Just Enemies (Original Story)

Anxiety

Lena's mother was confused and furious and felt powerless. Her daughter had been stoned by rocks and hurt by these garbage children. She called her ex husband and Viktor was concerned and said they had to report it to the school and if those kids weren't handled then the police. Ana called the school and promptly relayed what her daughter told her but Lena was less then cooperative.

"Mom they'll do something worse."

"Lena how much worse can it get! Please!."

"Mom I don't want to!."

"Honey they may hurt you more if you don't report them."

"..."

"Fine."

The next day after zero sleep from the anxiety Lena and her mom Ana went to the principals office and reported Natalie and the boys. The principal was surprised at hearing this but since it happened outside school property he told Lena's mom the best he could do was suspend them for three days and demand they apologize to Lena. Lena and her mom accepted the terms and soon enough she was face to face with a smirking Natalie,CJ and Josh with Natalie's little brother. They apologized but Lena heard how disingenuous it was and asked for a more real apology trying to be brave. They looked at her and apologized. CJ was more earnest because he was older and this could hurt his chances of graduating and starting high school.

All three were escorted off school property to start their suspensions. Lena hugged her mom who left to start her shift at the hospital. Once in class Mr.Dipolito took attendance and everyone went through the motions of announcements and the anthem. A few kids heard what happened as things trickled down and laughed and snickered about Lena getting rocks thrown at her and surprised she could run at all.

Brandon was still suspended but Riders time was served already since he was the one Brandon punched. Lena still wanted to to talk to Brandon about what happened that day. He hadn't been up for it and didn't let her come over. She felt sick like she was losing the only friend she had at this school. Lena made a plan to go to Brandon's house and talk to him.

Getting through the day without Brandon was hard. Lena tried to sit with the other girls and chat but the minute she sat down. The girls got up and left while looking awkwardly away. The anxiety in her stomach was raging and she thought she'd vomit any minute and wondered when this loneliness would disappear. So she sat alone and ate her sandwich and cheese crackers with the sugar cookies her and her sister made earlier on. Lucas a plump boy walked by and commented how she reminded him of a black hole with how she ate. And she wanted badly to not let him or them have this power over her but she sees these people everyday and it would be easy if they didn't hate her existence.

Lena lost her appetite and only ate her banana and kiwi slices. And this was the moment where she would later realize her complex relationship with food started. All because of stupid kids making dumb comments just because she was plus size and not the beauty standard. But this won't come until later in life. Because Lucas's stupid comment somehow triggered something inside her and after the events of the day before,she began to cry. Lena tried to hide it but Max noticed and soon enough kids were gawking. Julia asked her if she was ok and she blurted out  no and ran off and down the hall to the girls bathroom.

Lena made it inside a stall and locked herself in and slid down the locked stall door and cried her eyes out. She felt more pathetic for cracking but it was more then Lucas and his ignorant food comment. It was Natalie and the boys who threw rocks at her. The kids who constantly called her shamu or pregnant. The weight jokes were getting to her and jokes are supposed to be funny these were cruel. Meant to rip apart her sense of self. Lena had bearly any self esteem and hated her self.

But she naively hoped this combined school would allow her a few friends just to feel safe. She was fighting this war alone and she felt like she was losing. But eventually some of the girls came and got her because Mr.D asked them to. They asked what was the reason and she didn't want to share mostly because she knew she'd been talked about. She was already but she didn't want them to piece it together.

Lena and the girls returned to class and she got her pencil case from her bag. Once she sat down Rider looked at her.

"I can't believe you cried."

"LEAVE ME ALONE."

Rider turned as quickly as he could and felt slight embarrassment at how direct she was. She was a big ball of emotion and he could read her face easily. Everyone else thought she was weird but Rider could see when she was happy,mad,grossed out,creeped out. When did he start to pay attention to Lena and didn't he just like messing with her. Part of him guessed she lied when she denied her crush on him. Maybe he wanted her to like him. Maybe he liked the attention. But he felt bad about being a dick there when he was trying to console her because she seemed so strong. She handled herself so many times so seeing her break felt wrong.

At the end of the day Rider was walking toward Lena and she took off before he could say a word. She didn't even see him and he wondered where the heck she was going. Then he remembered that Brando still had house arrest and won't be coming back until tomorrow. A ping of jealousy hit him and he felt repulsed by it. Rider dropped it and started his walk home as Lena boarded the bus to Brandon's house.