Merely Existing

Chapter 5: Her Hope

Cassandra Jeffreye's POV

"Hey, look. There's that fat white pig again."

"Nah, that's more of a cow."

"Hahahahaha....look at the loser, all alone as usual."

"Of course, I wouldn't want to touch that fat even with a ten feet pole!"

These were the taunts that I deal with everyday. So much that I've become numb to it. There was a time I would cry myself to sleep over it, I would go on diets, exercise and even hired a trainer, but even those small accomplishments meant nothing when you don't have anyone appreciating it. Once, I was driven to the point where I thought of taking surgery, after all the Jeffreye's are not by any means poor. But my parents indifferent and slightly unsupportive attitudes put me off.

Moreover, having two supermodel worthy sisters at home didn't help my inferior complex. Having a mother that indirectly compares my sisters with me did not help it either. Thus I spent a great half of my life with zero confidence and developed a passive personality.

Sure the world isn't as cruel as I make out it is, there are a few genuinely nice people who aren't judgemental out there. But that's about it, they sympathise, they console, they encourage. All out of pity that is. That's why I tend to fear these type of people more than the bullies. I just can't stand to see their understanding smiles, it's the scariest thing on earth.

My whole life was starting to look like a endless cycle of this same procedure. Sure, it was a new term, new class, new teacher, but I knew as long as I'm in the same prestigious Crosswell High, with the same snobby students, I won't be able to start anew. That's when I met her. A girl I can't even classify into the two great groups of bullies and nice people.

She just popped out of nowhere when I was sitting as usual in the far corner where no one would come close in fear of being a social outcast. So you can imagine my astonishment of finding someone there, I even made an embarrassing sound, more like a squeal due to the suddenness. Maybe the embarrassment got into my head, but for the first time in my life I voluntarily introduced myself to someone. More like accidentally introduced myself since I don't even know where I got the courage to. I'm a shy person, not by choice either.

Immediately after I became so nervous, after all just because she sat next to me doesn't mean she likes me. In fact I was mentally preparing myself for some snide remark or insult. All my pathetic thoughts were knocked out by the most beautiful voice, in my opinion that is. The quietness, simplicity and chilly tone, absolutely my ideal. I think I was more stunned by her voice rather than the fact she actually replied in a civil manner. She turned away soon after, showing complete disinterest in me. But then I suddenly realised what she said, her name is Blacky Henderson, as in the richest folks in the world.

Curiosity made me talk more, it was the first time I had spoken so long to someone other than my family. In reply to my inquisition, she even told me that she was adopted. But then she lapsed back into silence while ignoring me in the proses. For some reason that caused me to be more intrigued by her.

I kept staring, trying to get a good look of her face, but the damn hoodie was getting in the way. I didn't even realise how long I stared, before I knew it I was in an humiliating situation again where Annie Edwards my bully no.1 was bad-mouthing me in front of a completely gorgeous teacher.

Somebody shoot me now.

For the first time in my life ( I seem to be having a lot of 'firsts' of my life that day), someone actually voiced up for me, though I hardly doubt it was really 'for me', though I have only known Blacky for a few minutes, I could tell that wasn't in her nature to.