C'est La Vie

03. Abuse

>>> In English Class >>>

               “Alright everyone, settle down! So yesterday I gave you a very simple assignment; describe something that is troubling you about school. Who wants to go first?” Ms Smith asks, looking around hopefully for a volunteer.

               “Nobody?” she asks after a few moments, looking disappointed. Ms Smith is new and still hasn’t realised that nobody ever volunteers to read out their assignments. “Fine then, Amelia, you start,” she instructs calling on the class monitor.

               “Umm, I pretty much love everything about St Anne’s, miss. But, it would be even better if we were a co-ed school,” she murmurs cheekily, making the rest of the class laugh in amusement. Even Ms Smith smiled at that.

               “I went to a co-ed high school. You learn a lot of survival there,” Ms Smith jokes. “But nowadays you girls have boyfriends so early, I’m sure it isn’t like you guys don’t mix with boys, right? I would bet five dollars that all of you have boyfriends.”

               “You’d lose that bet, miss,” Stacy chuckles. “I don’t have a boyfriend and neither does Faye.”

I felt like smacking Stacy. Of course once she mentioned me everyone started whispering amongst themselves. The entire school heard what Shakila said about me being a prude. The seniors, especially the cheerleaders, have been mocking me all morning.

               “I sense gossip. What’s going on?” Ms Smith demands, looking curious.

               “Nothing, miss. It’s just a story circulating school about...Faye,” Malina whispers, dropping her voice theatrically.

               “Okay. What rumour is this Faye?” Ms Smith turns to question me.

               “A senior girl has been giving me kind of a hard time because her boyfriend left her to date me. But we broke up about a month back...” I mumble, trailing off.

               “The guy, who is totally drool worthy miss, then went back to the senior girl and told her all sorts of things about Faye. Like how she was a prude and wouldn’t put out and stuff. Said she didn’t even know how to kiss or pat properly,” Bernice finishes for me, making me blush again.

               “Girls! That’s horrible! You shouldn’t be spreading vicious rumours about your classmate! Can you imagine how much that must be hurting Faye?” Ms Smith demands, giving everyone her serious look.

I duck my head in embarrassment. Thankfully Ms Smith leaves it at that and then begins walking around the class, randomly talking to some of the students.

               “You okay Faye?” Yvonne, a friend of mine, asks, giving my hand a light squeeze.

               “I’m fine. Really. I can take care of myself, I just don’t want to get into it, you know? This whole bullying thing is so childish!” I murmur, giving her a reassuring smile.

               “You’re right. On to more interesting things...the guy that rushed to your rescue...is that the famous Logan Preston you keep gushing about?” she demands eagerly.

I nod my head and grin.

She mimics fanning herself, giving me a wink. “He’s really hot, Faye! How could you keep him all to yourself?” she accuses teasingly.

I just play shove her and get back to my book. School’s been like this for the past four weeks. I have to constantly watch out for Shakila and her gang. If I was lucky and managed to avoid the three stooges, I ended up having to bear all the taunts on my lack of a sex life.