Beyond The Classroom

School Whispers.

Victoria walked through the school gates the next morning, her heart pounding in her chest. She had barely slept, her mind consumed with worry and fear. The conversation with her mother, the intense moment with Alec, it all felt like a blur. She hoped that somehow, miraculously, things would be normal when she got to school.

But the moment she stepped into the hallway, she knew something was wrong. The usual hum of chatter seemed to shit, becoming more focused, more intense. Heads turned in her direction, eyes following her every move. Whispers and giggles spread like wildfire, and she could feel the weight of their stares.

As she walked past a group of juniors, she caught snippets of their conversation.

'Did you see the video? I can't believe it.'

'Yeah, with Mr Reed! It's all over the place.'

'She's so busted. How could she even show her face here?'

Victoria's heart sank. She quickened her pace, hoping to get to her locker and compose herself. But the whispers followed her, growing louder with every step.

'Look, there she is.'

'That's her. That's the girl from the video.'

'I heard she's getting expelled.'

She reached her locker and fumbled with the combination, her hands shaking. As she opened it, a group of her classmates walked by, openly staring at her.

One of them, a girl named Lisa, sneered. 'Nice one, Vic. Didn't know you were into older men.'

Another, Jake, smirked. 'Bet you thought you'd get away with it, huh?'

Victoria slammed her locker shut, trying to block out their voices. She turned to head to her first class, but everywhere she looked, she saw judgemental eyes and heard cruel whispers.

In the classroom, the atmosphere was just as hostile. As she entered, the room fell silent, all eyes on her. She felt like she was walking through a gauntlet. She took her seat, trying to ignore the hushed conversations around her.

'Do you think she'll get expelled?'

'Probably. No way the school can let her stay after this.'

'And Mr Reed? He's so fired.'

Victoria's cheeks burned with humiliation. She kept her head down, trying to focus on the lesson, but it was impossible. The teacher, Mr Collins, glanced at her with a mixture of pity and disappointment before starting the class. She could feel the weight of everyone's judgement pressing down on her.

During lunch, things were no better. As she walked into the cafeteria, the room seemed to buzz with excitement. People pointed, whispered, and stared. She spotted her friends at their usual table, but as she approached, their conversation abruptly stopped.

'Hey.' Victoria said weakly, trying to muster a smile.

Mia looked up with a strained expression. 'Hey, Vic.'

'You said you were gonna be careful.' Eric blurted out.

Victoria's heart ached as she sat down. 'I don't want to talk about it.' she muttered, sitting down.

Mia leaned in, lowering her voice. 'Everyone's talking about it. The video.... it's everywhere.'

'I know.' Victoria whispered, her voice trembling. 'I don't know what to do.'

Before Mia could respond, a group of boys walked by, one of them mimicking a kiss. 'Hey, Victoria, need a tutor?' he taunted, laughing with his friends.

Victoria's eyes filled with tears. She stood up abruptly, unable to handle it any longer. She grabbed her bag and fled the cafeteria, the laughter and whispers following her out the door.

As she ran through the hallway, she heard footsteps behind her. Mia and Eric caught up with her, their faces full of concern and anger.

'Hey, don't listen to them.' Mia said, putting a comforting arm around her. 'They're just a bunch of idiots.'

Eric nodded, his face red with fury. 'Yeah, screw them. They're just looking for someone to bully. They have no idea what you're going through.'

Victoria sniffled, wiping her tears. 'I just can't take this shit anymore. Everywhere I go, they're talking about me, judging me. It's like a nightmare.'

'Well, they're going to have to get through us first.' Mia said defiantly. She turned to the nearest group of whispering students and flipped them off. 'Mind your own business!'

Eric did the same, glaring at anyone who dared to look their way. 'Yeah, leave her alone!'

Victoria managed a smile, grateful for her friends' support. 'Thanks guys. I don't know what I'd do without you.'

'You don't have to go through this alone.' Mia said firmly. 'We've got your back.'

Eric nodded in agreement. 'And we'll make sure everyone knows it.'

They walked Victoria to her next class, standing guard outside the door until the bell rang. Throughout the day, they stayed by her side, confronting anyone who tried to give her a hard time. Their presence gave her the strength to keep going, even as the whispers and stares continued.

After school, as they were heading to the parking lot, Victoria spotted Alec standing by his car, his expression grim. He walked over, his eyes filled with concern.

'Victoria.' he said softly. 'I heard what happened. I'm so sorry.'

She nodded, trying to hold back her tears. 'It's been a rough day.'

Mia and Eric exchanged glances, then stepped back to give them space.

'Hey, we'll wait by the car.' Eric said, patting Victoria on the shoulder. 'Take your time.'

Victoria nodded, watching them walk away before turning back to Alec. 'They've been amazing. I don't know what I would've done without them.'

Alec smiled faintly. 'I'm glad you have them. You deserve all the support you can get.'

Victoria looked at him, her heart aching. 'What are we going to do, Alec? Everyone knows. My mum is furious. I feel like my whole life is falling apart.'

Alec stepped closer, his expression determined. 'We'll figure it out. Together. But we need to face this head on. We need to go to Mr Wilson and tell our side of the story.'

Victoria took a deep breath, nodding. 'You're right. We have to.'

As they stood there, holding each other's hands, Mia and Eric returned, giving them encouraging nods.

'Ready to go?' Mia asked.

Victoria nodded, squeezing Alec's hand one last time before letting go. 'Let's do this.'

With her friends by her side and Alec's support, Victoria felt a renewed sense of determination. The road ahead would be difficult, but she knew she wasn't alone. Together, they would face whatever came their way.