the pretty ugly - harry styles

f i v e

I SLAM MY locker unintentionally. Monday mornings were what I dreaded the most.

For someone like me, school was almost to the point of unbearable. Having to deal with the nightmares that come with being a teenager and the horrors that come from school, it's difficult. Hell, being sixteen is hard. Especially when you're ugly and lack decent social skills; someone like yours truly.

"Those jeans aren't doing you any favors." The snickering from Libby and her friends echo in my ears. It wasn't a typical Monday morning without Libby's rude interjections.

This was the first time I was seeing her since the unspoken party. I'm trying to block out its memory slowly, day by day. But so far, it hasn't been so easy.

"I didn't know the Gap sold jeans to high school virgins?" Libby's smirk stretches ear to ear. Her friends follow in her lead as she walks close to my locker, unafraid to speak her mind.

"Can you just quit it already? You had your fun at the party." It was almost as if I was reliving that night.

"Not enough fun," her grin was filled with satisfaction.

"Why don't you just get out of here and go binge in the toilets." Suddenly, Annie was standing over my shoulder. She didn't hesitate when it came to Libby. Only when she's drunk, that is.

"And why don't you go stuff your bra with some more tissues? Clearly you're not fooling anyone." Libby's brown eyes peered Annie's down.

"Funny," Annie responds.

By some miracle, Libby and her henchmen begin walking in the opposite direction. I can't help but watch her as she struts away, simply unbothered by anyone. What I would do for a pretty face and popularity.

"Syd, what is going on? What is with Libby attacking you so much, lately?"

I didn't have an answer. If this is God's way of telling me something, he's doing a poor job, because frankly, I have no idea why Libby's been so on my case.

"I-I don't know." I leaned up against my locker while rubbing my arm up an down. A nervous habit of mine.

"Well it's pretty clear she wants to ruin your life."

"Thank you for that," I sarcastically respond. Annie has her ways with blatantly speaking her mind.

"I'm just saying, that girl is not playing around. She's got some agenda."

"Well whatever her agenda might be, I'm gonna try and stay out of her way as much as possible." Trying to keep my distance from Libby was the best thing I could do for myself.

"Good luck with that. This girl has had it out for you since the sixth grade and nothing's stopped her since."

"I've got other people to worry about." It was true. Not just Libby, but I have my parents to think about, my brother, and Nathan.

"Ohhh, like that kid from the party?" And I guess Harry too.

Once Annie was sober Sunday morning, I had told her the bare minimum. Trying not to create post traumatic stress for myself, I told her that a boy had been teasing me at the party before she stumbled onto the lawn. Less is more with Annie.

Anything I tell her that has to do with me and boy, she can't let it go.

Boy's are practically foreign to me, so whenever she hears a story that involves me and the opposite sex, it's almost headline news in her world.

"I'm trying not to worry about him. He's nothing." Something in my gut told me he was going to be more than nothing.

"How can you not worry about that? What if you run into this guy, he'll probably brother you again!" Annie had been lacking on encouragement.