Bullied By The Badboy

I have always been disliked by my peers. Sure, no one is bold enough to walk up to me and express their dislike but it's evident in their behaviours. The looks, the snickers or low tunes when I pass by. But they never say it to my face. Well, Olivia tries, she has always been the bold one. I don't expect her to change but I can handle her. After all, it's her fault we are no longer friends, if only she had kept it in her pants.

A tug on my shirt snaps me out of my musing, the reflection of my one and only best friend in the whole world appears on my car window and I turn around with a big smile. Her high-pitched scream has me plugging my fingers into my ears, she throws her arms around me in excitement and I return the hug with a slight eye roll, acting like I didn't miss her. She jabs my sides with a scowl, I return the favour.

"Holla," she says in her beautiful Spanish accent, switching into Spanish like I understand the language.

I wait for her to finish talking but the thing with Maria is this-she never stops talking. You have to cut her off so that's exactly what I do. I throw an arm around her shoulders. "Maria. How was the party?"

Some boy from our school hosted a party last night to welcome everyone to the new semester and in Maria's book, you never say no to a cute boy who asks nicely. In my book, you say no to every boy. High school isn't for relationships, it's that period of your life you are forced to endure so you do your best to get by. Stay unnoticed. She shakes her head and shrugs my hand off her shoulders, dragging me away from my car and into the direction of the door.

I hesitate at the front door, Maria takes a step forward and stops. "Tessa?" She turns to me, I shrug.

See, Maria is very pretty. With her waist length blond hair, honey eyes, smooth accent, banging body and beautiful heart, that cheerleader is the kind of person everyone wants to be friends with. And then, you have me. Cool Tessa. I mean, I am a sight for sore eyes, that's what mum says. If I can try to wear something outside black T-shirts, skinny jeans and sneakers, I'll look excellent. Sometimes, I think she's disappointed at the fact her only daughter isn't following her path of fashion. My mum is a fashionista.

"Theresa Mower!" Maria snaps her fingers in my face and my eyes flicker to her. I offer her a sheepish grin, widen my big, brown eyes into what I hope is a puppy-eyed look and she pinches my nose, baring her teeth at me when I try to protest. Placing her hands on her waist, she says, "This is a new session, we promise to try and socialise more, right? We have one more year to go, let's make the best of it."

I nod. By we, she means me alone because she's a social butterfly and I am that friend who will rather spend her weekend binge-watching old movies. She tucks her hand into the crook of my elbow and pulls me to stand on the stairs with her. I am only two inches taller than she is but her heels already took care of the height difference. She pushes the door open, I close my eyes, take a deep breath and step in.

The corridors are quiet as we stroll in, I make sure to stay beside Maria as we head for our lockers. When I'm with her, people seldom glance my way, all attention is focused on her. I can always handle myself but it feels good to have her around me in the mornings since we don't have any class together.

It's too silent. And the silence unnerves me, it's not normal. Broadway Heights is filled with different categories of teenagers. The good, the bad, the ugly and the evil so silence on a Friday morning should worry anyone. And it bothers me. Even Maria. She retrieves her phone from her bag, I laugh on seeing the big fluffy ears attached to the case of her iPhone. She calls it a fashion statement, I call it a miss.

I know she's searching Broadway Gossip site. It's a gossip blog run by an anonymous person. My guts tell me it's Olivia, the whole thing reeks of her-the pink themes, boring interface and girly designs but no one knows for sure. The blog is only good for two things; ruining the reputations of Broadway Heights students or updating us on the latest gist. I pause in front of my locker, waiting for the latest update and Maria's brows furrow as she continues swiping on her screen. I can easily pull out the Samsung phone I got on my last birthday but no, I'll pass. I made a decision to stay away from that blog after they shared a student's nude. I can always get whatever information I need from Maria, she's ever willing to share.

"There's a video of Nate dancing on a pole," Maria says with a laugh. She pushes her phone in front of my face, I grimace at the video of the shirtless boy that appears on her screen. He is drunk, he has to be. No way will a sane boy be grinding on a stick or kissing it with such passion. Ew. "He's so shameless."

Nate is one of many familiar faces I can't place a finger on. Definitely one of the school jocks, look at that body. I nod and return her phone. For sure, he attends my school but we are not friends so he's none of my business. My focus returns to my locker, my first class is AP Calculus so I need to retrieve the textbook. I have no idea why I'm in that class. But on the plus side, none of the cheerleaders offer the subject with me so it makes it bearable. Put me in a class far away from Olivia and I'll be fine for the day.

