Dark Beauty

chapter 21

‘Lucas, can we talk?’ I asked as soon as I found Lucas. I was lucky to find him alone. He was always surrounded by people, and some of them weren’t even his friends. The last thing I wanted was to have everyone eavesdropping on our conversation. 
‘What do you want?’ Lucas asked in an irritated voice. He glanced at me, but then turned his back and continued to look at his cell phone.
‘Look… what I said yesterday, I didn’t mean it the way you thought I did.’ I swallowed hard, waiting for him to turn and look at me. 
‘What did you mean then?’ He asked turning to me. ‘Because, I’m done with dating girls who just want to date me because I’m the football captain and that gives them status or something. I really thought you were different, I thought that hanging out with me, even if it meant us only doing essays and studying was as good as it was for me, as long as we were together.’ He took a deep breath. ‘But maybe you’re just like the others. Just like Rebecca, only wanting to hang out with me when there is a crowd or go out at an expensive restaurant.’ He turned his back and started walking.
I just kept looking as he walked away, was he comparing me to Rebecca? We had nothing in common, I surely wasn’t dating him for the attention or the money. I didn’t even like all those people around him. I couldn’t let it end this way.
Before my brain could even formulate a way to make this right, my body was already catching up with him and hugging him from behind. 
‘I’m nothing like Rebecca. I don’t care about the attention or fancy dates.’ I sobbed into the soft leather of his jacket. ‘I’m not dating Lucas the football captain, I’m dating Lucas the guy who makes my heart beat faster every time I see him, the guy who makes me happy.’ I didn’t even know why I was crying; the tears were just rolling. Lucas turned to me and looked straight in my eyes, I continued talking.
‘It’s not that I don’t enjoy spending time with you while we’re only studying. It’s just that, I prefer it when we get to talk and do things we like. Sometimes I just want it to be just us. Not you, me and Wikipedia.’ 
 ‘How can I know if I can even believe you? I want to, I really want to, but it’s hard to trust someone after being fooled so many times. By so many girls.’ He said.
‘I’ll go with you to the history seminar.’ I said. ‘I’ll help you take notes and stuff, and I know I will enjoy it because I’ll be there with you.’ 
Lucas held my chin and pulled me for a kiss. It felt so good his lips on mine, even if it didn’t last long.

I arrived late to geography class because of my conversation with Lucas, but I didn’t care. If I hadn’t talked to him, I wouldn’t pay attention and that would be worse than arriving late. I got in the classroom the second the teacher was closing the door. 
‘Wow, last second Leila.’ Mr. Luis said.
‘Yeah, I think she had another fight with her boyfriend. That’s probably why she was late. Not very good for a relationship, honey.’ Selena said from the back of the classroom. 
I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, like everyone was waiting for me to answer. Was nothing in this school private anymore? How did people already know Lucas and I had a fight? 
‘It’s none of your business what Lucas and I were doing.’ I looked at her as I walked to my seat. ‘If he was still dating Rebecca maybe it would be your business, since she is your friend, but guess what? He is not. And guess what again? We’re not friends, so take care of your own life.’ 
Selena’s, Lindsey’s and Rebecca’s jaw dropped. The minute I saw their looks I knew they wouldn’t let me go without revenge.
‘Okay, girls let’s calm down now.’ Mr. Luis had a worried expression, like he was worried that Selena would jump on top of me and start beating me or something.

