Verdant II

Four

Sila's POV

People were watching me.

From the moment I made it to school this morning, I could feel eyes watching me. I made my way to my locker, and I noticed five people scrutinizing my every move. What was going on? 

In English class, the same thing continued. I could feel people watching me, almost as much as they were watching Grace. Grace smiled at me but didn't try to talk to me today for which I was grateful. There was this weird tension in the air, like electricity. I didn't know what was going on, and that made me uncomfortable and raised my defences. 

After lunch, a teacher knocked on my AP Chemistry door and asked for me. Everyone got quiet, and I followed the teacher... to the nurse's office.

Crap.

I knew having gym class would be a problem.

That kid from yesterday had talked to the administration, and apparently the entire school as well. That explained the looks I was getting, but not the weird tension in the air. 

I sat down in a plastic chair while the nurse gently asked me if everything was okay in my life, how my family was coping with the move, and if I'd made new friends at this school. I told her that everything was fine, but I had fallen off my bike while exploring the neighbourhood. She bought it.

Afterwards, I felt humiliated and exposed, and for a second considered skipping the rest of the school day and going home. But I realized that would only make the rumours worse, so I went back to Chemistry. I sat down next to Sarah and asked her if she noticed people looking at us.

Sara looked nervously around. "Yeah, I kinda overheard something this morning..." she whispered. "Apparently Grace Abrams heard about someone bullying you, and she made a hands-off rule. So whoever gave you those bruises can't do it again, you're safe." I scoffed at her words before I could stop myself.

I repeated my falling off the bike story to Sara, loudly enough that the two girls sitting behind us overheard. She seemed relieved, but not entirely convinced that I was telling the truth.

I almost regretted showering in the locker room yesterday, seeing as that was the reason for all this trouble today. But if I hadn't showered, I would have to go home and do it there, and going home before dad had a chance to crack at least one beer was not good. So instead I thought about other options for gym class today.

Most of my clothes were at least one size too big since baggy clothing hid the bruises and scars better. Still, as I pushed the sleeves up, I felt raw and exposed. 

Sarah asked me again if I was okay, and I confirmed before making my way to my next class. 

When my last class, gym, finally rolled around, I marched into the locker room with everyone else and pulled off my shirt. The room was dead quiet, most of the guys either staring at my chest or looking anywhere else. I ignored them, threw on my gym outfit and laced up my shoes. 

"Not that it's anyone's business, but I fell off my bike," I said before making my way into the gym. The guy from yesterday, shot his friends a glance before jogging up to me. 

"I'm not sorry," He told me, and I whipped around to look at him incredulously. The gym was almost empty, only a few other guys were sitting on the bleachers. "I think you're lying, and that someone is hurting you. We don't allow stuff like that here." 

"We, who's we?" I asked. "Your gang?" 

The guy burst out laughing. "Funny" He grinned. "I'm Ronan." 

"Silas," I answered. "Next time you're worried about me, talk to me, not the whole school," I told him sternly. 

"There won't be a next time," Ronan promised. "Whoever did that won't try again now that they know you're friends with Grace." He introduced me to a couple more of his friends, and class started. I notice that everyone at this school seemed to be in insanely good shape. Most of the kids could run a mile in less than seven minutes without breaking a sweat. 

I waited by the main front door after the last bell. I had rushed out of the wardrobe after the world's fastest shower to get there and made it just in time. Grace was saying goodbye to her friends and making her way toward a black SUV. She waved at the guy in the driver's seat, he looked like her dad. 

I stopped her and asked if we could talk. Grace nodded and lead me to a park bench a way down from the front door. We were out of earshot, but not sight. Most students mingling around shot glances at us. Grace ignored them all and focused on me. 

"I don't know what Ronan told you, but I don't need your pity or help," I told her sternly. Grace seemed shocked at my tone and automatically took a step back. Two of her friends walked toward us, but she sent them some signal that stopped them in their tracks. "We're not friends, I'm not being bullied, and this whole 'hands-off rule' is pointless, so back off!" 

I turned around and made my way out of there. Grace's father had stepped out of the car and gave me a stern look. It was quiet, everyone was staring at us. They should have been out of hearing range, but based on the scandalized looks on my classmates' faces, I guessed they knew how that conversation went. 

The next few hours I spent hiding away at the library before I made it home at 8 pm. Dad was nowhere to be seen so I made myself some dinner before climbing into bed. I closed my eyes and willed sleep to come, but all I saw was the look of shock and hurt on Grace's face. I turned around and buried my face in the pillow and willed the memory away. Tomorrow was going to be awkward.