Cope

Chapter 3

     Shina sees her homeroom and is about to make it to the door. As she walked into the room, the bell rings. The teacher, a man in formal dress who looked like he should've retired by now, looked over his shoulder and scoffed mumbling inaudibly. But, Shina could tell he was displeased. She quickly sat between two girls. The girls glance at her for half-a-minute.

      "What are you looking at me for?" Shina snapped. The girls smirked at each other and resumed their own business. "I'm not that interesting..."

      "Good morning, boys and girls," the teacher said with authority. "I'll be your teacher for this year. My name is Mr. Rooker. I hope that I'll be able inspire you all to expand your learning about algebra. And I want to hear no complaining because you frankly have no choice but to stick with me." Don't you have a high opinion of yourself, Shina rolled her eyes. "I couldn't help but notice that someone, meaning you, girl, was late today," Mr. Rooker said pointing at Shina. "See me after class today." The other students looked in her direction. Shina could feel her blood rush to her face.

      "My name is Shina," she retorted. "I'm sorry that I'm late. It won't-"

      "Sorry is not good enough, Shina," Mr. Rooker growled. "I am no longer tolerating tardiness from anyone. See me after class. No excuses." Some other students laughed. Shina wished that she could just disappear. Forever.

      After class, Shina went to Mr. Rooker's desk. Mr. Rooker gave Shina the option of either taking the tardy or doing an extra page of homework tonight as forgiveness. Shina decided to do the extra page of homework rather than make Cathy throw a fit over one tardy on the first day. Shina then made her way to her next class; Biology 101 in the 100 wing.

      "Some teachers need to learn that teaching isn't a king and subject sort of relationship," Shina said resentfully to herself. Then, Shina could not help but feel that she was being followed. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the two girls she sat between.

      One of them was slightly taller than Shina. She wore a sky blue dress that ended at her knees and white high heels. Her hair was long, flowing, and blonde complimenting her emerald green eyes and rich, peach colored complexion.

      Her friend was about Shina's height. She was wearing clothes fitting for gym class with red gym shorts, a black t-shirt, and red-and-black tennis shoes. Her hair was messy and black, her eyes were mahogany brown, and her toned form was tan.

     Shina tried to walk faster, but the girls caught up when the athletic one grabbed her shoulder.

      "What's the rush?" she asked. "We don't bite."

      "I'm sorry, but I really need to go to my next class," Shina said feeling very uncomfortable in this situation.

      "Well, what class is it?" the blonde girl inquired.

      "Biology 101 in room 104," Shina replied anxiously.

      "It's on the way to our class," the blonde girl said faking surprise. "We'll escort you." The girls lock arms with Shina practically dragging her along like a kid with its doll. "Let me introduce ourselves: my name is Dinah and my friend here is Roxanne."

      "Nice to meet you," Roxanne smiled fakely.

      "Your name is Shina, correct?" Dinah resumed.

      "Yeah, what about it?" Shina said defensively.

      "Oh, it's just an... interesting name," Dinah replied. The trio were coming upon Shina's classroom. However, they walked past.

      "My classroom is back there!" Shina piped up.

      "Don't change the subject," Roxanne ordered. "Anyway, is that name Asian or something?"

      "It's Japanese," Shina corrected. "What does it matter to you?"

      "Aren't Asian people sex traffickers?" Dinah asked. Shina feels her face flush.

      "Yeah, I heard that there's sex trafficking going on in Japan or something," Roxanne added. "Are you in on that or something? Trying to kidnap others for that?"

      "NO! Not all Asian people are like that!" Shina shouts enraged. Shina then thrusted her elbow into Roxanne's stomach and yanked her arm out of Dinah's grasp. Shina runs faster than she's ever run before.

      "Go back to your country!!" Dinah yells spitefully. Shina's eyes began to erupt into waterworks like an erupting dam as she sobs. The girls laughed callously as they echoed in her mind. Shina finds a bathroom and bursts into it. She occupied a small stall. She placed her hands to her face not able to control her cries.

      "Fuck you! Fuck you!" Shina screamed impulsively. Shina planted herself onto the toilet seat placing hugging her knees tightly.

      Shina remained in the stall listening to the other girls come and go. Someone tried to pull the door open. Shina did not relinquish her safe space. There was a knock on the door.

      "Go away!" Shina ordered coldly.

      "Come on, I really need to pee!" a familiar voice responded. Shina's head perked up. This wasn't the voice of those bitches from earlier. Shina opens the door and sees... Nancy! "Shina, what happened to your face?" Nancy asked concerned noticing Shina's bright, red and tear-stained face.

      "I-I'm fine," Shina replied covering her face in ashamedly.

      "Shina, you can tell me what's wrong! You don't need to feel bad!" Nancy reassured putting her hand on Shina's shoulder.

      "I said I'm fine!" Shina brushed past Nancy almost knocking her to the floor. Shina opened the door and bumped into a security guard.

      "Why aren't you in class?" the guard said authoritatively. Shina scrambles to her feet.

      "Sir, there were these girls who carried me around saying horrible racist things to me," Shina answered as the pain returned.

      "That's no excuse to skip class!" the guard scowled. The guard grabbed her forearm and dragged her with him.

     "Where are you taking me?" Shina asked panicked.

      "Be quiet. You're visiting the principal's office," the guard ordered.