Chapter 2

STEPHANIE’s POV

I woke up to the first bang on my bedroom door.

Stephanie! Stephanie! My mom called out my name. I woke up with teary eyes. The dark undereye I had was enough to let anyone know about my sleepless night. My face was swollen and my head was aching. After what Stacy did to me the previous day,I was bound to feel that way.

“ I’m coming” I said softly searching for my slippers with my eyes half opened. I finally found it,walked up to the door and twisted the knob. My mother gave me no chance to let her in. She barged in herself.

“What is the meaning of this?” She questioned me with an aggressive tone. Her tone immediately pulled me out of my sleep.

“Mom?”

“What is the meaning of this Stephanie?” She showed me her phone and behold it was the video Stacy and Daniella had recorded of me in the bathroom with the tag “Slut exposed by student for sleeping Around for grades.”

My jaw dropped in disbelief. With quivering lips and teary eyes I stared at the phone. The worst kind of pain is that which you escape in your sleep and end up facing when you wake up.

“I’m talking to you . What is the meaning of this Stephanie.”

“Slut ? I can’t believe this.” I could hear the cracks in my mother’s voice.

It’s hard enough that she was working tirelessly to see me through school and now she had to walk with her head bowed in shame because of some made up news

“Mom… I didn’t do it.”

“Believe me” tears rolled down my cheeks as I spoke.

“You didn’t then how did this video get out? Why are they all calling you a slut?”

“Tell me.” I kept quiet, allowing my tears to roll down my cheeks without restrictions.

“Tell me.” She yelled out at me so loud that I was immediately jerked out of my misery.

“I swear, I swear of dad…… I had barely completed my statement when suddenly my mother slapped me. She pulled my arms closer to her chest.

“Don’t ever involve your father in this.”

“But mom, I didn't do it .” I reassured her again

“Then fix this. Get this disgusting news off the internet.” She told me and let go of my hands. My mother stormed out of my room and slammed the door at my face.

Ever since my father died,she had had to carry all the responsibilities including my school and our bills. I fell behind the closed door and all over again I allowed my pain to drown me.

What more hurt do I need to be stronger than I am ? Was I just meant to be oppressed? Does speaking up make me a vessel of hatred? I had so many questions with only a few answers of my own.

Two hours later, there were no tears left to cry. I sat numb on the floor. I was about to give up on myself when a thought struck me.

If I could get Mr Richard out of my way then maybe I wouldn’t have to prove myself to anybody. Maybe if Richard was out of my way,out of the school and out of my class then Maybe Stacy wouldn’t have a problem with me getting better grades without thinking I had to sell something to get it .

I braced myself,wiped my tears and waited impatiently for Monday morning.

*****

6:30 am, I was up. My mom had already left for work, so I picked out a knee length flowery dress. My hair was styled neatly in a bun,my eyes and lips were beautifully set up with the help of my mascara and my pink gloss. I was about to leave my room when I walked past my dressing mirror.

I wasn’t impressed. For the first time,I cared more about how I looked than how people would see me. I won’t seduce Mr Richard this way I thought. I wouldn’t even seduce myself with the way I was dressed.

I instantly dropped my bag pack and ran into my closet. A few minutes later, I walked out in a short blue flair skirt and a white sweatshirt. I looked sexy. Just the look I was going for.

Being sexy wasn’t my style Infact it was Stacy’s but if I wanted my plans to succeed,I needed a change of style. I untied my hair ,allowing them to drop on my shoulders. I applied a little more lip gloss and I was perfect. A smile on my face while my heart was breaking on the inside.

I was just about to frame innocent Richard for sexual abuse just to clear my name. If it was the right thing to do,I had no idea but what mattered most to me was my image.

I knocked on the German wooden door in Mr Richard’s office and waited till I heard his order to come in.

“Stephanie, come in” he said, burning his head in the pile of documents on his desk.

“Have your seat please.” I did as he instructed. My heart began to race faster than usual.

“You did really well in your English test, well done.” Mr Richard spoke, taking only a few glances at me . His entire focus was on his paperwork.

“Yes, I came because of that ….. I finally summoned enough courage to speak

“Oh really?” He dropped his pen and faced me . Our eyes were locked for a few seconds. The more I stared ,the nervous I became

“What about it?”

“I don’t know but rumors have been flying about my grades being faked and I……

“What ? Faked ? Of course not.”

“You earned it Stephanie, don’t listen to them.”

“I know…. I trust you” my tone suddenly changed from a nervous one to a sweet confident voice. I stood up, showing him my skirt length while walking from my end of his table to his.

“Sir… I want to discuss something with you.” I stood beside him with my fingers on his desk staring into his ocean blue eyes seductively.