Welcome to Oceanside High: Revenge of the Bully

Chapter 9

School torments me enough with its pop quizzes, teacher's assessments, and Parent-Teacher conferences without Lindzey or anyone else locking onto me with their bully radar. But it's now even more uncomfortable knowing Travis is deliberately ignoring me, and every which way I turn I see him ignoring me. He sees me but he looks the other way. Every. Single. Time. Sometimes he even turns around and heads in a different direction. Even in math class he taps his pencil against his desk rhythmically taunting me to finally shout at him to stop it. But I don't dare. Travis is waiting to call me out. I can feel it. I should have never shown that boy any sort of kindness. Maybe then he would've left me alone.

But isn't that what I always wanted? To be left alone by Travis McDurn? Sure, if it meant Donny and the Bitch Squad were going to leave me out of their demented torturing ways. But to make matters worse it looks like they've replaced Travis with Billy Bowen. Great, the Devil's Trio still stands. Unfortunately, for me, I'm caught in the crosshairs of a former bully's affections and the Devil's Trio, oh, and I can't forget about the Bitch Squad.

The squad cheers during the mid morning pep-rally today with one of their flashy, slutty dance routines. Everyone is cheering and clapping when I find Annabelle on the bleachers, high up away from everyone. Carlos is sitting next to her, his arm around her and he's smiling at her like she's the only one for him. I never knew much about Carlos but he seems like he makes Annabelle happy, and I know Annabelle would never have anything to do with him if he was a slime ball like his good friend Bernie. I hope.

"Hey." Carlos says as soon as he sees me stepping up the bleachers toward them.

"Hello." I reply while taking a seat beside Annabelle. There's plenty of space up here, away from everyone.

"I'm real sorry about the other night." Carlos says, "I think the whole thing was just a big misunderstanding."

"What?"

"Sorry. You know what I mean." He shrugs, shaking his head. "Bernie's a dick."

I open my mouth but I don't know which part I disagree with.

"He's definitely a dick." I reply. I watch the Bitch Squad and their cheer routine wishing I could jab my eyes out. My ears too if I have to listen to Carlos. "It wasn't a misunderstanding. If it were it was on his end. But also if it matters, you're not the one who should apologize to me."

He nods. "Ain't that the truth. Don't worry. I gave him a real good talking to."

I nod like I really care. "I'm sure that will stop him from being a womanizer."

Annabelle pokes my side. "Chill. Carlos can't control every guy who wants to put his hands on you."

"I'm chilled. So chilled." I reply lamely. I wish he could control every guy. Wouldn't that be such a great super power to have?

Principal Scowlard comes out onto the basketball court after the Squad has done their routine and gives his speech to the whole senior class: why we should all try our best to get along. His speech drones on and on. It sounds mostly like a wish never granted to the child trapped inside him. But there's some hope in it, I guess.

The bell rings and the pep rally is over. "Catch you at lunch?" Annabelle asks.

I shake my head and reply, "Yeah. Why? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to walk Carlos to his next class."

"Oh. Is he in a wheel chair?"

Carlos laughs, but I'm not trying to be funny. I guess I can wait to spill the beans to Annabelle about last night.

I leave the gymnasium and am just about to enter the lunch room when someone bumps into me. I turn around to find Lindzey looking at me, her pom poms attached to a belt loop at her hip, and a skirt which hardly leaves much to the imagination.