Faking Confidence

Prolouge

"Nice glasses, nerd." I squirm under the scrutiny of my current middle school bully. Yesterday it was the shoes I was wearing, today it's my bad eye sight.

"I'm just trying to get to my locker." I mumble while not making eye contact. Eye contact means your challenging someone/something. I'm just trying to get my math book.

The bully smirks and steps even closer to my locker. "Why so you can read? Can you even see the words on the page nerd?"

The bullies' friends all snicker causing my checks to turn crimson red. "I-I just need to get my math book before the bell rings."

I say while glancing at a clock in the hallway. Three minutes before class starts...

"Why? Afraid your going to be late?"

"Well as a matter of-"

"Shut up!" I snap my mouth shut and stare wide eyed at them. "No one said you could talk." Everyone grins while the main bully starts closing in on me.

"W-what are you doing?"

The others follow their lead, everyone getting closer and closer to me.

Someone in the group flicks my pony tail while another pokes my arm. "Leave me alone!"

They all giggle, one of them attempts to knock the books out of my hands but I manage to swerve out of their way just in time.

"Get her glasses!" Someone shouts in the back. Suddenly there's arms and hands grabbing my hair, and clothes. Trying with all their might to snatch the glasses of my face.

"Get off! Help! Help!"

Someone gets close to my glasses but just before they're about to grab them a loud blaring sound comes out of no where.

"What the-"

"Leave her alone!" A boy with an air horn breaks through the crowd and steps in front of me.

"Oh it's just Olive. Come on get out the way we're just having some fun. Right guys?"

About five 'yeahs' reply in unison.

"Well I don't think she's having fun, do you?" He says while motioning to me.

I look up at the boy in shock. He's standing up for me, he's really standing up for me.

The crowd grumbles. "If you don't leave right now I'll use this air horn to get the attention of a teacher. You'll get in trouble you know, for bullying."

"Woah man, no need to do that. We were just leaving." The leader says, arms up in surrender.

The boy, or Olive, stands there with the air horn in view until the whole crowd breaks apart and goes to class.

Once they're gone he throws the air horn into his unzipped book bag and looks at me concerned.

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"N-no I'm f-fine." I manage to stutter.

He frowns, still looking concerned. "Okay, let me know if they do it again? I'll get a teacher I swear."

I nod up and down quickly.

"Okay." I whisper. We stand in silence for a minute. "I'm Oliver by the way, but most people just call me Olive."

I manage a small smile. "I'm Amelia." He grins and shakes my hand. "Pleased to meet you Amelia."

He lets go of my hand and I feel myself blush again. "I really need to get my math book."

"I know. " He says with a smile. "See you around Amelia." He mumbles, walking off down the hallway just as the tardy bell rings.