One of the Bullied | ✔

Chapter 17 - Malls = Disaster

I sort through the clothes methodically, unimpressed so far at what I'm finding. It's okay, but there's nothing I actually want to wear. I sigh. Why did I let my mother do this to me? This mall is probably full of people from school whom I don't want to see.

Maybe even Caitlyn and Luke and co. And Rita. Fucking Rita.

I finally find a top which I quite like, and I even consider trying it on. But before I can do anything, my phone goes off with a text. Okay. I haven't made up with Rita. But we did text late last night. Also, I'm going to start referring to Rita as a guy, because it most definitely is one.

Rita Tory ~ 12:34

Okay, get out of the mall now.

I glance around confusedly. What?

Rita Tory ~ 12:35

Zoe, I said get out. Or hide. They're in front of you. In the Starbucks.

I glance up to see the Three standing in queue at the Starbucks opposite. They're all on their phones. I ditch the top and try to mix with the crowd as I leave.

Once I'm out of sight, I take a few steps back, leaning around the corner to check on them. Is it one of them? I mean, this mall is probably full of people from school right now, but the shop I was in wasn't huge, and it wasn't that easy to see me.

My heart almost stops when Caleb looks up, makes direct eye contact with me. Expecting him to nudge Luke or Seth and point at me, I take a step back. When I emerge again, he's looking at his phone again, no sign of him having told the others.

Wait. So it's him? Why otherwise would he do that?

Great. Rita is Caleb. And it's not a prank. I sigh. So what happened? He saw me in a swimsuit someday and realised I was not fat and ugly and covered in pimples like they expect me to be? Ugh. I hate my life sometimes.

But- No, crap. I said yesterday that Rita was Nate. And it is Nate, otherwise why would he have let me go like that? Not only did he save me from a major beating, he didn't lay a hand on me himself.

Caleb probably just didn't realise it was me. I look down at myself. I'm wearing glasses, some jeans and a blue t-shirt. Pretty regular, for me. Yeah, he definitely saw me.

Taking out my phone, I type in a quick text to Rita.

Rita Tory ~ 12:41

Okay, thank you for saving my ass. Is this Caleb?

I wait, and I wait, but Rita doesn't answer.

¬

I wish I had someone to talk about my discoveries. Someone who wasn't Rita. A certain someone. Wearing a polo and with messy hair. A certain French someone.

I decide to call him, but I can't find the strength or courage in me to press the call button. He's probably with Caitlyn right now. My hand slips and I press it.

"Shit." I mutter. He answers before I can hang up.

"Zoe?" He asks. "Oh my gosh, you're okay."

"What makes you think I'm not?" I snap.

"I just left you."

"It's fine, you've moved on. I get it."

"No, Zoe, it was a mistake!"

I sit down, crossing my legs and leaning forward. "So tell me, Jean, how does one make out with the popular girl by mistake?"