Episode 10 - Geeks Like Us

I held the piece of paper in my hand, while looking at Cole shockingly. I couldn’t believe that he just suggested that we ask Whitney’s sister to perform.

I mean, of all things, why would he bring this up?

“Wait really?” I asked him, with a shrunken nose.

“Yup,” he answered.

My brows cringed immediately. I wasn’t sure why he was doing this but I knew I would soon find out.

“Are you being serious, right now?” I asked again.

“Yeah, sure. It certainly would be better like that. Think about who won’t want to show up at our karaoke, after learning that she’d be performing?” he uttered, swaying his index fingers, like he had just won a jackpot.

“It’s just like a ticket, to every student here,”

I knew he had a point. The only thing was that his approach to things were a little outlandish at times.

There was no soul in school that didn’t know Whitney’s sister.

Her name is Annie.

She won the nationals and that shot her musical career to the absolute top.

Presently, she was a famous musician who got featured in the Grammys awards and BET single handedly. This was because she sang so well, in a surreal and graceful manner. There were times I wished I could sing like her. Perhaps, my life wouldn’t have been so shitty like it was now.

“This is definitely not happening. Annie is off-limits, Cole, and you know that!” I told him.

Cole suggestion of her, was something thoughtful. But my point was that he should know better to totally stay away, because she was Whitney’s sister.

Whitney was trouble.

I didn’t want to have anything to do with her. She was practically the reason we were bringing up this karaoke idea. If she hadn’t bullied me, and I hadn’t been a coward, there certainly would have been no need for this.

And he knew this.

“Then who should we should we invite? A whole junk of geeks like us?” he asked, sweeping a hand over his chest nut hair. His green eyes looked stressed. I knew he was doing this for me, so I didn’t want to screw this up.

Thus, I inhaled, calming my nerves down, before thinking of talking to him.

“Now, first off, we are not geeks. We are simply people who aren’t famous, like most All-rounders and the Populars.”

“Secondly, asking Whitney’s sister to perform for us is totally a death mission. We’d better be looking for someone else.” I answered.

“Thirdly, I don’t care if we do this ourselves. What matters, is that we’d be popular after this and Whitney wouldn’t try to bully me again,” I gushed out, knowing that way the real agenda.

“Urr…Okay…” he trailed out, shrugging his shoulders.

“Good boy,” I let out with a wink.

The bell rung immediately. We stood up, walking to class. As we strolled down the corridor, Cole attempted to make another conversation, relating to it.

“Annie is a sweet little creature. She would definitely approve—”

“Seriously?” I cut him off, shrinking my nose with some irritation.

“We are totally not having this conversation.” I sighed, telling him.

He shrugged his shoulders, once more, as we entered the class. I immediately positioned myself with my guitar while he held his own instrument.

Today was going to be a long day.

…

I excused myself to the restroom, because I was feeling nauseous. I had a bit of headache which were similar to the ones I had during cramps. Thus, I went to the rest room to wash up.

I was scared a repeat of what happened while I was in tenth grade, would happen again, this was why I rushed out. I always did this, whenever I felt a slight decline in my usual body setup.

There was a significant reason Whitney commenced bullying me. It had been after a very bad and unpleasant experience at school. I had been sitting in my sit, like any innocent child would, right in the middle of lectures, when I heard people laughing from right behind me.

I remember fidgeting my hands, unsure of what was funny. I looked around, noticing fingers pointing towards me, for some reason. I tried retracing their hands only to discover my whole sit was filled with blood.

That was the most uncomfortable situation I had ever found myself in. The blood dripped down, and my jean trousers were all wet. Out of terror, I timidly walked out of the class.

As I did walk, I remember hearing uttering sardonic remarks, in spite of the teacher’s caution. This made me run to the bathroom. I entered the restroom, locking myself in the toilet. I had sobbed a lot, as I changed into PE shorts from my locker.

When I did come out, I met up with Whitney and her minions. It was from that day, my humiliation commenced.

The water rushing from the basin, brought me to reality. I went ahead, washing my face, staring at myself in mirror. It wasn’t a cramp.

Then what the hell was wrong with me?

Someone entered the restroom.

I heard footsteps, approaching me. That instant, I prepared to go out. I didn’t want to get caught up with anyone, that was why.

“Well, well, well. Guess we didn’t even need a bait to lure the fish this time,” A sinister voice let out. My eyes bolted, that moment.

It was Whitney.

The exact personality I dreaded in school, walking with her two minions, right by her side, like always.

“Sisters?” she called out.

“Yeah?” They both replied at the same time.

“Maybe that music class wasn’t boring after all. We definitely had someone in shadows waiting to entertain us,” she let out, smiling at me.

“Please stay away from me, Whitney. I don’t want any trouble.” I told her, gritting my teeth.

She immediately let out a loud cackle. I moved to go away but she obstructed me. I took the other way, but her minions stopped me.

“Who’s gonna save you now, Phoebe?” she asked, folding her hands. She came forward patting my head. Her hands dug into her purse, reaching for something.

“Asher perhaps or that cute weirdo that you always hang around with?”

“Leave Cole out of this!” I stated firmly.

“You want to humiliate me, right? Please do, but don’t vent it on anyone who’s not me, Whitney.” I muttered.

“You’re certainly bluffing. Toying with Cole’s feelings is not a big deal for me. I’m gonna pull your strings till you’re left with nothing,” she whispered in my ear.

I tried to run out but I was held by the two girls beside her. My two hands were held, individually by them, while I struggled. I knew it was no use, but I still did, hoping.

“W-Why are you doing this?” I let out in a husky tone.

“Cause someone who never looked our way, got on our bad side because of you. We looked into him and studied him carefully,” she stated.

“Do you know what he hates?” she asked. I looked at her, with an affirmation that she was talking about Asher.

“Attention seeking wannabes. And, that’s what I’m going to turn you into.”

Something slippery went down my hair.

It was the smell that even traumatized me more.

Whatever, it was, it certainly smelled like dye. They put it all over my hair, in spite of my struggles.

“Now, that sure looks like an attention seeker’s hair. Asher’s gonna hate you more, dear.” she let out.

“Uh-uh.” The girls supported her too. She held my chin forcefully.

“Wear something slutty tomorrow or you’ll be getting something more than this.” she added.

“Let’s go, girls.”

I laid on the floor, sobbing so much. The instant I heard the door closing, I stood up to see how bad my hair was.

I looked at myself in the mirror, startled at what stared back at me.

I gasped. My entire hair was all in red.