Bully Me No More

2

*RAIN*

I sat in my usual spot at the back of the class and didn't bother looking up when I heard the door open and shut because, I had a good idea of who it was.

"What's the excuse now Mr. August?" Ms. Mandetta asked.

I smiled to myself, I was right.

"No excuse. I just didn't want to come."

Ms. Mandetta sighed, trying to hide her dissapointment. "Just sit down and start reading Chapter 13."

He sat in his usual seat beside me and nodded at her. "iight."

I tried to ignore the view of him that my peripheral provided me with. He flipped through the pages of his textbook, flipping forward and then backward. My body stiffened when his chair creaked as he leaned over. He moved my elbow off the corner of the page to read the page number.

"You left your locker open." He said, flipping to the right page in his book.

I continued reading, acting like I didn't hear him.

"Hello? I said you left your locker open." I kept reading. "Well I closed it."

I thought he was done, but he just had to mumble "bit*h" causing my eyes to water. The class was finally silent until Ms.Mandetta began talking and writting on the board.

"Stop where you are and close your books."

On the board she wrote with a green marker the title "3 states of matter model"

"You will have today, this weekend and Monday to get this done. The project worth 70% of your final grade."

The class groaned, even me. I'm smart yes, and yeah I get my work done, but that doesn't mean I enjoy doing it.

"You are each to be partnered with the person to your left." I flinched. Roc is on my left.

"Oh hell no!" Roc said, jumping out of his seat. "I ain't working with her."

"Fine. Don't. But I must inform you Mr. August, if you get another F this semester your GPA won't be high enough for you to stay on the Football team."

"Ugh!" He groaned. "This is stupid!" He stormed out of class, leaving his stuff on his table.

I hated this as much as him. If the circumstances weren't so high then I knew he wouldn't bother to help, but Football was his everything, no way would he lose his spot on the team. The bell rang and I was last to be all packed up.

"Rain." Ms.Mandetta called to me.

"Hmm?" I asked, looking towards her sitting behind her desk.

"Please bring Mr.August his belongings."

"I nodded and put his text book and notebook on top of mine, sticking his pencil into the spiral of his notebook. My hand was on the knob when Ms.Mandetta said one more thing.

"Ms.Martinez I'm trusting you don't do this project alone."

When I went to my locker I didn't see Roc at his. I put his things on the floor in front of the row where his locker was and went to my own, pulling out my backpack. I tucked my science notebook, math notebook, and pencil pouch inside. So much for a good weekend. Heck, so much for a good Friday.

I started my walk home and heard the familiar laughter of Princeton and Ray. Uh oh. Here we go. Roc came and put his arm over my shoulder.

"So whattup with this project?" He asked.

"W-what about it?" I stuttered.

"Well...your place or mine?"

I gulped. "I don't want you at mine."

"Be that way then. Meet me at mine in an hour?"

I gulped again. Why is his arm still around me!? "Ok Roc."

His arm dropped from my shoulder and he slowed his pace, falling behind with the rest of his group.

"What was that bro?" I heard Prince asked.

"Ugh. I gotta work with her for a project. If I fail coach is kicking me off the team."

"Awww dang!" Prod said.

"Yeah bro that sucks for you!" Ray laughed.

Roc groaned. "I know man, I know."

When it finally came time for them to turn down their own street I enjoyed a peaceful walk home by myself.

"When you get back we're going straight to Maria's" My mom told me.

"Yes ma'am."

Maria is my favorite aunt, who happens to be the mother of my favorite cousin, Sandra. I ran upstairs and picked out a cute outfit, stuff I wouldn't dare wearing at school. I wore gray skinny jeans, a blue croptop and my hair down. I hid my shirt and arms beneath my oversized black hoodie, grabbed my phone and backpack and then was off to Roc's.