GuitarStrings

Chapter 20 - Chaos

It's been a busy past few weeks for me and the band. We played 2 more gigs! One being at the cooler and the other at a venue called the grand social. Both were pretty small ones where we played alongside a few other bands but it's been great fun getting used to being up on stage. We've been learning new covers and writing new songs to play and the crowds seem to enjoy our stuff which is great. To be honest we've become kinda talked about by people across sixth form, lots of other sixth formers have been in the crowds of our gigs and we occasionally overhear mentions of us around the canteen. Most of the opinions seem positive, which is lucky.

It's 11am on Thursday morning. I'm sat in my PD lesson, which is personal development, basically an hour of what lower school calls PHSE which we have every week. The classes are extremely random and the topics we have to do are pretty boring. Especially when my teacher Mrs Galloway is incredibly unaware of what's going on in the classroom, bless her she's nice enough but talks so slowly and seems just in her on world. Normally me and Orla chat throughout the lesson which thankfully speeds up the hour but today she's off ill with tonsillitis, so it's just me sat alone. Towards the end of the lesson I overhear a guy called Sam mentioning the band, he sits next to the guy called Liam who gives slightly creepy vibes especially after the NYE party. I can hear them mumbling about the videos they've seen of us playing. "Cool okay, they can talk about the band, that's fine." I think to myself. Until I hear the mention of my name.
"Delilah seems a bit weird though innit dancing round like that. Slutty if you ask me." Sam says.
I can feel my heart beating out my chest. Why the fuck does he feel the need to say something like that knowing full well there's a chance I can hear him.
"Yeah that's what I'm sayin we get you can sing but leave the guys to be a band without you." Liam agrees.
"Exactly I wonder which one she's fucking." Sam snorts.
"Oh we both know it's more than one of them, surely." Liam laughs.
"My bets are on Hewson and Jenkinson." Sam continues.
"Wait no it's got to be Keating as well though I've seen them two getting close at a party." Liam says.
"Like I say may as-well be the whole band!" Sam snorts louder.

"Boys make sure your getting the work." Mrs Galloway says over the noisy class.
This is ridiculous. They're obviously aware their loud enough so I can hear them talking shit about me and there just quiet enough that everyone else having conversations can't.
I can feel the anxiety building inside me. I've never really been talked about in school before, let alone been shamed by 2 guys who barely know me. Yes they're idiots but it doesn't mean their words don't hurt. 20 minutes go by luckily my names not mentioned again. I leave the classroom blocking their conversation from my mind. "It's fine, they barely know me and it's not like their stupid assumptions matter." I say to myself in my head. But deep down I know that will stay with me for a while, it's hard to forget criticisms.

"You alright D?" Avery asks midway through our conversation as we walk to the canteen. We just bumped into each other in the corridor coming from our 3rd periods.
"yeah I'm good." I smile.
"Seem a little quiet."
"Just tired, you know almost the end of the week." I smile.
"Okay.." She continues rambling about something or another. I feel bad but I can't help zoning out, my mind replays the words that were spoken.
"Okay what's up D c'mon tell me?"
"No seriously it's nothing." I say trying to sound believable.
"C'mon I know you, somethings not right. spill it."
"Fine okay so I'm sat in PD and I overheard some guys talking shit about me."
"What who! What we're they saying?" She questions.
"Um that guy Liam and his friend Sam..they were just calling me up on stage a slut and we're guessing who in the band I'd slept with." I say.
"Jesus fucking idiots. Who do they think they are?Boys can be such nobs sometimes." Avery says annoyed. "did no else overhear what they were saying?"
"No it's just me who heard, Orlas ill and they weren't exactly loud compared to everyone else." I say.
"D if it happens again you've got to say something, tell them to grow up or I will, you can't let them seem above you. Your not a slut. Don't believe what they're saying. Okay?"
"Okay." I say.
"Tell me if anything, I mean anything else gets mentioned, please. They're just jealous you've got talent and have options in life." She smiles and gives my hand a little squeeze.
"I will thanks A."
"We've got to stick up for ourselves us girls." She says.
"Yeah." I say "do you mind not mentioning it to the others, I don't wanna make a big deal about it."
"No totally that's understandable." She says as we walk into the canteen for lunch. As much as I want to do what Avery says and brush off what I overheard it's not easy. I really appreciated her kindness but that doesn't block out the words. Even if there totally untrue it's annoying that as a girl who sometimes hangs out with boys I'm automatically assumed to be a slut.