I open my locker, a smile slips to my lips at the picture glued to the door. It's a picture of me and Maria. I'm standing with my legs apart, arms crossed on my flat chest, body tilted to one side with a massive scowl on my face while Maria is being Maria. Her usual diva self with the most blinding smile, model like pose and her black bodycon gown. I must have been trying to prove a point to my mother, why else would I wear a tux to prom? Admittedly, my fashion sense is dead but I hate tuxes. Skinny jeans please.

Maria made us take that picture. Maybe to have something to laugh about or simply for the memories. Liv-Olivia and I were still friends, her picture used to be beside this but I guess old things have passed away. I will never admit it to Maria but this is one of my favourite pictures of us from sophomore year.

My hands locate the textbook, I'm still smiling at the memories from the party, how I embarrassed us with my horrible dancing skills when someone rams into me from behind. Everything stops. A sharp pain spreads to my shoulder, my forehead connects with the metal bar and stars dot my vision for a second.

I hear Maria's sharp intake of breath. "Are you blind?" she screams at the person behind us and I spin, ready to punch the demon who shoved me into outer space when I see who it is and my throat dries up.

The witch. The witch is here.

"Oops," Olivia says with a fake smile glued to her lips, straightening her frilly jacket with so many feathers on the collar I can't help but wonder how she breathes in it. Mum used to like her, they share similar tastes. I push that memory out of my mind, me and Liv are done. "Sorry. I didn't see you there."

Giggles come from behind her, I cock my head to the side and I see the girls. Her friends, minions, name it, that's them. Four of them. Charlotte. Riley. Chloe and Zoey, the only twins at our school. They follow Liv around like their lives depend on it. They are not like the usual minions, they genuinely care about their master. Massaging my stiff shoulders, I turn to my locker, reminding myself to ignore her. She hates being ignored more than anything else in the world but Maria does not take kindly to my silence.

"Of course you didn't see her, you blind bat."

I stifle a laugh as I retrieve my notes, shoving them into my backpack. These girls better beware, Maria is good with her mouth, I am good with my fists. As much as I don't want to start the new session with a suspension or detention, I will not hesitate to throw a good right hook if the situation demands. I adjust the bag sliding off my shoulder and tap Maria, breaking her stare-off with the witch and her minions.

She throws me an annoyed look, I motion to the empty hallway. Sometimes, my calmness irritates her. But the bell will go off soon, we can't afford to be late because of them, they are not worth our time.

Olivia blocks our path, her minions stand on each side of her to form a barrier to keep us in. I place a hand on my waist and drum my foot into the tiles, it's too early for this nonsense. A sly smile takes over Olivia's lips, she can tell I'm getting agitated, she wants me to lose it. Witch. Her gaze darts between me and Maria and I release another sigh. Sighing seems to be all I've been doing since they walked in here.

"Mother Theresa," she says while batting her fake lashes, "aren't you mowing for us today?" I roll my eyes, maybe I can start by plucking out her lashes. She pouts. "No?" Dumbass. The joke stopped being funny long ago. Yes, my last name is Mower but her joke is lame and that's why only her minions laugh.

A second passes, my jaw ticks but I keep still and she arches a perfect blonde brow. Drama queen, not today. I have a fight to prepare for, I can pretend my opponent is Olivia while beating the shit out of him. With that in mind, I push past her, yelping when someone pulls me back by my hair. My hair isn't as long or thick as Maria's or Olivia's but I take good care of it and it hurts like hell when someone drags it without care and I make that point known with a dirty slap across the cheek of the blonde culprit.

Olivia gasps, Maria freezes, a hush falls on the corridor and I facepalm. This morning was supposed to go smooth but Olivia had to be herself. I wince at the glare she levels me, with her platform heels, she towers over everyone. Her hand slowly goes to touch her cheek which is fast turning red, Maria snaps out of her trance to stand beside me as if to say: If you try anything funny we will do it again, this time, we will double the slaps. But I won't let that happen. Maria loves being a part of the cheerleading squad and Olivia is the captain, she has much to lose and well, I don't. I don't partake in any sports outside PE.

An apology hangs on the tip of my lips but I swallow it. She deserved that slap. Not only her, all five of them but I'll keep my hands to myself for the rest of today. Her minions are still dazed, their identical blonde hairstyles and outfits makes it harder to tell them apart but they keep blinking like they can't believe I slapped their leader. Charlotte glares as I bend to pick my bag, I wink. That will teach them not to mess with me again. Tugging on the sleeve of a shocked Maria, I start for my first class of the day.

"I can't believe you did that," Maria mutters. Shock colours her voice, I giggle as we take a turn by the right and see a row of doors. Her class is before mine. "You slapped Olivia. You slapped the Queen B."

