Days have passed since then, things have gone back to a somewhat semi-normal state.
And by semi-normal state, I meant that there's a lesser amount of students that would talk about the picture that had been sent out to the entire student body in the toilet, not knowing I was inside one of the stalls.
I guess it was something they'd find interesting to "discuss" with their friends since I was known as the goodie-two-shoes in school. Aside from the occasional partying and consuming alcohol, I have never smoked a cigarette, much less weed, and I've never fucked around with any guy. Hell, I was probably the only virgin in this school.
The things that they called me after seeing the poster plastered on my locker, and probably the pictures that were broadcasted to their social media, ranged from two-faced, fake to "slut" and "cock-sucking whore".
I can't say that I didn't expect it to happen when I saw what was plastered on my locker but I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt.
Funny how they would congratulate their friends when they lose their virginity but slut-shame the school's virgin over a picture that didn't even hint on any sexual activity happening.
But I guess that's just how the world works. Who was I to do shit about it.
Alexander West was back to his normal self that would walk past me in the halls. He was either really good at acting like he didn't see me or he really didn't see me. Both scenarios are very much plausible. The guys was much taller than I was. He'd probably need to actually cast his eyes downwards to be able to see me properly.
It was safe to say that he really did take my words seriously and have left me to fend for myself, just like I had told him to.
I won't lie. I probably don't deserve to feel this. But, hurt. That was what I felt when he didn't even ask if I was alright.
I know that this is such a bitch thing to do, saying one thing and expecting another. It's unfair to Alex and it's solidifying the accusations boys are making at girls for being fickle or difficult to understand. Trust me, I hate myself for it too. But I really can't help myself from feeling this way.
It was Friday today and today couldn't have come any slower. When classes finally ended, I was the first to walk out the door when the bell rang.
I wanted nothing more but to get home, jump into bed and start a Netflix series. I needed to get my mind off the drama I've had to face for the past week at school.
I actually didn't live very far from school. My house was close enough to be a walking distance but far enough for me to feel lazy to actually walk home most of the time.
But today, I'd rather spend 20 minutes walking home than 10 minutes of sitting in a bus with a bunch of kids that I knew had badmouthed me in the restroom every break they had between classes
Some people just needs to get a life sometimes.
I walked past the school gates and turned the corner, starting my walk back home. I passed shops and restaurants that were starting to get filled by students from nearby schools that just got off school like me.
I walked past an ice cream shop and slowed my steps, biting my bottom lip as I pondered on whether I should make a quick stop or not.
Before I could actually make a decision, though, a tap on my shoulder made me turn around in surprise.
A grinning Tyler was looking back at me, waving his hand over-enthusiastically.
I tilted my head, "Can I help you?"
"I don't know, can you?" He threw the question back at me as he slung his arm over my shoulder and pulled me along as he walked.
"We didn't get to finish our conversation at that party," he reminded.
It was such a harmless sounding sentence but there was something about him that sounded off.
I leaned closer towards him and took a sniff to check if the funny smell was coming from him.
I scrunched up my nose and leaned back to look up at him. "Are you high?"
Ty stopped walking, looked down at me and laughed hard. Head thrown back, hand over his belly as he howled in laughter.
He took a deep breath once he sobered up, his other arm still resting around my shoulders. "Yes, babe, I'm high. But no, you can't have any. You still haven't paid me back for the last one I gave you."
"What?" I asked, my voice went an octave higher as I looked at him in bewilderment.
"Why did you think you felt so good that night?" He sighed, running his hand through his hair.
I was too shocked to realize that he had brought me to a quieter street, a block away from the bustling shopping center we were just at.
When I finally realized what he had said, I forcefully shrugged off his arm from my shoulder. But when it wouldn't come off, I grabbed his hand by his thumb and pulled it away, twisting his arm behind his back and pushing him away from me.
That was when I finally realized that he wasn't alone.
The entire time that we were walking, we had 4 tails trailing behind us.
How did I not notice that?
Ty spun around, blazing anger dancing across his face.
That's when I knew I've poked the bear.
The look in his eyes was unsettling enough to make my heart rate spike and I find myself backing away from him.
Do I bolt?
Do I stand my ground?
"Are you stupid? Of course, you bolt!" I mentally yelled at myself, my brain shouting at my legs to get me out of there.
My vision went blurry for a second as I turned and made a break for it, only to get yanked back by my hand.
Ty had caught my wrist and latched onto it, refusing to let me go.
The boys snickered at my disgraceful attempt at escaping their presence.
I could feel the panic rising in me as my eyes flitted across the faces that were staring at me mockingly.
"And where do you think you're going?" Ty tutted as he reached out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ears.
