt that said, ‘It’s okay to be weird’, the whole time he was staring at my boobs. I blushed scarlet as the class laughed and he remained oblivious gawking away, finally I crossed my arms and asked to be seated.
“Yes, Miss Lesage,” he said creepily and then continued talking about what we’d be learning this year and the first term. I told Tara everything in gym, the one class we had together, she actually couldn’t stop laughing.
“Guess we know who his favourite student is,” she laughed loudly, holding her stomach as she doubled over.
“It’s not funny! The guy is a serious creep,” I said annoyed. I’d had enough people laughing at me today.
“At least you’ll always be getting good grades, just wear a tight top and there you go B+, a V-neck and you get an A- and pair that with a coloured bra A+!” she exclaimed through her hysterics. I decided it would be best if I walked away before I said something I’d regret later. I had a bad temper on me.
“Aw, come on. I’m sorry,” she said following me. There was a sheet taped on the wall, everyone was crowding around it, we joined the crowd to look at what teams we were put in. I was in team two and Tara, team five. Fun. I didn’t bother looking at who else was on my team because no one else besides Tara was my friend in this class. I normally tried to ignore everyone else. Mrs. Larson blew the whistle and pointed for us to each make lines, dividing us into six groups. I went to the back of line two and waited to say present when asked. In front of me was Cody, Sam, Lloyd, and Derek. I got on with Derek okay but the rest were nothing but bullies and strangers to me.
“Hey stalker,” Cody said, turning around when the teacher was far enough not to hear. My face began to heat up for what felt like the hundredth time today.
“Leave her alone,” Derek said to him, surprising me and making me like him all the more. He’d always been nice to me, ever since we were paired up last year in math.
“Why? She your girlfriend?” Cody cooed, egging him on. I could tell that made Derek even more pissed!
“I don’t tolerate bullies,” he said, smacking his fist into his open hand. I was glad Derek was rather big and a football player. He was able to shut up people like Cody. Derek and I walked towards the changing rooms together when class ended, which was early because all we had done was intro and get into teams.
“Thanks for before,” I told him, truly grateful. I hoped Cody would leave me alone when Derek was around now.
“No worries, I hate that Cody kid anyways, and you always helped me out in math and your cookies are amazing,” he complimented me, smiling sweetly.
“Thanks, and for the record I don’t stalk James, or anyone for that matter,” I told him defensively. He smiled at that, real big like he was going to laugh.
“I know, whoever thought of that one must have been really bored.” He laughed as we went our separate ways. Tara was already at our locker getting dressed when I got in.
“How did it go?” she asked, putting on some deodorant.
“Fine, you?” I asked, pulling my jeans back on.
“Good, Shannon is in my group, so I have her to lean on,” she said
