When Winter Arrives

Chapter 3

3 Years Later

Claire and her friends continued to bully Bridget. Bridget never mentioned the bullying to anyone. Until today, April 14th.

Bridget raises her hand.
"Yes, Bridget?" asked the teacher.

"May I go to the washroom?"

"Yes, you may. When you go to the washroom, can you tell Claire to come back? She has been in there for over 20 minutes." Bridget got up from her desk. She opened the classroom door and walked out, closing the door behind her.

She walked to the washroom with thoughts surrounding her. 'Why should I tell her to get back to class? She will hurt me; I know it!' Bridget's thoughts filled her head.

When Bridget was just outside the door, she hesitated to step inside the room. She heard Claire's voice. All the trauma covered her, like handprints she could not wash off. Bridget walked into the washroom. Claire was laughing with two other girls. Bridget tried to cover her face with her hood.

Claire noticed her hood right away. "Wow, you finally entered your room." Bridget ignored her.
"Don't ignore me, princess." Bridget went into a stall. She sat there and thought. She just needed a 5-minute break from class.

Suddenly, she heard a bang on the stall door. "You don't belong in this school, sunshine." She heard another bang on the door.
"Do you know what you are? You are a bug. You are a cockroach that infested our school, and we are the humans trying to keep it clean. Do you know what we do to cockroaches when they enter our habitat?" Bridget's heart pounded faster than ever.
"We step on them." She heard another bang and the door opened. Claire's friend had kicked the door hard enough to open it. Claire stepped into the stall and grabbed Bridget's collar. Claire's face was so close; Bridget could feel her spit hitting her in the face.
"Get out of this school, before we take you out of existence." Bridget felt scared. She felt like a rabbit getting hunted by a pack of wolves. Bridget kicked Claire in the stomach and Claire let go. Bridget ran out of the stall.
However, Claire's two friends caught her. They grabbed Bridget and held her against the wall.
Claire walked up to Bridget; Bridget was breathing rapidly. "You won't get away, sunshine." Claire cracked her knuckles and punched Bridget in the face. Bridget's nose started to bleed. Bridget begun to cough out blood. The two girls let go of Bridget and tossed her onto the bathroom floor, they walked out of the bathroom while Claire stayed behind to be sure it was not suspicious.
"Oh, you got a little something on your face." Bridget's blood fell onto the bathroom floor.
"Get up, princess. Wash your face." Bridget sat there on the floor, holding her nose.
"I said get up!" Claire grabbed Bridget's shirt and pulled her up to the sink. She turned on the sink and washed her hands. She washed her face and grabbed a paper towel to put on her nose. Claire grabbed a paper towel and wiped the blood off the floor. Claire put her arm around Bridget and went to class to act as if Claire was trying to help her.

They walked to the door of the classroom. The door was closed.

"Don't you dare tell a soul, or it'll be the end of you." Claire whispered. Bridget looked at her.

'How did I fall in love with her?' She thought. Claire opened the door.

"Mr. Devmen, her nose started bleeding!" Claire yelled out. The class looked at them.

"Oh, are you all right Bridget? Would you like to go to the office?" Bridget stood there. She watched how the class stared and whispered.

Himari raised her hand. "I offer to take her to the office." Claire looked at Himari.

"Yes, take her to the office Himari." said Mr. Devmen. Himari stood up and ran to Bridget. Claire just stared at them as they walked out.

"It is okay, Claire. She will be fine, take a seat."  Mr Devmen said. Claire walked to her seat.

Himari held Bridget's hand. "Over here." Himari said while guiding Bridget to the dressing room. It was silent, nobody was in there but them.

"Sit down." They both sat down on the bench. Himari sighed and turned to Bridget, who was holding a bloody paper towel.
"Are you okay?" Bridget looked at her. Bridget whimpered. Himari put her hand on Bridget's shoulder.
"Listen, I know what is wrong. Claire and her friends are bullying you, huh?"

Bridget nodded. "I am sorry. I am so sorry I did not tell you sooner." Bridget put her face on her palms.

"Hey, it's okay Bridget." Himari embraced Bridget.
"How long has this been going on?"

"For 3 years."

"3 years!?" Himari jumped up.
"This must stop, we're going to the office and announcing this to Mrs. Millian." Himari grabbed Bridget's hand and pulled her up.

Bridget pulled her hand back. "No, I can't."

Himari did not turn. "Listen, I know it is hard to tattle on your bullies. Believe me, I have been bullied before because of my race. I never told a soul; it got worse each day. But a friend of mine stood up for me."

Bridget looked at Himari. "I am sorry. You should not have to go through with that just because of your race. Honestly, I think you are cool."

Himari turned around and smiled. "You know, you are someone who treats me like a person. I have never felt this attention before." They smiled at eachother as they exchanged looks.
"Now, let us go tattle." Himari held out her hand. Bridget grabbed it and they went to the office.