Maria's hand slightly trembles as she says the last part, I reply in an accent I must have picked from a movie, "Who made her the queen? She's no queen of mine." She snorts, we stop in front of her class. The door is locked so she doesn't go in yet. We hug. "You coming for lunch?" Her mum packs the most delicious lunch for her and she doesn't have to eat cafeteria food like the rest of us. She nods. "See ya."

As soon as Maria disappears, I tighten my hold on my bag and look around. I might have been within my rights to slap the Queen of Broadway Heights but Maria called her the Queen for a reason, she will try to get revenge. I'm screwed. No, I'm not. I will be prepared. I have to, this fighter isn't going down easy.

I slap my forehead with a sigh, how prepared can I possibly be in a school where everyone listens to her? Ah, fuck. I know things never go according to plan but it's falling to pieces right at the beginning. The plan was simple: Be the best friend I've always been to Maria, try to make sure she forgets about our dumb bucket list and live out the rest of the school year without any drama but look at me now.

The whole place is silent as I resume walking, my heart beats so fast I have to take deep breaths. I make the short journey to my class with my hand balled into a fist, ready to strike should there be another attack. Thankfully, there is none, I arrive in front of my class, safe and sound. The voice of the Calculus teacher is audible from outside, I work up a quick lie in case I need one and push the door open.

Mr Sam doesn't notice me, he's so focused on the algebraic equation on the board and I tiptoe to my seat. Only now, there's one problem. Someone is on my seat. And that someone is Benjamin.

Benjamin Carter.

Blue eyes, black hair casually falling over his forehead and sexy body. The hottest boy in my school is on my seat. I mentally fan myself. Mr Sam clears his throat, I force a smile on my lips and slide into the seat beside Ben. He doesn't acknowledge me. Of course he won't, I am not in his league. He acknowledges girls like Maria, Olivia and her minions, not a girl who's so tall and skinny, she will easily pass for a boy.

Once for Halloween, I wore a cropped wig and everyone was convinced I was Hayden, my hot sexy elder brother but they had one question though. When did Hayden lose so much weight? Good times.

I shouldn't be bothered Ben is ignoring me, I don't need the attention, but I am. Why? Because he's on my seat, the desk pressed against the wall by the window. Our classroom is sectioned into rows, with a reasonable gap between each desk. I always take my place there so I can have a distraction when the class gets boring and it is bound to. Mr Sam is a good teacher but I'm an easily distracted student. I catch Ben doodling on his jotter. What's he even doing in my class? Since when do jocks attend advanced classes?

Mr Sam drones on and on, the boredom sets in and I snap. "You are on my seat," I say through gritted teeth. Ben barely spares me a look. He pulls out his phone, curiosity takes over me and I strain my neck to get a glimpse of the video playing on his screen but he twists his body so I see nothing. "Benjamin."

Twisting his head in my direction, his eyes fall on my hand which I hide under my desk. He smirks. "Hey."

Breathe, Tessa. Breathe.

It's just hey. I know it's a simple word but it's coming from him and that makes all the difference. I feel my cheeks heating up under his stare and avert my gaze to the board. Holy cow. Ben spoke to me.

Now is really a good time to fan myself. Hold on, what's wrong with me? I need to get a grip. I don't do boys. High school isn't for dating. I fiddle with the pendant on the necklace Hayden gave me. It's my good luck charm, I wear it everywhere, even in the ring. The coldness of the necklace pressed against my palm manages to calm my thoughts, I forget Ben for a second and focus on the formula on the board.

Mr Sam is explaining the formula, saying something about a pentagon. Or was it a hexagon? Whatever it was, it ends with a gon. Ben nudges me with his foot twice, for some reason, I choose to ignore him.

His chair squeaks as he drags it closer, his breath fans my neck, chills run down my spine. "Nice slap."

My eyes almost pop out of their sockets, I swallow. I will melt if I hear his smooth voice one more time.

Ben just said more than a word to me. I might look calm but I am screaming on the inside. Wait. Nice slap? My head jerks to him, he chuckles and pushes his seat back without a sound. At my confused look, he waves his phone at my face, ducking it out of my reach when I make to grab it. Dread settles in the pit of my belly, I refuse to consider the only possibility. It cannot be. We were alone in the hallway.

"Let me see," I whisper to a smiling Ben, he is all too happy to see me worked up. "Please?"

A strand of hair falls into his face, he flips it in slow motion like he knows how sexy that little action is. He's hot and he's smart, I am allowed to appreciate that combo but he doesn't have to know that. Putting my best poker face, I hold his gaze for a brief second and that arrogant smirk returns to his lips.

Aish. He's so full of himself. I point to his phone, hoping he will take the hint and show me the video but he doesn't. He shrugs and slides the phone into the pocket of his jeans without breaking eye contact.

