Never Bend

Chapter 12 : Killer Mood

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Anger
An emotion used against you to disgrace you,
Learn to weld that emotion   Into something greater.
MJ
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In the middle of the cafeteria, my heels turn on themselves avoiding his friends, giving me enough time to see them wave at us.
'Why would a library rat like me be sitting at the table of the hot chicks and the romeos?'

With that thought, I had made my mind. I turn to the exit, but an arm blocks my way before I could even take the first step.

My shoulder sunk, crushed by the memories of a younger me. I was thirteen. People bullied me, mimicking my asthma attacks in the hallway. When they erupted for the first time, they were like a force of nature threatening to claim me at any time. It made me their favourite laughingstock. Today, I could even hear the laughs filling my head as if I was there. My hands twist my shirt, but no confort was coming.

"Come on! It'll be fun."
His head tilting towards mine. My mind becomes silent again.

'Fun for who?,' lifting my chin, I look into his eyes.

People walk around us, filling the cafeteria. We are awfully close, but my thoughts are preventing me to notice or to care.

"Como-on Annie, don't make a scene." He steps sideways placing himself in front of me.

Random people smile at the sight, he is so close. The girls behind me must be freaking out. I close my eyes, trying to stop my brain from making different scenarios that would only make me more anxious.

Anna undoubtedly has a crush on Tom and Lili, as a good friend is taking her side. They have an obvious enemy, me. Why can't he understand how cunning girls can be?
Images flash in my mind.

Peter, a high school biology classmate, bumping into me. Him holding me steady and giving me a handsome smile as an apology before parting ways. Later, a random girl hits my shoulder, making me smirk out of pain, my books spreading on the floor. A second random girl pushes me aside and walks over my books, followed by two others avoiding my gaze.

My belly twists inside. My heels turn on their own. I. I can't.

"Not so fast. You haven't eaten yet and your dinner is right there", holding my shoulders, he makes me do a U-turn, pointing to the table I wish to flee from.

Why did you have to be mister popular? My head turns to him wishing my eyes could be telling enough. Why is he smiling at me? Why did he have to be so handsome while smiling? I press a hand to my forehead. My mind is such a mess. He has a point though. I can't be alone forever. Ultimately, I need to socialize. They are his friends and with the current situation, it was unavoidable.

Guided by his arm on my shoulder, we walk forward. All I can see is the obsession written in their eyes.  His hand. It's on my shoulder. Instinctively, I push his arm away.

Cowering again, I make another try.
"Give me some money and I'll get myself something without bothering you guys," I look at him pleading with my eyes .

He shakes his head.
"It would be impolite of you to refuse the plate they chose for you." He then grabbed my hand instead, pulling me to the table.

My mouth turns into an o shape, there is no way out. As a matter of fact, he is playing with fire. No he is adding fuel to it. Can he be that clueless?

"They are not beasts, you know. You will like them if you give them a chance." He smirks. It settled the score. He was clueless with a hint of stupidity.