The Girl At The Back Of The Class

Chapter 8

"Elizabeth, come out of there already."

I've been hiding in the fitting room for 15 minutes. I don't get why they chose a two piece bikini. They wouldn't even let me choose my bathing suit. Granted it was cute but I just don't think I'd be able to pull it off. The boys had chosen a light blue bikini that had ruffles on the top. I convinced them to let me get plain black surf shorts to go over the bottoms. 

"Elizabeth!"

Ugh. "Shh," I say getting ready to pull the curtain back and step out.

"Eliza- Woah." John stops what it was he was saying and at this the other two boys turn around.

"Woah, Elizabeth. You look hot." Count on Christian to make this more awkard.

I don't say anything as I block my face from their view with my hair.

"What's wrong?" Danny asks.

I bite my lip and hide behind my hair even more.

John speaks up this time, "Elizabeth?"

"I-I d-don't th-think I c-can pull this o-off."

Christian looks confused as he says, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Again I look towards the ground as I say, "N-Never mind. L-Let's go."

"You guys go on ahead, I'll pay for Elizabeth's suit."

"Y-You don't h-have to d-do that J-John."

"I need to talk to you," he says so quietly that only I can hear him.

I look at him confused as he gets in line.

Once the two boys are out the door John immediately turns to me and quietly says, "Why don't you really own a bathing suit? Why do you think you can't pull that suit off."

"It d-doesn't matter." I say almost inaudibly.

"Elizabeth... Tell me." He looks so sincere. Should I tell him?

"Y-You really w-want to kn-know?"

"Yes."

Here goes nothing.

"I-I've been b-bullied for years. F-For the way I l-look. The w-way I d-dress. How I st-stutter around new p-people. Th-they don't like me. It-It's why I move so much. Everywhere I g-go, I get a n-new round of b-bullies. At f-first I ig-ignored it, d-didn't tell anyone, b-but then... People started b-blaming me f-for everything. Someone get suspended? It-It was E-Elizabeth's fault. Someone have a bad b-break up? E-Eliabeth made out w-with the g-guy. Something missing? Elizabeth stole it. P-People would throw th-things at me. They'd c-corner me and y-yell at me in the l-locker rooms. They m-made up nasty rumors that I slept a-around. That I s-slept with the t-teacher for a g-grade. Th-this started in middle school. No matter wh-where I move to, new b-bullies show up. It was never physical, always verbal. So when I did s-say something, no one b-believed me. My self esteem has p-plummeted because I-I began to b-believe every nasty th-thing they say about me. They t-tell me I'm fat, u-ugly, w-worthless, n-nothing, and th-that I should j-just leave. So I d-don't talk to n-new people easily. I-It's why I stutter. I don't l-let people in. I'm scared that... every new p-person I meet, will be a b-bully." By the end of this, there are tears pouring out of my eyes and John looks shell-shocked. John had payed about 5 minutes ago so we have been standing by the doors for awhile now.

"Elizabeth... I'm so sorry. I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise. Me and the guys will protect you." He wipes my tears and pulls me in for a hug as he continues saying, "Christian, Danny, and I won't let it happen again. I  can't believe that happened to you."