Heartbreak High: New Season

12

Days had turned into weeks, and it felt like the torment would never end. The bullying was relentless, a constant weight that wore me down bit by bit.

At least it wasn't physical stuff, though the threats were made, hanging over me like a dark cloud.

Today, Friday, was no different-except for the fact that Coach had warned me that if I didn't clear out my stuff by the end of the day, it would all end up in the dump. I had no choice but to go in.

I stood outside the locker room, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open. The room was empty, just as I'd hoped. I'd come a little earlier than usual, wanting to avoid running into any of the guys.
After the outing, some of them had turned on me, and that was why I'd quit the team in the first place. I just wanted to get in, get my stuff, and get out.

I made my way to my locker, opening it slowly. My eyes scanned over my sneakers and jersey, and I reached in to pull them out. As I held the jersey in my hands, my mind drifted back to a memory of Tyler. I couldn't help but bring the fabric to my face, taking in the familiar scent of sweat and old gym air, a bittersweet reminder of the times when things were different.

My moment of solitude was abruptly shattered when the locker room door swung open. A group of boys walked in, laughing and chatting. The sound stopped immediately as they saw me. My heart raced, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I tried to steady my breathing, but the cold stares and snickers from the group made my palms sweat.

I could feel every eye on me as I glanced up, meeting Nick's and Cory's glares before I quickly looked away. I focused on packing my stuff into my bag, trying to ignore the growing sense of dread.