I knew they wouldn’t leave me alone after what I said to Selena in class. Why did they need to be so revengeful? 
   We were in the locker rooms after P.E. It felt so good to just put on a clean t-shirt after running for what seemed forever. I was putting on my jeans when Avery suddenly ran out shouting “I forgot my phone in the classroom, my mom is going to kill me. Leila, wait for me here please.’ Before I could even answer she was already gone.
          Because I would need to wait for Avery, I didn’t bother packing up my P.E. clothes quickly. All the girls had already left so I decided to wait for Avery outside the locker room. I was on my way out when suddenly Rebecca and her friends blocked my way. They were already changed into clothes which made them look even more perfect. They even came to school looking flawless. Rebecca was wearing white jeans and a blue blouse that made her body look as if it had been sculpted by angels. Why did she need to be so beautiful in the exterior and at the same time so ugly in the interior?  Looking at her just made me think why had Lucas chosen me? I was clearly not as pretty as Rebecca.
‘Hello Leila.’ Selena said.
‘We wanted to talk to you.’ Lindsey said next. She pressed her glossy lips together. ‘Look, we found it was really rude what you said to Selena today, but it’s not really your fault is it?’ 
‘What? Me? Rude? No, you must have got it wrong. I was just making things clear.’ I gave them a sweet fake smile. ‘Well, I need to go.’ I tried passing through them but Selena grabbed one of my arms as grabbed Lindsey the other and they pushed me back, closing the door behind them. 
‘Like Lindsey was saying.’ Rebecca said while Lindsey and Selena were still grabbing my arms. ‘We never really taught you where your place was. You’re the new girl here, you don’t know the rules.’ 
‘I don’t think you are the one who makes the rules.’ I said. ‘And let me go! What is the problem with you girls?’ I tried to wrestle free but when I got one arm free, Rebecca took a rope from her bag a tied my hands together around my back. I was starting to get a little worried. What were they going to do to me! I tried to free my hands but she had tied it pretty hard and it was only hurting my wrists to try. 
I tried screaming for help, but before I could open my mouth, Selena’s fingers were already across my cheek, in a slap. I looked at her in surprise. Had this Bitch really slapped me? I was angry. So angry I was wanted to punch theses three. 
‘Wow, quick.’ Rebecca high fived Selena. ‘But I knew she would scream so…’ She got something from her Prada bag. A silver tape. She got a big piece and taped my mouth. I felt so useless, how could I let them do this to me! Three against one, this was so unfair. If it was only her I would totally have beat her. 
I was starting to feel desperate when I remembered that Avery was coming back. She would help me, but how long would it take for her to find her phone? 
‘Well, like I was saying.’ Rebecca said. ‘We need to show you your place, and do you know where it is?’
I only stared at her. Selena and Lindsey forced me to sit on a bench, pinning my shoulders down. 
‘Oh, sorry you can’t talk. Silly me.’ She said. The three girls started laughing. 
‘We’ll show you where losers like you should stay, but first.’ Rebecca took the silver tape from her purse and bent down to tape my ankles together, but this time I wasn’t caught by surprise and kicked her arms. The tape went flying off her hands and for a second, Lindsey and Selena let me go. It was enough time for me to try and run away, however I didn’t notice that she had tied one end of the rope to the bench as well. I fell backwards, hitting the back of my head on the bench. I tried getting up again but my head was aching and the two girls had already grabbed me again.
‘You bitch! Did you really just kick me?’ Rebecca barked, her face was inches from mine, her eyes glowed with anger. ‘Girls, let’s get this over with before someone comes in.’ While Rebecca taped my ankles together, the other girls gripped my shoulders tighter than before.
They dragged me to the closest locker, opened it and shoved me in there. I couldn’t move, I tried to get out, but it was useless. So this was what they were going to do? Shove me in the locker? That means they didn’t know Avery was going to come back. They probably thought I was going to stay in there for hours! 
‘I really don’t know what Lucas sees in you. You’re just a big loser, look at yourself. Haven’t you ever thought why he likes you?’ Rebecca said. ‘I think I’m going to ask him right now.’ 
‘You should stay there for the rest of your life, because this is where you belong. A place where no one can see you.’ Selena giggled.
‘Oh, and don’t even think about telling this to mommy, daddy, Lucas or the principal.’ She listed them on her fingers. ‘Because they won’t believe you, we already have people who will tell all of them that we were with them.’ 
‘Plus, seriously, who would believe the new girl.’ Selena said.
‘Oh, if you try anything to get back to us, the next victim will be your sweet friends. And just so you know, at least half of the football team who would do anything for me.’ Rebecca grinned. 
While the girls were humiliating me, I saw out of the corner of my eyes Lindsey going outside and coming back with a big bucket.
‘Oh, yes Linds, I nearly forgot.’ Rebecca smiled. She got the big bucket which I saw was filled water and ice and before I could even think they poured it all over me. ‘We got this from the boys’ locker room, it’s so you can chill.’ 
The water was freezing cold, ice cubes went inside my shirt and I was soaking wet.  They slammed the door and I heard their footsteps as they walked away laughing. My eyes filled up with tears of anger, I hated these girls so much. I hated that I had been humiliated like that by them. My wrists, my legs, my arms, my head, everything was hurting. I barely fit inside this locker! I tried rocking my body forwards to see if the door would open but I couldn’t move.

