CHAPTER 8


    I snap my head up, meeting Beatrice''s burning gaze. She appears amused yet it''s so clear in her eyes


    that she''s lying intentionally to snitch on me. I feel my throat tighten, my breathing bing restricted.


    The rest of the ss are now ncing between Beatrice and I, waiting for the explosion to happen.


    Will I stand up for myself or will Beatrice win as she usually does?


    "Is Beatrice telling the truth?" The teacher sighs, her hand still outstretched ready for my phone.


    Beatrice is challenging me with her narrow beady eyes, waiting to see whether I''ll stick up for myself or


    not. I tear my eyes away from her, squaring my shoulders up bravely. I won''t let her win.


    "No I wasn''t texting, I''m aware of the rules. I was checking the time, I swear."


    I can practically see Beatrice seeping with anger from the corner of my eyes but I will myself to keep


    my back turned on her. The teacher nces between Beatrice and I onest time before she sighs and


    drops her hand.


    "Very well but if I catch a glimpse of it again, I will confiscate it Be."


    I nod quickly, letting her know I understand. At least she knows my name now . . . I slump back in my


    chair in relief, grateful to have the attention diverted away from me. I spend the remaining part of the


    lesson trying to avoid catching Beatrice''s burning stare.


    *****


    The bell rings and I stand up, grabbing my books and putting them inside my bag. As usual I wait a little


    longer before leaving the ssroom so the students can disappear out of the corridors. The second I


    step outside, I''m surrounded by three girls . . . Beatrice & Co.


    Beatrice towers over me and her two friends stand on either side of me, keeping me trapped. From the


    look on Beatrice''s face, she''s very angry at me.


    "What is your problem mute? I can feel you ring at me all day." She hisses, closing the space


    between us.


    "I d-don''t have a problem with you. Can''t you just leave me alone?" I whisper, hating the way my voice


    became so mouse-like around her. Her lips curl up into a sneer and she takes another step forward,


    her heels clicking against the floor.


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    "Who the hell do you think you''re talking to?"


    I feel myself beginning to shake in fear, I hate confrontation. Beatrice continues to take steps towards


    me until I''m cornered between the wall and a locker. I have nowhere to go. Being confined in small


    spaces limits the amount of oxygen filling my lungs and I can feel panic begin to settle in.


    "Let me go, I need to go." I plead with her, my voice trembling. I don''t want to have a panic attack in


    front of Beatrice and her friends, not here. Beatrice scoffs, her eyes running down my body and back


    up again.


    "Weren''t you wearing the same clothes yesterday? Oh my god, you''re disgusting!" She teases, holding


    her nose and wafting the air in front of her. Multiple students pass us and choose not to help despite


    seeing the terrified expression stered across my face. I guess I''m not good enough or popr


    enough to defend.


    "It''s a different hoody." I answer her, my eyes glued to the floor. My hands begin to tremble by my side


    and I force myself to remain calm despite it bing increasingly difficult to breathe.


    "Do you always shop in the boys section?" Beatrice asks me, giggling at her own joke. Her friends on


    either side of me burst intoughter on cue and I feel fresh tears prick the back of my eyes. I bite the


    inside of my cheek, forcing myself to block out theirughter. It doesn''t work and the sound continues


    to ring inside my ears mockingly.


    "Oh my god, she''s going to cry. Look at her girls, she''s turning into a crying mess." Beatrice scoffs,


    flicking my cheek with her pointy acrylic nails. Her floral perfume invades my senses and I squirm,


    backing up into the wall. The dull ache in my body begins to throb and I let out a small whimper,


    clutching it with my hand. At this point I''m beginning to breathe in short little pants, desperate for


    oxygen to relieve my strained lungs.


    Beatrice''s eyes widen at my distress and before I know it, she''s disappeared from my view. I finally


    hear the click ck of her heels descend down the corridor. . I let out a deep breath, feeling like I can


    breath once again. The pain in my side continues to throb and I close my eyes, grateful that the


    corridors are beginning to empty.


    I don''t know how long I remain slumped against the wall, grateful to gather my thoughts in the silence


    whilst I have the chance. The thought of going to my next lesson causes my stomach to stir and I


    groan, doubling over slightly.


    "Hey, are you feeling okay?"


    The voice is low, lined with concern. I quickly snap open my eyes and when theynd on the person


    standing in front of me, my mouth drops open too.


    Brody Baxter.


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