"You owe me a good time. That drink I got you was not cheap." A look of dismay took over his face.
I shook my head wildly, finding the thought of his touch itself too repulsive to bear.
What the fuck did drunk me got myself into?
"Let go!" I demanded, wrestling his hold on my hand as I tried to wriggle free.
A few of the boys snickered watching me try to wrench my hand away to no avail.
I glared at them, managing to gather what was left of my bubbling anger to muster up the courage to stand up for myself.
The boys puffed out their chests intimidatingly and stalked closer to me. Ty's grip anchored me to the spot I was standing and I tried not to let them get to me but I could feel myself shrinking away when they got too close.
"Boys! Long time no see!" A voice called out from behind me as someone strolled towards us.
My heart skipped a beat at the familiar voice. I wanted to praise the Heavens right then and there as I spun the upper half of my body as much as I could to look at Alex.
He stopped a few feet away from us and his eyes were automatically fixated on the hand that was holding mine captive.
Under Alex's intense glare, Ty's hand fell off on its own.
I pulled my hand back and cradled it to my chest, stepping back to create some more distance between me and the wolves.
I unconsciously inched towards Alex when they started snarling.
I was rubbing my wrist, which was sore where Ty had grabbed onto it with his iron grip.
I didn't dare take my eyes off Ty and his friends. I didn't want to take the chance of letting my guard down only to have them jump me when I least expect it.
However, my attention involuntarily snapped towards Alex when I heard him speak again.
I expected him to say something to the boys following his greeting or maybe explain his presence, or just anything really.
But I didn't expect him to direct his question to me.
"Still wanna handle it on your own?" Alex asked, looking at me with cold eyes.
I opened and closed my mouth like a fish out of water, finding the words to reply.
What do you say to something like that?
I wanted to scream help. I wanted to tell him that no, I can't handle this on my own even if I wanted to.
But the big lump in my throat was blocking my vocal cords and preventing me from making a sound.
Alex's eyes lingered on the hand that I was holding close to my chest for a second longer before he looked away and made a move to walk away without another word.
Just like that?
Panic swirled in me as I realized that he was about to turn a blind eye on the situation I was in and leave me here alone with these guys once again.
Despite the lack of warmth he was showing me, I was too fear-stricken to care about things like my pride and dignity.
My hand shot out to stop him from walking away before I could think twice.
The desperation that overwhelmed me caused me to lose my voice and I felt like I could break down in tears any second then. My chest constricted. Breathing never felt harder and my head was growing light.
All those scenarios I went through in my head to prepare myself for a situation where I'm cornered like this went down the drain as I stood there, paralyzed in panic.
So much for all those self-defense videos I watched. Kimmy was right, I should've just gotten myself a taser gun or something.
I couldn't do anything else but look at Alex with my tearful eyes that was pleading him for help whilst keeping my hold on the sleeve of his jacket.
Alex looked down at my hand that was clutching onto his jacket before looking up to meet my eyes.
He stared at me for a moment before his expression went hard and he turned to the boys before us.
He started talking to the boys, pushing me behind him to stand between the boys and me.
He took my hand that was holding onto him behind his back with his other hand and held it in a firm grip.
And I knew it only meant one thing.
There was no way he would hold my hand like this if he meant to fight off these guys.
No, Alex wasn't thinking of fighting. He was smarter than that. No matter how skilled he was at fighting, picking a fight with a group of 5 big guys would be plain stupid.
Ty looked irritated. "Why is it that you always appear wherever this chic is? Don't you have some pride, posing as a girl's lapdog? She doesn't even look like she'd be worth the effort you're putting in, anyways." His eyes ran down my body as he said the last part. A disgusted shiver ran down my spine and I hid further behind Alex to obstruct his view of me.
Alex didn't offer a response to the jab Ty threw at him. He simply shook his head slowly.
"Come on, you guys." Alex started to say as he pushed me gently to take a small step back.
"I told you it's not a smart move to mess with this one. Need I remind you that she's got a family you don't want to piss off?"
At that point, I didn't even bother trying to figure out what Alex was saying. I did have a protective family but he was making it sound like my family was a Mafia.
I knew he was just stalling for time and trying to intimidate these guys.
Before they could reply, Alex tightened his hold on my hand, squeezing it once, swiveled around on his heel and ran the other way, pulling me with him.
Thankfully, I was already anticipating the sudden tug on my arm.
The second I felt it, I started running like my heels were on fire. I pumped my legs harder than I have ever had before to keep up with Alex's pace as we ran away together.
My breathing got heavy and my bladder felt like it was about to burst and a few tears even escaped my eyes as we ran.
But we didn't stop running.
I held onto Alex's hand even tighter as I willed my legs to move faster and Alex didn't let go. Not once.