Where the hell was Avery? Did Rebecca and the girls see her and tell her I was already gone? I hope that didn’t happen or else when will I get out? What will I tell my parents? 
I think more than a half an hour had passed before I heard footsteps. 
‘I knew my bag was still here, I can’t believe they made me go to the lost and found. I can’t believe Leila left without me.’ It was Avery’s voice; she was talking to herself.
I needed her to hear me, she couldn’t leave! But how? I could barely move.
I did the only thing I could do. I started banging my head against the locker door. It was the only part of my body that could still move. 
‘He-hello is anyone in here.’ Avery stammered. I continued banging my head on the locker door. My forehead was hurting and I bet I looked really stupid, but what else could I do?
I heard Avery’s footsteps getting closer, she seemed like she was resisting the temptation of opening the locker door. 
She slowly opened the door and when she saw me she screamed and took a few steps back.
I collapsed out of the locker, my eyes flooding with tears. I was so happy to see Avery. She knelt beside me and removed the tape from over my mouth.
‘What happened to you?’ She said desperately.
‘Please untie my hands.’ I sobbed.
I massaged my sore wrists. Red marks were forming where my wrists had been tied together. 
Avery helped me take off the tape that was on my ankles and I told her what happened. 
‘It was Rebecca and those bitches.’ I started. ‘When everyone was gone they just didn’t let me leave the locker room. They tied me up, locked me in that locker and threw icy cold water at me.’ 
‘Why did they do this to you? They are crazy.’ Avery said.
‘They said I needed to know my place and the rules. I think Rebecca is jealous that I’m dating Lucas and they are all mad because I always defend myself and tell them to mind their own business.’ I finally got my ankles free. ‘Selena, that bitch, slapped me.’ I touched my cheek.
‘We need to tell the principal. Like right now.’ Avery said getting up. ‘You have proof; you have the rope and you’re soaking wet. Come on.’ 
‘I can’t’ I sobbed. ‘They already did their job covering up, they told me they had alibies and I’m sure they’re not lying.’ New tears rolled down my cheek, but it was tears of anger again. I was so pissed off to know they were right about that. Rebecca and the girls were the school angles; no one would believe me! 
‘So tell Lucas, he is your boyfriend! He will defend you.’ Avery said.
‘No!’ I said. ‘You can’t tell anyone about this. Especially Lucas and Jake. This is too humiliating, please.’ 
‘Okay, we will leave this between just the two of us.’ Avery said. ‘But don’t you want revenge?’ She asked. 
I remembered Rebecca’s warning, I just couldn’t risk it. ‘No, I just want to forget it.’ 
‘So what are you going to do now?’ Avery asked.
‘I’m just gonna change back to my P.E. clothes, go home and take a shower.’ I said getting up.  ‘Oh, and Avery, thank you so much! I know I haven’t been a good friend to you lately, but you still helped me.’
‘It’s nothing. I will always be there for you.’ She smiled and handed me my bag.