Madison Lee is a total nerd. She hasn't got anything to do with sports and she dosen't really want to do that too. At least she got her friends, well, until live became social suicide.
„Is anything wrong?" I asked. It was not usually that she'd call me. And definitely not at 10pm.
„It's Eli.. he won't stop crying. He got upset about.. well, he won't open the door for me. I already called Demetri, but he's not picking up. Could you come over, I know it's much to ask for-"
„Ofcurse, I'm on my way."
*time skip*
As I eventually got to Eli's house, my phone was ringing again. Eli's mom again. I ignored the call and knocked on the door.
The door opened in seconds. „You're here."
„Yeah, should I look after him?"
„Just do whatever you can." She said and smiled at me, but you could see in her eyes that she's been crying too.
I made my way upstairs, in direction to Eli's room. What now? This is Demetri's thing. Comforting people. I can't do that.
I got a bit nervous, but still knocked on the door.
„Go away mom!" Eli screamed. I don't think I've ever heard him this loud.
„Not your mom." I said calm, „Can I come in?"
I heard Eli walking to the door and eventually opening it. „Oh, Madison.. what's up?"
He said wiping his tears away. He's adorable.
„I know that you've been crying, Eli.. You want to tell me why?" I ask and walk into his room.
„It's.. my mom, I told her about Kyler and everything going on.. she called at school and they'll do a speech tomorrow. It's just so embarrassing! It's like social suicide!"
Oh gosh. That's a lot. And I can't do anything about it.
„I'm sorry, Eli. You don't deserve that.. well, you've probably heard that before. But, I mean, think about it, in ten years you'll have a great job, get great money and probably a great family. Kyler or Yasmine.. they won't do much.."
„I'm just.. I'm so tired of being the kid with the weird lip. Maybe someday I'll be rich, but I'm socially poor." he said still with tears in his eyes.
Real. Sad but real.I could just hug him? Alright.
I slowly opened my arms and then hugged him. I excepted it to feel weird, but it didn't at all. Probably because I knew him all my life.
„Did my mom call you?" Eli asked for a moment of silence.
„Yeah, mad she did it?" I asked more ironically.
„Not really." he whispered. We'll be alright.
*time skip*
School lunch. Probably the worst time of the day. The lunch is just disgusting. Our counselor just walked into the cafeteria. Will she really do a speech? Now?
I looked over to Eli, who was already covering his lip. Miguel was probably confused, just like Demetri.
„Hey, Eli, your mom called me yesterday. Was something off?" Demetri asked. Not now, shithead.
Eli was just opening his mouth as I interrupted him, „I forgot my book at Eli's place and just remembered that I needed it. So I called Eli to ask him, but his phone was off, so I called his mom and she said she wanted to call you." I quickly explained.
Eli gave me a small smile, but I'm not sure if Demetri brought that.
„Cyberbullying is no laughing matter."
Let the speech begin...
„Sending a cruel message to someone online can be just as hurtful as saying it to their face. I'm not h na name names, but the other day a mother called me up, because her son was crying after some kids online made fun of his facial deformity."
Then again, Eli covered his lip. Everyone was literally starring at him.
„But today's goal is to make this school a safe space for all students."
I stood up and now the eyes were on me. Oh gosh.
„Do you really think that those words would help? You're not even doing anything but saying the same things over and over again. You should do something, talk is cheap. Also-"
„Ms. Lee! In the office now." Counselor Blatt screamed back. Perfect.
I took my bag and walked too the office. Now that was embarrassing.
*time skip*
I sat down in Ms. Blatt's office, she was still in the hall talking her speech. God, I hope Demetri is helping Eli somehow. Or maybe Miguel.
I sat there for like five minutes until my phone rang.
Eli🪩
Thank you
Always
I heard footsteps on the ground and decided it would be the counselor and packed my phone away. I'm in enough trouble anyway.
She opened the door and sat down it front of me. What does she do in her free time?
„Ms. Lee, you shouldn't have been screaming at a counselor or even a teacher ever like that."
„I shouldn't have, yes." I definitely don't regret this, „It's just there are mean kids and no one ever does something about it." I explained. Please understand.
„I know, I've got bullied once too." she started, dosen't surprise me, „But all we can do is talk to solve our problems."
„Well, I did talk."
„I don't think you should be making jokes, Ms. Lee. Listen, you're one of our best students, I know you don't actually behave like that. You'll have to write two pages of why your actions were wrong." She said and smiled.
