What is love?

Chapter 6

Monday, first day of senior year.

It was Monday, the first day of my senior year, and the news on the website about me was spreading like wildfire. I could feel the weight of judgmental stares as I stepped out of my car, dressed in the outfit I bought from Forever 21.

Random people were DMing me on Instagram, hurling insults, but the girls helped me block and report them all.

As we headed to my locker, we encountered a crowd laughing and pointing. Pushing through, my heart sank when I saw "HOME WRECKER" boldly written across my locker.

"What the hell?" Gabrielle exclaimed.

"Who did this?" Tasha yelled.

"I bet it was that skank, Veronica," Taylor remarked.

"She would definitely pull something like this, Tess," Renae chimed in.

"What are you all looking at?" Reyesha barked, dispersing the crowd.

"All my high school life," I began with a perplexed smile, "I kept my head down, never bothered a soul, stayed out of drama, and represented my school. But it wouldn't be high school if some crap like this didn't happen to me, right?" I mused aloud, trying to maintain composure.

"Tess, you good?" Gabrielle asked with concern.

"Yup," I replied, opening my locker to store my books. "I'm good."

At lunch, though I wasn't hungry, we walked past Veronica's table intentionally. When our eyes met, she whispered to a friend, and as I approached, she muttered, "Well, if it isn't the home wrecker and her squad."

I paused, then stepped back to confront her. "I could never steal your job, Veronica," I retorted, drawing attention. "Nobody could, because we all know about what you and Mr. Thomas were doing last year, and Andrew still took you back like the untamed stray that you are."

Veronica seethed, rising from her seat, but I stood my ground. "So, before you go around calling people by your own pet names, I recommend that you look in the damn mirror and leave me the hell alone."

"You watch your mouth, Tessa," she spat out my name.

"Why? Are you scared because I'm one of the first to ever stand up to you?" I challenged. Veronica glanced around, realizing the students were recording, capturing her embarrassment. "Look, Veronica," I redirected her focus. "If it's a fight you want, I won't give it to you because I won't stoop this low again. You're a waste of time. So, please stay away from me and my girls for the rest of the school year." With that, I confidently walked out of the cafeteria, leaving my food tray on an empty table.

"What was that?" Tasha asked, smiling, once we were outside.

"I don't know," I started to freak out.

Taylor hugged me tightly, nearly suffocating me. "You are my hero."

"Alright!" Reyesha high-fived me.

"You were awesome!" Renae chimed in.

"Awesome and viral," Gabrielle said, looking at her phone. Simultaneously, each of our phones pinged with a notification from that site again. A video titled, "Veronica just got served," was posted.

"I for one never knew Tessa was so hardcore. She just put Veronica in her place in front of the entire cafeteria," Taylor read.

"I'm proud of you, Tess, but are you okay with this?" Gabrielle asked.

I shook my head. "No. I did her dirty. She didn't let the whole world know what she did, but I just humiliated her in front of everyone."

"Tessa, she deserved it," Reyesha insisted.