YOUR CLIQUE?

DAWN.

I shivered on the cold floor, swallowing hard as their heated stares bore into me. Cheeks burning, I cringed away, wishing the ground would just open up and swallow me whole. The air grew silent, and I felt multiple gazes fixated on me. 

Anticipating more bullying, I braced myself, but to my surprise, the footsteps I heard were of them leaving, though they threw parting glares that sent shivers down my spine.

I lay there, peeking at their retreating backs, my eyes widening. 

'Did they just let me go?' I wondered, jaw-dropping.

"OMG! Are you okay? I didn't mean to push you," a familiar voice said behind me. Warm hands touched my skin, and I shivered, raising my head to see her.

 Scarlet was the only reason why I knew exactly what hell felt like, and right now the same Scarlet was smiling brightly at me. 

What is happening right now?

"Are you hurt? You should be more careful next time," she said, but I wasn't paying attention. Her words came as echoes, watching her lips move, eyes bright. 

'I was either dreaming, or I’ve been knocked over' 

"Come on, get up, my apologies once again," she said, reaching out to help me stand. 

Wary, I looked at her hand, thoughts racing through my mind. Despite my hesitation, Scarlett took my hands, pulling me up. As soon as I was on my feet, I instinctively withdrew my hands and stepped back, my gaze unintentionally dropping towards my feet.

"Hey, come on. Don't be upset. I really didn't mean to make you fall," she said, moving closer, suddenly lifting my face to meet hers.

 'Wait! She was the one who made me trip?' my eyes shot up.

"And why aren't I surprised?" my wolf moon remarked before fading away, as usual. 

I sighed. Being an omega with a weak wolf was something I tried to conceal; otherwise, the bullying would only escalate.

"Back to earth, cutie. A penny for your thoughts," Scarlett asked with a cute giggle, her voice bringing me back to the present. I realized my face was cradled between her hands, our eyes locked in a one-on-one gaze.

A burning sensation filled my chest, and my entire body weighed heavily, a cold pit forming in my stomach. I instantly averted my gaze from Scarlett's intense, inquisitive eyes. All I desired was to escape, to be alone.

"You don't have to be afraid of me. I don't bite," Scarlett reassured. I turned, furrowing my brows at her words.

"Why do you love scrunching up your eyebrows at every little thing? Is it like your signature move or something?" Lisa's voice chimed from behind me. I turned sharply, finding her smiling genuinely, not with malice or mockery this time.

"What was going on with these girls? What were they up to this time?" I wondered, quickly devising methods to escape, unwilling to endure any more trouble.

"We want to apologize for everything we have done to you," Scarlett dropped the bomb, and I recoiled, staring at them in a catatonic stupor.

"What?" I whispered in disbelief. 

'What changed? Weren't they bullying me a few minutes ago?' I pondered, letting out a gasp, filled with awe.

"I know we fucked up. We shouldn't have insulted you or treated you that way. We shouldn't have accused you of things you never did either. We were just messed up then, needed to take our frustrations out, and unknowingly took it out on innocent you," Lisa explained, leaving me numb.

'Was I perhaps hallucinating or imagining things?' I wondered, looking at them as if they had grown larger heads.

"Please say something. Your stares are making us feel bad and guilty," they pleaded, heads bowed. Still, I stood there, rendered speechless.

"Dawn, you alright? Are they bullying you again?" Charlie's concerned voice reached me from behind, and I turned to see her walking swiftly towards me, her face scrunched up and fists clenched.

"Chill, Charlie. We are just apologizing for our wrongdoings," Scarlett replied, casually tossing her long hair away from her shoulder.

"You really expect me to believe that the peacocks of this school are trying to make amends with the so-called countryside bumpkin?" Charlie rolled her eyes, and for some reason, her words stung. I never expected her to refer to me as a countryside bumpkin like the others did.

"Well, yes we are. So deal with it. If you aren't going to help us make amends, move aside, and don't spoil things for us," Lisa retorted to Charlie in a hushed voice, a frown etched on her face. Charlie observed them for a moment, snorted, and then chuckled.

"I can't believe such a day would exist," she commented before turning to face me, still frozen amidst the unfolding drama.

"Do you want to accept their apologies?" she asked. My mind raced, fighting the urge to bow my head to the floor again. 

'You really need to get over your low self-esteem,' I reminded myself.

"Please, Dawn. And to make amends, we are offering you a chance to join our clique," Scarlett declared, her chin held high, head standing tall.

"Your clique?" I repeated after her, with a raised eyebrow.

Scarlett nodded affirmatively, her lips curved into a wide smirk.

I paused, gazing at her, scratching the side of my head, trying my earnest best to understand what she implied by those words.

Scarlett wasn't exactly the best at speaking candidly, so I was once again left in the dark by her vague statement...

" Don't look so confused dear. Our clique is the best in this school, and lots of girls are dying to join, so you should feel honored that we are inviting you." Lisa boastfully stated, referring to herself and Scarlett.

" Oh!" I muttered, still staring blankly at both of them and they frowned, letting out a scoff at my lack of reaction.

Was I expected to be leaping and prancing about with joy?

" Yeah, so welcome to the group dear!"  Charlie congratulated me with a dramatic loudness, as she wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

Abruptly, whispers, mutters, and murmurs filled the hall and I pitched in to listen.

" What is going on?" I heard a girl whisper to her friend.