I arrive at school and wait for the teacher to walk into class. I need this to keep Carla off my back. But I guess I was too early because she walks over to me and slams her hand on my desk.
"Well if it isn't the rat girl" she says wickedly.
"What do you want Carla?, I have more important things to do than listen to you." I say back
"Nothing much, I need my biology homework done. Think you can do anything about that?"
I sigh. " For the umpteenth time, I'm not doing your homework anymore"
"Really, then you wouldn't mind if I tear your books, would you?"
"No!" I snap. She does this every single day and I'm completely sick of it.
"Hey!, what makes you think you can talk to me like that? Guys, what do you say we teach her some manners?"
"Yeah" her minions answer in unison.
Before I have time to run away, a huge muscular guy pins me by the neck and slowly raises me up so as to suffocate me. I hit his hand and try to release myself but my weak muscles can't do anything.
Thankfully, the teacher walks into the classroom and everyone scrambles to their seats. I try to catch my breath before getting to my desk. I should have fought for myself, but I don't eat well. I come from the poorest family in my school. I'm only able to attend this rich school because I earned a full scholarship.
After the first class, I get to the girls' bathroom to wash my face and recollect myself. By the time I'm back to my class, my desk is covered in ugly writings in permanent marker. Seriously I'm tired of this. Unfortunately, the school board has nothing to do about it. Carla is one of the richest students in the school and her parents are one of the people who pay so much money to keep the school running. Losing her would run the school downhill.
The next classes go in a blur. Me answering questions, Carla giving me death glares, the usual. After I'm done with all my classes, I race back to my ugly, poverty-stricken house.
I run through my normal routine when I get back from school. I live with my mom and two adorable brothers. I'm saddled the second half of responsibilities shared between my mom and I. When I'm done cooking, I get my homework finished and rush to the restaurant where I work part-time. My salary is manageable but I intend to progress to better jobs overtime. My work place is always so hectic and by the time I'm back home, I don't remember where I doze off.
Around 11pm, I wake up from a nightmare. I saw that my dad was being stabbed by a guy wearing a black mask. I don't know what to believe. My mom told me he died of a heart attack but I feel like maybe my dream might be real.
The next day at school, I try my best to avoid Carla. But when I walk into class, I see the something scribbled on the board and Carla giggling. It says: CYNTHIA THINKS SHE'S SO SMART, SHE'S JUST LIVING PROOF THAT A BRAIN CAN DEVELOP WINGS AND FLY AWAY.
She reads it out loud and the entire class roars in laughter. I couldn't possibly be more embarrassed. I run to the girls' bathroom with tears streaming down my cheeks. I think I stay there for about ten or fifteen minutes. I walk out of the stall, wash my face and stagger back to class.
They're still giggling when I get back but at this point I couldn't care less. I sit in class and try to focus but nothing works. I figure I should just read up on that topic at the school library.
When I get to the library, the beautiful, serene library, my favourite place in the entire school, I feel like nothing else matters. I love books, I feel like they're the friends that can never really let me down.
When I'm done with my research, I pile up my books and walk out but is stopped by Carla, again. "And where do you think you're going? Um... last time I checked, you don't have any freedom around here" she says
"Listen Carla, I really don't need this right now. If you don't mind I have to go somewhere more important than you" I say
"You can't talk to me like that. Minions, get her!" she screams.
"No!!" I find the energy to scream.
"Why would I?" she says.
"Because I'm tired of the way you treat me. Like seriously, what did I ever do to you?"
"You're poor and poor people like you don't belong here. You think you're on top of the world because you were able to grab this scholarship. Well I'm here to burst your bubble, you will never be accepted here. I will continue to make your life here miserable until you run away from here."
I only remember running really fast after that. I can't fight and I have no way of defending myself. Might as well just find my way back home.
I'm sick and tired of being pushed around like this, no doubt. But you seriously can't blame me if I can't do anything about it.
This is how it's always been for me. The feeling of getting bullied is nothing new to me. In fact, I've been bullied since my elementary school for being smart. They always said I was a showoff and I don't deserve to be anywhere I am.
I mean, it's not like I haven't tried to defend myself because believe me, I have. But I'm always too weak to do anything. My diet suffers and my limbs could give way at any moment. On top of that, I channel all my energy into my studies and house chores, meaning I have almost absolutely no strength left to fight for myself.
I really wish I had someone to defend me. A knight similar to the ones I read in storybooks. Sadly, that's only a wish that may never come true.