To Shatter A Million Folds

Chapter 1

“Did you all feel that?” I heard my ex-best friend, Dylan say as he leant onto the corner of his table, “I feel something icky and gross. Weird, it wasn’t here a while ago morning.” I don’t need to ask the people near me what he is referring to. I know perfectly well who he’s pertaining to – me.

With a defeated sigh, I struggled to push past them, but their constant bickers and snickers have driven me mad. “Aw, where are you going?” his buddy, Alec smirked as he blocked my way.

“Let me pass,” I whispered as I pressed my books closer to my chest. I can feel myself panicking as the moments tick by.

“Why?” Dylan taunted. “Are you going to sob in the corner again?”

I never sobbed in the corner. That’s one big bluff he made up, but will people actually believe me if I’ll tell them that? They wouldn’t even let me reason out my own side of the story. They would always side with Dylan. Dylan this and Dylan that.

“No,” I croaked, “just let me pass, please Dylan.” I wasn’t in the mood to argue back – I was never in the mood to even bother speaking up. I have kept my mouth shut for such long years, and I would prefer to let it stay that way.

Dylan wasn’t always the jerk I know. Before, he was the sweetest kid in the block. Everyone likes him. Girls would swoon over him – up until now actually with his bad boy reputation. Boys would always want to be him. As for me – I was proud, with my head held high that I was his best friend. I was proud enough to say it to everybody that he chose me over all the people.

But, where have those times gone by now? It’s gone – poof! It was extinct from the moment we stepped foot in middle school. That’s where everything turned around.

The bell rang, and that was enough for me to heave out a breath of relief. “Thank you,” I muttered under my breath, but Dylan was quick to catch on as he gave me a low smirk.

“You’re welcome,” he muttered before he ‘accidentally’ elbowed my books. I gasp in surprise as it all collapse on the tiled floor, making that big echo sound around the classroom.

My cheeks have stained red as I looked from every corner of the room. All pairs of eyes were set on me, including our Math teacher, Mrs. Gonzales. “Gabriella Moore, are you alright?” Mrs. Gonzales asked as she stepped two feet forward.

“I-I’m alright,” I stammered as I stoop low and picked them all up, but not before hearing the snickers of Dylan and his popular gang.

I felt my heart quench as I drew in a shaky breath. “Mrs. Gonzales?” I heard Dylan asked. “I think Gabriella can’t move. I think she has cramps now. Have you eaten way too much a while ago?” he directed his question to me.

I didn’t answer him. He was worse today than any other day he used to torture me. I quickly steadied myself and stalked off to my chair which was situated to the farthest left corner. I was alone, isolated, and that’s good enough for me rather than to sit with him or his friends.

“Is that true, Gabriella?”

“No,” I shook my head and avoided eye contacts.

“Well, then,” Mrs. Gonzales sighs, “Dylan, settle down now. Classes are about to begin.”

I noticed Dylan nodding his head. He turned back and faces forward much to my relief. I slump back to my chair and closed my eyes, enjoying the silence that brings. I wanted this day to be over quick! This isn’t something I would want to happen again.

Spitballs were fired at me, and I know that even if I duck and cover, I know that one of them is Dylan. He was my worst nightmare in this high school life. And I just couldn’t wait for college to finally kick in so that I could finally be free from his wrath.

*

“So, I’m telling you Gabby,” Mr. Hale, the librarian said as he stamped dates to the newly bought books, “this tutorial will help more students to pass college. Would you like to give it a try? It’s not a big deal actually. You would only meet one and a half hours after school. You’re one of the bright students here, why don’t you give it a go?”

I chuckled nervously as I looked at the signing sheet being held by him. Sure enough, my name was printed on it with bold, capital letters.

GABRIELLA B MOORE.

Escaping wasn’t a win-win solution for me. “Sure,” I breathed, “I’d take a whack at it.” I signed my signature before I clumsily place it back on top of Eleanor and Park novel. I’ve read that book over and over again, and it was beautiful. It had me tear up at the end.

“That’s great!” Mr. Hale exclaimed as he stood up and gave me a reassuring one-arm hug. “You’ll be meeting your ‘student’ later after dismissal.”

“Will the venue always be here?” I asked him.

“No, it actually depends on you two now. It can be here, your house, his or her house, or somewhere.” He shrugs. “This is great, Gab!”

“What will I be teaching him?” I asked. I don’t think I would like to try if I have to teach this person every single thing.

“The lowest subject he or she got.”

“Oh,”

“Are you okay? You don’t sound too enthusiastic. Is it Dylan again?” he asked with raised eyebrow. It was a good thing he had kept his volume hushed. There were three or four students inside the library and I know that two of them are girls and are hopelessly in love with Dylan. “What did he do this time again?”

“He was just…” I fumbled my arms as I tried to think of a perfect word to describe him, “he is more of a delinquent now than ever.”

“Ah,” he shook his head in disbelief, “that boy.

Mr. Hale knows everything about Dylan. I told him once when Dylan pushed me in the hallways and gave me a sprained ankle. The worst thing was, he didn’t bother helping me up or having just a tiny bit of regret in his eyes. Instead, he was laughing his ass off at me along with his ‘new’ friends.

“So, how will I know who I will be tutoring?” I asked him as I secured my bag over my left shoulder.

“Well, he or she will be here right about –”

“Sorry, I’m late,” I heard a voice from behind me as his ragged breathing gets louder and louder.

My eyes widened and my heart beats fast. No, no way! What the heck? I slowly turned around, my face full of disdain as I saw – not six inches away from me – with a smirk plastered on his face was none other than Dylan O’ Brien himself.

Someone has to shoot me now or else I would have to do it myself.