Ok, so trying to stay out of trouble in Brooklyn High is pretty exhausting. I've made a few friends and got pretty good grades too.
Everytime Chanel walks by, I swear I could feel her anger burning on my skin. Ever since, I've avoided her and she seemed to know it.
One time, she swatted my lunch tray out of my hand and my food splattered everywhere, the news was spread over the entire school for weeks. I could still remember the stares that bore into mine, across the halls and in class.
I guess maybe because I've grown pretty close to Jake now, I didn't know he was Chanel's boyfriend and he was pretty popular. I could see that he tries to talk Chanel out of bullying me but he had always failed, she would have her own ways. Jake would look at me with sadness in his eyes, apologizing under his breath.
So I was not really the popular type, I was basically the lower class ones; the group where invisible people were. However, everyone seemed to know me but never tried to talk to me, maybe because they were afraid.
Anyways, holidays are just around the corner, I'm so excited!
"Hey, how are you gonna spend the holidays?"
Ahh, my best friend. He makes my day better, he's like a brother to me.
"Um I don't really know yet, you?"
"Not sure either, wanna go out sometime? The movies and all that?"
"Yea sure, that'll be great!"
He laughed and we headed to our lockers. I was 4 lockers away from his so we weren't that far away.
The bell rang and we went to classes together, laughing and pushing each other around.
Me and Jake have all the same classes except that he had chosen science over art, I take that class with the one and only, Chanel.
"Alright class, we will be starting our English presentations next week. Please assure that your reports are arranged neatly and power points are a minimum 25 slides. Attatch pictures for additional points. Both partners should speak clearly and-"
Me and Jake looked at each other and nodded.
You guessed it, we were paired up!
The bell rang and students picked up their belongings and gushed out of the classroom to the cafeteria.
"Hey wanna come over to my place for the project?"
"Sure, is there food?"
"You gotta stop eating my food.. Yea there's food." he laughed.
"Well I'm sorry I can't help it if it's the first thing that pops into my head"
We took the trays and started picking up food, there were so many so I just picked a bit of all. All of them looked great except this mushy green thing next to the pudding.
My tray was full so I walked real slow to our table, Jake offered to carry mine cause he assumed I'll reach there when the bell rings.
I looked at Jake and he's already stuffing the pasta in his mouth like something's gonna take his good if he doesn't.
He's so flawless, he doesn't even try and he's all perfect.
"You gonna eat that?"
Oh whoops.
I broke off from staring at him to respond to his question, but before I did I burst into a laughter.
"What?"
He had pasta sauce all over his face and his shirt.
"Is that a new face mask? I didn't know ketchup works."
He gave me a 'try me' stare and picked up a napkin and wiped off the sauce.
I opened my pasta and began eating.
We joked and laughed while eating, I'm always the last one finished with the food because I was always the ones with the better jokes.
Afterwards the bell rang again, signaling us for the next class.
Art.
Jake walked me to the classroom and waves to Chanel inside, he told me to take care and goodluck.
I sat across the room from Chanel, hoping to avoid her as much as possible.
Class started and we were all assigned to sketch something we love and something we're afraid of.
My pencil glided over the paper like it's natural. I started drawing the sky, the birds and the clouds. I didn't have much talent in art but I really enjoyed drawing.
I was about finished with my sketch, stood up and began heading to the front desk.
Chanel was next to me, her hand swiftly knocked the paint cans off the counter and the colors of rainbow splatted all over me, every inch of my body was covered with paint.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" She smirked.
The whole class gaffawed and giggles echoes in my ears.
This time she went too far, I quenched my fists and gritted my teeth. I slowly breathed and calmed down, no use in hitting her, she's the Queen Bee.
The teacher sent her back to her seat and asked if I was hurt, I said no and I took of into the bathroom. I had no spare change, nothing at all.
I spent the whole class period in the bathroom, scrubbing off as much paint as I can.
The bell rang and I couldn't go out, it stained my skin, it stained my clothes. I looked like a wreck.
I heard footsteps coming into the bathroom, I can't let them see me like this.
I ran into a bathroom stall and held my breath.
"I heard Chanel tipped all the paint cans all over the new girl"
"Yeah, the new girl didn't fight back too"
"She's brave but we can't help her"
Why can't they help me!
"Anyway, you done with your hair? Let's get moving, the guys are at the football field now"
"Ok I'm done"
And with that, the voices and footsteps faded away.
I cried and cried. What can I do? I can't skip classes anymore, who hasn't seen a girl with paint all over them right? I'll just joke around with them.
I walked out of the bathroom and headed down the hall. Everybody stopped talking and gave way. All eyes were on me, shocked and mouths open with surprise.
I just wish this day would end.
"Rachel!"
I began walking faster, I can't embarrass Jake.
"Rachel! Wait up!"
I started running, I felt the tears slide off my face. Everything was blurred.
BOOM
I ran into a wall.
Everyone around me laughed like crazy. Some were hurtling around onto the floor, holding their stomachs.
I started weeping more, drops of tears became a waterfall on my face.
"Hey, it's not Hogwarts."
I smiled.
"Why didn't you stop when I called you? I called you like a gazillion times!"
"Your exaggerating"
"Ok maybe not that much, like five times"
I started crying again.
He took out a piece of tissue and gave it to me. I snatched it up and soaked it with the tears.
"Get up, we'll go sit at the playground"
"Okay"
Nobody ever goes to the playground anymore. I don't know why though.
By the time I revealed my face to the world after hiding behind tissues, my face was all red and blotchy.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"I rather not, you'll hear the news around school later on."
He gave me a hug.
I buried my face into his shirt, I could smell this perfume and the scent made me forget about the world. It made me feel I'm not alone. He is here for me.
I couldn't ask for anything better.