Super Girl ✩ {being edited}

Chapter Seven

"So, I want you to split into groups. I'll give you a topic each and you choose one boy and one girl to present the topic in front of the rest of the class." My declaration makes most faces around the classroom light up. I smile, aware of the question that on the tip of everyone's tongue. "You can form the groups yourself, just make sure it's an equal amount of boys and girls. And include everyone. Everyone's here today so with thirty people, I want six groups of five, alright?"

There are nods all around the classroom and I sit down, gesturing for them to go on, to look around and they get up to find their friends, sitting together in little groups. Once most of them are seated and teamed up, I notice one girl that stayed in her seat, staring at her book and nobody is looking at her, at least not in an obvious way. It's like the students always think teachers don't notice these things, but there is nothing subtle about the way they've isolated her, they way she's isolated herself and the looks she's receiving are sneaky, as if checking if she's still alone, some are laughing quietly in their groups and it makes me sick, it makes me sick to know that I'm responsible for them, but I know that I shouldn't be surprised.

I check my seating chart before I look up, addressing the class. "Are we not old enough? Is it impossible to do simple math?" All eyes snap up at me, seemingly confused, but they know exactly what I'm talking about. "What about Melanie? I said you can choose your groups to be with your friends but it's just a lesson, you're supposed to work together. So, we either do it the way I said, or we'll just skip the group work and I'll lecture you on the topics instead." I shrug. "It's up to you."

"Come here, Melanie" Brandon calls. I've gathered that he's one of the rather popular kids in the class, not exactly bright, and he rolls his eyes as he speaks, the mockery clear and obvious for the others to observe.

Melanie looks at me, doubtful, then she gathers her things and makes her way over to him, joining the group of which half the girls laugh and I observe them working, it's clear that they leave most of the work for her. I know she probably didn't want me to defend her openly in the first place, so this time I let it be, I let her present the topic with Brandon and I give her the grade she deserves, a slightly better one than the others and it's only fair, I remember what Mrs. Fisher said. You have to know what your students deserve.

Once the bell rings, I wait for Melanie to pass my desk to keep her for a moment. "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?"

She nods slowly, sits back down in her seat as the others pass her, obviously unable to not give her curious glances. The thing about the girl you exclude though is that you can't ask her after what the teacher said when she called her back. That in itself is satisfactory for the moment. I know that I have to address the issue now though, I figure she doesn't mind a few minutes less of her break out of the classroom, not yet and once everyone else is gone and the door has closed, I walk over to her, sitting in the chair opposite hers. "I'm sorry I called you out like that, Melanie."

She shrugs. "It's okay."

"Why didn't you get up to find a group?"

She avoids my gaze, staring down at the table in front of her. It's got scribbles all over. "No one wants me in their group."

"Brandon?"

She gives a sarcastic laugh. "He was just scared he'd have to do his own work and he can't do shit."

I can't help but laugh too, genuinely. "Is there no one else you'd want to work with? They're not all ... like Brandon."

She shrugs again. "I changed schools last year, I didn't fit in and you can't really change that once it's established, right?"

"And your teacher last year didn't do anything either?"

Melanie raises an eyebrow, huffing. "Mr. Tarker? No." The sarcastic amusement on her face is still there.

I try my best to remain calm, swear to myself to deal with the scumbag later and instead try to now focus on helping her. "I know you probably don't want me to tell you this, Melanie and maybe you won't even take me seriously because you think I just feel sorry for you. Let me tell you though, I can relate. There was a year while I was at school where I had no friends and I told everyone else that it was my choice. But whenever someone called my name, even if it was just to ask for the homework, anything that wasn't to make fun of me, I was happy to be included, even for just a second and ... I was lying to myself when I said I didn't want to spend time with anyone."

"They make fun of me no matter what I do, Miss Nicholls" she shrugs. "I could be playing football as well as Brandon and they'd still make fun of me because it's me."

"No, then it'd be because you're a girl."

The moment she seems the half-smile I offer, she smiles back, laughing quietly.

"Keep this between us, alright, but Mr. Tarker is as much of a bully as Brandon and he was probably a bully when he was in school and he never changed. He probably didn't care about you, and I'm not surprised, I wouldn't put it past him to not even have seen it. And I understand if you didn't want him to see, be it because you thought he was kind of cute or because you simply didn't think he'd do anything. But let me tell you, I care. And if you want help, if there's anything I can do for you, even if it's just talking – let me know. I'll be here for you. I won't tell the others to stop picking on you because we both know it's not going to change anything. I'm not able to stop them. But you've come this far." I press my lips together. "There was a girl in my class when I was at school, she started skipping more and more because of a similar situation and she ended up having to redo the entire year. And it was such a waste because she could've graduated a day earlier, you know? Basically, what I'm saying is, they're just kids that you're never going to see again once you graduate. I haven't seen any of the people I didn't like in school since graduation. I know you've probably heard this a lot but what happens in school, besides your friendships and your grades, it does not matter once it's over. It doesn't define you and no one will care that a bunch of bullies picked on you in school. You're going to be so much stronger than everyone else too and probably much more empathetic. You'll get through it and I want to help you. If you're okay with the way things are, I'll back off. But I don't want to watch this happen if you're not. Your grades are good, you're very creative. So, is there anything I can do to help you?"

She sighs again and she looks at me, I can tell that she's debating herself in her head. No matter how many teachers tell you that they're there for you, you never take it seriously, they're too distant, a teacher will never be someone you trust. But I feel like by telling her something she can personally relate to, I'm breaking the cliché somehow, and I hope she sees that I actually understand her. And I know I wished I'd have had a teacher like that.

"How do you think you could help me, Miss Nicholls?" Her voice gives in and she bites her lip, but she keeps her eyes on me.

"I don't know." I shrug. "I noticed you sit by yourself a lot and I thought I should ask about it. If you don't mind, that's great. But at your guys' age, I feel like that's not the case yet. It will become less of an issue the more time passes, the older you get. Right now, I could help you get into another class, if you like. I know that might seem like giving up, but it's your choice. What do you usually do during your break?"

"I just go to the library" she shrugs. "I do my homework. It's quiet, there's barely anyone in there."

"If you want to talk ... I mean, not just about all this but ... anything and just ... have lunch with someone, I'll have lunch with you. I know it sounds lame, having lunch with the teacher but I'm new as well, it's just an offer. I don't want you to think I'm trying to get how you feel, I just think I relate somehow."

She takes a deep breath, then starts nodding slowly and I feel like I'm young enough for her to not find my offer somewhat weird. "So, how about you tell mewhat you want and I'll go to the bakery around the corner? You can stay here if you want, so they don't stare at you because I told you to stay behind."

She nods again, then smiles. "Thank you, Miss Nicholls." It's not only the first time I realise I've made a change but it also teaches me a lesson of not prioritising group work because as excited as it gets some kids, it's going to make us feel even worse.