CHAPTER 6: Bullying her

He was always in a hurry. Always the last to come to class and the first to leave. Like he had somewhere else to be and couldn't be bothered with the rest of the world.

I had promised myself that I was going to speak to him yesterday but I couldn't. I was carefully biding my time all day, trying to rack up the nerves to talk to him.

It however had to be done today. No more procrastination or excuses.

I ran after him after today's class. My heart was pounding and I had butterflies from anxiety in my stomach.

What if today goes worse than yesterday?

Throughout the day I stole glances trying to gauge his mood. But he had those damned shades on, all day. Even when the history teacher asked him to take them off, he had said the light was hurting his eyes and he couldn't.

But I couldn't back down now. I felt for my phone in the pocket of my sweatpant. I had written down what I wanted to say to him.

I came to a stop in front of him.

"I need to talk to you, can we please go somewhere private?" I asked.

He still had those glasses on alongside a hat and I couldn't really make out his full expression.

He was staring down at me. Trying to make me feel intimidated more than I already was.

"I don't want to talk to you. Go away." His voice was gruff. A deep bass sound that washed over me. Not too deep, just the perfect pitch.

"Can we just go to the field and talk?" I asked again, trying my luck.

Why did he have to be so difficult to deal with?

From my line of sight, I could see people coming out of class now. I really don't want to be the object of attention today. I shuffled from one feet to another.

I didn't like this attention not one bit.

He moved to the side trying hard to sidestep me and I did the same blocking his path, this way he will know how serious I am.

He moved to the right this time and I followed suit. My stomach was knotting in anxiety, but I stood my ground with the last ounce of self preservation I had left in me.

One minute I was giving myself all the Pep talk I needed, next I felt myself being physically moved. He wrapped his hands around my waist and carried me out of his way.

I was too stunned to speak. It happened so fast, that it was only when Maya stomped past me hitting my left shoulder roughly that I was jerked back to consciousness. I

Whatever my plan was speaking to him it was all null and void. Instead of quenching the rumors and returning me back to my boring life, I was in the limelight again and for all the wrong reasons.

****

I splashed cold water on my face and exhaled. When I raised my head to stare at the mirror I saw Maya and her mini me's staring back at me.

I tried to wash my hands and finish quietly even though I knew that would be difficult.

"So Luka returned and suddenly little Mrs whore came out?" Her usual pretty face had a sneer on it.

"Dumb and a whore," Molly or whatever her name was added and the rest burst into laughter with exception of Maya. She still wasn't finding any part of this funny. Which means she had more to say.

"Stop. Throwing. Yourself. At. Him." She Interjected each statement with a sharp jab to my chest. Her eyes were in tiny slits and for the first time I didn't see the beauty queen and fashion content creator. She looked ugly.

I moved past her and she pulled me back by my hair causing pain. I tried to push her off but her minions came to join her. Holding my hands down. The hold she had on my hair was so painful that I felt my eyes gather with tears.

"Just because he is stuck in the same grade as you, doesn't mean you're on his level." I nodded at her statement and when she finally released her hold and walked away I crumpled down to the floor and burst into tears.

I didn't deserve this. This was all his fault.

I stayed there on the cold toilet floor for a while feeling overwhelmed. Almost everyone will be at the cafeteria already, which means more eyes on me as I enter. Everyone was already whispering about what happened in the hallway today also.

I decided to skip going for lunch and instead went to the gym early.

I didn't shoot rotations today. I just sat and stared into space. My head was throbbing and my eyes were hot from crying. I don't even like him. Mystery Cafeteria Boy I mean.

My name is Luka. A flashback of the way he held my throat and stared at me. The object of my imagination suddenly appeared.

I sat towards the left end of the basket ball court which was facing the entrance directly yet a little hidden from any body entering.

I watched as he walked in and plopped down on the coach bench.

I skip lunch to be alone, only for the sour e of my troubles to join me in my isolation. I left my phone in my backpack so I didn't have anything to entertain myself. Unlike me, he had his ears plugged as usual.

I moved closer. I don't even know why I did that but I did. I stopped quickly in my tracks when he sat up and dug his hands into his pockets.

Luka brought out a cigarette stick and placed it between his lips.

Smoking wasn't allowed on school grounds, but I guess he knew that already.

It was time to go. I continued my journey to the nearest exit past him. The way the gym was built it had two doors, a double one in front and one towards the back which was presently locked. I had no other choice than to walk past him.

Now was a perfect time actually to walk up to him. It was private but I wasn't interested in talking to him.

I had successfully walked past him, but as usual my clumsy sef decided to knock over the ball rack at the side.

The sound must have startled him, because when I looked up he was staring at me.

I should pick up the balls and return them to the rack but I didn't want to. I wanted to be as far away from him as possible.

I left them and started walking away when I heard him call out, "hey, hallway girl."

I picked up my pace and was almost at the exit when I felt him gripping my hands. His hold was a little too tight and I winced in pain.

"You're hurting my hand, leave me alone." I begged.

"Why are you walking away from me?" He asked angrily.

"Leave me alone," I yelled in frustration, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Or what?"

I sent my other palm flying against his skin in a loud slap.

He didn't expect it or that I was capable of it. I didn't know that I was capable of that either.

I hated violence so much.

His eyes were burning with rage. The veins on his neck looked like they were going to pop out any minute. His brown hair was falling over one side of his face.

The bruises he had on his face made him look even more angrier.

"I am going to make you pay for that, Isabella." His voice was low, but the threat in the statement was well delivered.

Almost immediately, he left my hand alone and walked away