2

 I got into class, grateful I had made it through the weekend. In my previous school, all the bright kids sat in front while the dumb ones were allocated seats in the back. My position had always been in the back, in a safe pesceful corner, away from prying eyes of teachers.

To be honest, I didn't even deserve the scholarship. I could count ten students who were better than me in the orphanage.

As soon as I was halfway past the first row, the whole class kept quiet as everyone looked at me in surprise. It seemed like I had just crossed a nuclear zone, and they all wanted to see what would happen next, stuff like my skin falling off or a bomb blowing up.

I braced myself, adjusted my bag and made slow, steady steps towards the back. Perhaps this way, no one would notice me; perhaps at the back, they would all forget that I existed.

When it was too late, I noticed a single leg on the way. As expected, I tumbled over it and flew up before hitting the ground with a loud thud.

"There is no trash past this point," a single deep voice informed me as everyone roared in laughter.

I cursed silently and stood up slowly, only for the eyes of my tormentor to fall around my legs, waist, hair, anywhere but my face, with a look mirrored in disgust.

"So, you are also a small, petty thief," the cruel boy gasped loudly as he noticed the food I had stuffed inside my pockets all over the floor. Another roar of laughter filled the whole class as I turned around to look for an empty seat.

Back at the orphanage, food had always been scarce. I barely got enough to fill my belly and stole any little snacks I could to help kill hunger as I waited for lunch. Old habits die hard.

I turned around and looked for an empty seat. All the seats in the front were empty, with the ones at the back and middle all occupied. What kind of school was this.

I began making my way towards the front when another rough voice stopped me in my trucks.

"She can cross the boundary. Choose a seat that you deem fit," a command tore across the class, making me turn around.

At this point, it was clear I was trash, and there was a point that trash couldn't cross that I attempted to.

"or what?" the boy who had tripped me down at first asked as he stood up.

"There is only one king in Maslow High school, and everyone knows it's Charles the great," a proud voice made its stand as everyone turned around to look at me.

I was still mourning the loss of popcorn and a few chocolate cakes crushed to the ground when I fell. I wasn't ready.

"Choose a seat that you deem fit at the back of the class," the boy I earned, Charles, repeated, and once again, the whole class's attention shifted towards me curiously.

"I don't want any trouble; I swear all I want is to study and get out of…." I was shut down as a hand grabbed my shoulder, pulling e towards the back. Next, I was shoved into a seat as everyone gasped in shock. It seemed that I had committed an abomination, some kind of ill fault that was not supposed to happen. Everyone was expecting something bad to happen.

My seat was made of leather, a fine one with recliners at the back and both sides. It felt good, like home.

Before I could enjoy my short profound happiness, the tables next to me made a sound, and I looked up to see the first boy standing on top of one.

"no one defies me, ever. My parents own half the school, and you can get kicked out after I kick your behind," he bragged as he breathed in and out fumes. "She is mine, and you are not supposed to defy that. That is what the agreement says; she is my property from now on. I handle my peasants the way I deem fit."

I stood from my seat, shocked. I was now a peasant and someone's property too. What in Jesus name was wrong with Maslow high school. Only yesterday night, everyone had been praying, claiming I was a devil worshipper, today, it was about ownership.

I grabbed my bag and rushed to the empty seats at the front of the class as a loud thus came from the back.

"Brian, Brian, go, you can do it," a few girls with small voices cheered as the two beasts began fighting.

I watched as fist met collarbone, and one roughed the other on the wall. No one was ready to intervene; half the time, they controlled the noise so the fight would last before it died.

"What is happening here?" two security guards stormed the class as they pulled apart the fighting pair.

I inhaled slowly as they were cuffed and led out of the class. It was already halfway into the first lesson, and still, nothing was happening.

"Anyone who cares to explain what has happened?" one of the security guards asked, and all eyes turned towards me.

"She happened. She is the problem," a tall, slender girl explained as the class nodded in unison.

"she is not even pretty. She has a big stomach; who even changes schools in the middle of the year? She could be a killer or even a weirdo who eats sanitary towels?" a bunch of voices whispered loud enough to hear.

"it wasn't me, i-i-"

"Follow me, mum," one of the security officers requested, ignoring all my attempts to explain the problem.

 My Monday morning was alright. At least I wasn't physically hurt this round, just a few bad words that can't injure a bone, and someone fought for me. I am worth fighting for.

Dear God.