Jackass. I should have grabbed it when I had the chance. Sparing him one last dirty look, I scoff and train my eyes on the back of Mr Sam's head as he scribbles on the board. This time, I'm determined to pay attention to the lesson. But Ben is bent on making that impossible. He nudges me again, I ignore him.

A crumpled note falls to my desk, courtesy of him. As curious as I am, I flick it off my desk without a peek and his muffled groan makes me grin, he must be so used to getting his way. The students in front of us are taking notes, unlike me and him, I pull out my notebook with the intention of busying myself.

Ben pokes me at the side with his pencil, I grit my teeth and my head snaps to his stupid smiling face.

"What?" I bark at him.

The classroom goes silent, heads turn to us with a death glare directed at only me and I shrink in my seat. Mr Sam pauses his intense writing, his gaze alternates between me and Ben and his eyes narrow at me.

"Theresa, be quiet."

I offer him an apologetic smile, Ben chuckles besides me but no one calls him out for that. I suppress a hiss at the partial treatment and start doodling on my note, all interest in the class disintegrating. The bag at my foot vibrates, I bring out my phone and bile rushes to my throat at the message in all caps.

"Hey." It's Ben again but I'm too focused on Maria's message to listen to him. If it's all caps, then it has to be urgent but I don't want to open Broadway Gossip, which is exactly what her text demands. "Next time, you should punch her. Break her nose or something." I glare at him, he winks. "Nice necklace."

At that, I shove my necklace into its hiding spot. He snickers but doesn't bother me again. Mr Sam throws us a warning glance but says nothing, I convince myself to open the blog and my head spins a bit.

No, no, no. Not this.

Nice slap? Next time, punch her? It all begins to make sense at the video of me slapping Olivia staring at me. The worst are the comments asking if it's Photoshopped while some reply with memes of the slap.

Oh my life. I'm in deep shit.

Maria sends another text to confirm if I've seen the video and I reply to her with a picture of the type of flowers she should bring to my graveyard because I'm dead. When I finally lift my throbbing head from my phone, the class is empty or so I think until I notice Ben watching me. Is he waiting for me? He looks away before I can comment my suspicion, I pull my bag over my shoulder and stand. This is weird.

It's also our first time being in the same place alone. We speak a few times in unavoidable situations but I'm sure he doesn't remember those encounters, I doubt he knows my name. I clear my throat to call his attention but he continues staring out the window as if he's embarrassed to get caught staring at me. Jerk; I can look good if I try. I follow his gaze outside, nothing of interest but the school's parking lot.

Alright then. Without a word to him, I exit the class for my next lecture.

The rest of my classes are a blur, stolen glances and more stolen glances. A few pointed fingers and giggles. I faintly remember Maria leading me into the cafeteria and dumping a tray in front of me. No soda. No junk. I have a fight tomorrow but she doesn't know that. She thinks I'm watching my weight. As if I am not already skinny enough. I pick at my food, taking only a bite before I push the tray away.

"Cheer up, it's not the end of the world," she says in her overly cheery voice. Easy for her to say, she's used to being the centre of attention while I'll rather remain hidden. "The video will be forgotten soon."

She twirls a strand of her blond hair, I nod and she grins. Her jacket is gone, revealing her black crop top which hugs her chest. It must be nice to have great boobs, not the dots God stuck on my chest as an afterthought. I tune her out as she rambles on about her latest music video on her YuuTube channel.

Of her five siblings, she's the best singer and her dream is to one day perform with Shakira. I am all for supporting your best friend, heck, I was her first subscriber but I need some peace and quiet for a few minutes. Pressing my fingers to my temples, I release a sigh. The cafeteria was a bad idea, the library is better. I jump to my feet, prepared to leave when the doors of the cafeteria burst open. I sink into the bench as everyone's attention is redirected to the group strolling in and my eyes instantly locate Ben.

Ben, the show stopper. And he doesn't even try.

They halt at the centre of the cafeteria as if giving us the chance to properly admire them but the only person I am interested in is Ben. The tall hunk with a flirty grin. My smile vanishes as his arm snakes around Olivia's waist, he must have known I was staring because he pecks her loudly on the cheek.

Are they dating now? Who cares? I stab the sandwich on my plate, my heart constricts and I dig my nails into my jeans, maybe I do care even if it's only a little. My eyes follow them as they drop down to an empty bench, Olivia claims Ben's laps with her hands sitting nicely around his neck while his settles on her waist and that tightening in my chest occurs again. He must be out of options or lacks taste in girls.

Maria taps me but I cannot look away from the couple. They fit together. "Are they dating?"

Ben doesn't date, I have been in this school long enough to know that. What if Olivia manipulated him? His eyes meet mine over Olivia's shoulder, I freeze, my cheeks burning a bright red at his subtle wink.