From Lonely to Loved

Chapter 8

Sarah

I didn't see Jack again that weekend, apparently, his family went north for the weekend to get him away from the bullies. He must not have told his parents about me...

As I walked into my first class of the week, the one Jack's not in, I noticed people staring at me. What's happening? Is this the repercussion for being Jacks friend? If so, I don't care. He's my friend and that's that. Even so, the looks are daggers, right through me. The same girl that gave me the letter before, Vicki, was sitting on my desk, with a clear vile look on her face. I knew she was waiting for me, so the best I could do was prepare myself for the oncoming torment. I plastered a smile on my face, hoping it was enough to fool her. 'Hi Sarah,' she spat my name.

'Hi Vicki.' I just kept smiling, knowing it would rile her up. It clearly worked. She had a look of anger that could kill.

'How's hanging around with that dork, Jack? I bet you're getting tired of being his friends. Too bad you chose him. You could have been in with a group of people that actually mattered, that actually achieve things.'

That pissed me off. That was harsh. 'What do you achieve Vicki? How to hurt people?'

'Only certain people.' What do I say to that? She kept at it 'in fact, you and Jack are the only people I hurt. But you made the choice to be hurt yourself, by being friends with that weirdo.'

'He's better than any guy you could get.' That worked. I gave her a smirk to further the hit.

'Go to hell, Sarah! You bitch!' With that, she stomped out of the room to her class. I wish Jack was that capable, able to fend off the bullies? If he could, then maybe he wouldn't be afraid of them anymore. And so class begun. It was an English lesson and we were doing Romeo and Juliet. My class was watching the movie. We were up to the all-famous balcony scene where Romeo appears out of Juliet's garden and talks to her. I couldn't help my mind straying to a fantasy where Jack was Romeo and I was Juliet. The garden scene, and the love. Such a beautiful love. But then I came to and remembered that Jack wasn't that confident and that he wouldn't show me love for a long time coming.

*************

Once the bell rang out I was excited, for seeing Jack again. He knew where to meet. I'd texted him earlier. The lunch area quickly filled with people, the different groups going in different directions. Walking closer to our spot, I started to hear hushed whispers directed at me. 'Dorks' best friend.'

'She's a dork because she's friends with that weirdo.' I turned and glared at the person who said it.

'You know what? You're all just total dickheads for treating him so horribly! You should all just screw off and grow up!' With that I ran off, angry tears streaming down my face. I practically threw myself into Jack. 'Jack!'

'Yeah Sarah?'

'They're all assholes! Every one of them. You don't deserve what they give you. You don't deserve all of their words. They don't deserve to know you!

'Sarah, calm down. It's something I've come to live with. It's not going to change anytime soon. It's who I am to them.'

'But doesn't it piss you off, Jack? Hearing them laugh at you like they are now?'

'No, Sarah. I don't get angry. It hurts me. But I try to tune it out. Look, just calm down. I've come to terms with the fact that they treat me so badly. And if it gets too far I'll do what I've always done.'

'What's that?'

'I'll take a day or two off to let things cool down. Their words burn through me, Sarah. Like there's a hole in me. I take days off every now and then to stop the pain.' I explained.

'But when you're gone they'll just go after me.' She pointed out.

'Sarah, I don't know what to say to that. I'm sorry.' I started to feel really bad at that and fell to my knees.

'Oh, Jack. It's okay. I'll be okay. Just because I don't know how to cope with it doesn't mean I won't be able to. I have a bit of a fighting spirit in me. I'll take as many of them on as I can.'

'Sarah... It will be hard. They're all pretty fast and painful.'

'I'm sure, Jack.' She seems so sure. She's going to get hurt. I know it. She knows it. But I can't talk her out of it. No matter how hard I try. She won't budge. 'Jack?' she said.

'Yeah, Sarah?'

'Thank you for being my friend.'

'No Sarah. Thank you for being mine.'

The End