Layla Among the Lily Pads

Layla

      I remember when everyone found out. It freaked me out, but at the same time, I couldn't care less. I got pushed and shoved, made fun of, everything. I do remember this one girl's eyes. She was one of the popular kids– friends with Isabella, who was one of the first to tease me; however, when I looked into her eyes, I saw something different. I saw fear, confusion, and empathy. Even though she seemed to feel bad, she froze, and didn't say anything or do anything about what was happening. To be honest, I can't blame her, those were her friends. It's hard to stand up to those who you know well.

      I grab books from my locker, as usual. My math class is next, but I notice something. My journal's missing. It must've fallen out; so, I look to the ground, and it's not there. Instead, what I notice is someone standing in two pairs of white and yellow sneakers and white socks. That would be Isabelle, and she definitely does not like me. I slowly look up to see what she's doing, and I immediately freeze and my mind starts racing. She's reading my journal. My journal. There's a lot of stuff in there that I don't want anyone to read, especially Isabelle. I tense even more as I hear her read a couple sentences from my journal...

      "Hah! Here she says, 'Dear Journal, I think I might be lesbian. I really don't know, but I really like this girl..." Isabelle reads, laughing. Ted and his friends laugh their heads off. I'm lucky I didn't state the girl's name in there.

      "What, Layla, do you like Isabelle or something??" Peter howls laughing. That wasn't even funny, and I know how to control myself, unlike these kids. Daniel shoves me, and I stumble backwards. I run into Ted, who pushes me as well. I feel like a ping pong ball getting hit around back and forth. After Ted's push I try to regain my balance, but I end up on the floor.

      I hear Kathy next, "Ew..! Does she like me too? What about in the girl's locker room?!"

      Then Isabelle goes, "Ew! She needs to get away! I don't want someone who likes girls looking at me changing!" After those remarks, the crowd that's slowly gathered around the scene says, "Ew!" in unison. I find this whole conversation insanely immature, but also frightening at the same time. It's really confusing. I look around at everyone's faces, some with disgust on their faces, others snarling at me, and I see someone who stands out to me. She strokes her hair like she's stressed, and her eyes look afraid. She seems to feel bad, but she doesn't move either.

      "Excuse me? What on Earth is happening here?" Ms. Willow booms. The entire group of people have a surprised look on their face that says: busted. 

      "O-Oh! Ms. Willow... uh, we were just..." Isabelle trails off. I guess she can't think of an excuse for the whole scene. Either way, she has guilt written all over her face. 

      "Isabelle started it!" Daniel yells, pointing at her. Isabelle harbors a look of disbelief and anger. She glares at him like she could kill him.

      "Uh– yeah! She took Layla's journal and started reading it out loud!" Ted builds on Daniel's defense. Ms. Willow raises an eyebrow.

      "So what you're saying is you two had nothing to do with all this?" She inquires, suspicious of the two.

      "Yeah! Exactly!" Daniel nods his head aggressively.

      "So, if I were to pull up the security cameras, then you two wouldn't have participated in this at all?" She asks them. Daniel and Ted look to each other with unsure faces. They were going to get caught and they knew so.

      They both make the dumb decision to continue their lie, which will get them in bigger trouble; however, they're both not very bright. "Uh-huh!" They both respond. Ms. Willow still looks suspicious.

      "Isabelle, Daniel, Ted, you all follow me. The rest of you, get to class." She orders. Everyone obeys and starts to scatter. "Are you alright, Layla?" She asks me. I nod slowly. She grabs my journal from Isabelle's hands and gives it back to me.

      "Thanks, Ms. Willow," I speak softly.

      "No problem," She smiles and takes the trio to the principal's office. I suddenly remember that there's no way I'm getting to class in time.

      "Oh! Ms. Willow? Can I have a tardy slip?" I yell out. She's already gone. There's no use in that. I guess I just have to deal with Ms. Jenkins when I get to class. Hooray for me. I have to go through another round of public embarrassment today. This time in front of my math class. I pick up my math books, grab my backpack, and sprint to class the second the tardy bell rings. What a great day this is turning out to be.