Bray Quintero was the school bully, but he was smart about how he bullied and had a quick tongue to escape punishment if he did get caught. He wouldn't bully out in the open, taking his time with his practical jokes and mind games. Since no one could prove that it was him, Bray Quintero would not get caught. There were certain boys in his group he hung out with that helped in he's schemes. One of those boys was Riley, who was also friends with Collin. More often than not, the three would be found together. Bray would pick on me because of his girlfriend,Kayline. He would do anything to make her happy, not only that but he found great pleasure in making others lives more miserable. Riley would be right next to Bray to show his worth and loyalty. As far as Collin goes, we hardly had ever crossed paths. And if we did we didn't talk to each other, he would only stare at me and look away before anything could be done or said. He was always more on the serious side, shy, and didn't really interact with anyone, other than his close friends. He had always hung around Bray and Riley that I tried my best to stay away from anyone of their paths. I knew how mean Bray could be, and Riley was not as bad, but I had no idea how Collin was.
That's why it came as a surprise to me when I overheard him talking to another student. He did not sound mean at all, he sounded very gentle and kind. But he was friends with Bray and Riley. There had to be another side to him. What kind of mind game was he playing at? I was in deep thought when I was suddenly pushed forward. I fell hard on my knees as tears were on the verge flowing out from the pain. I turned to see behind me only to find some students rough housing and accidental pushing as the doors flung open. I started to gather the paper from the ground that I dropped when I fell. I got up from the ground after I was finished collecting all the paper. I looked up to see where Collin had been only to find that he and his friend had left. I gritted my teeth in anger. He truly was cruel to not help. I bet they enjoyed seeing my humiliation. Not only that but the students that caused me to fall all laughed at me, not even apologizing for their mistake.
Since my knees were hurting I decided to go to the nurses station to get some ointment and bandaids for my scrapes. I often went there due to my health. Each time they would give me a pass to be late for class. Luckily this time it was not because of one of my episodes. I knew the rotating nurses quite well and they knew to get my medication when they saw me coming.
"I'm here for bandaids and ointment this time, Mrs. Hunter," I smiled at her. I liked all the nurses that came but Mrs. Hunter was one of my favorite.
"Darling, darling, we have got to stop meeting like this!" Mrs Hunter joked at me with her German accent. She got up from her desk and looked me up and down as she got into her supplies.
"Oh, well how then may I get your undivided attention!" I mocked pleadingly.
"Hmm" was all she said as she pushed up her glass.
"Hmm indeed," I smiled.
"Child, you must be more careful!" She said as she held my knees up on her leg to have a better look.
"It is nothing Mrs.H, " I comforted her. "It could be worse!" I smiled. She looks at me as she sigh. She smiled back without saying anything.
I chatted with her for a few minutes more before I took my leave.
This was how my daily life was after the rose incident. I endured it for the remainder of the school year and into the next. I had hoped the students would have forgotten about me in the new school year. I had prayed that I would be invisible to them and that things would be different, at least less horrible for me. None of the two things happened. Everyone was back to their old routines again. Nothing had changed until the day Mr. Mraz gave me some devastating news. My mother had called the school to let them know about my little sister.
They were trying to be discreet so the chain of communication was fast. By the time Mr. Mraz received the call class was about to begin. He divided the class in groups to discuss the study, giving him a chance to privately tell me what happened. I grabbed my things and headed out, only to be knocked over by someone. I was in such an emotional state that I did not care who it was as long as they got out of my way. When I saw that it was Collin, I thought this was the day he decided to pick on me, of all days.