Safe?

Chapter 9

“She’s out of my league, Anderson… “ Alex replied.

I made a face.

“Out of your league? You’re kidding, right?” I exclaimed. “You’re the freaking captain of the school basketball team, Alex! Girls must stop everything they’re doing when you walk past them…” I shook my head slowly. “There’s something really weird going on in this school…” I thought out loud.

Alex was still speechless from my outburst.

“What do you mean?” Barbie asked.

“I don’t know… It’s like everything is upside down… Fat bullies rule while good-looking people are insecure…” I paused. “Did that even mean anything?” I sighed. “Anyway, Bestie.” I bumped my shoulder into Alex’s. “At what time shall I be back from my run to go to this awesome diner with you?”

He smiled.

“Five?” We both stood up.

I looked toward Giant and Barbie Meanie.

Her nickname sounded too harsh now that I had talked to her.

“Do you have a motorbike?” I asked her.

She burst out laughing.

“Why would you ask me that?” She exclaimed. “You’re not trying to become my friend or something, are you?”

“Hmm… To be honest, you kind of scare me, so no. But, you see, I tend to give nicknames to people and the one I chose for you before lunch no longer fits you, so I’m trying to find a new one…”

I knew I was rambling but I wanted to deflect the heaviness of everything that had happened over lunch.

Giant was grinning.

“Mind telling me what this nickname was?” She asked suspiciously, so I instinctively took a step back.

I could hear Alex laughing behind me.

“Barbie Meanie…” I said in a small voice.

Just when I thought my life was over, Giant burst out of laughing and I mean a real, loud laughter.

It was as if the whole hall had frozen.

All the students were now staring at Giant who, totally oblivious, was almost in tears.

“I don’t know what’s worse…” She was too calm so I took another step back. “To know that you called me Meanie, or to be associated with a fucking Barbie doll… “

“Just so you know, I don’t think you actually look like a doll… You’re actually…”

“Do us all a favor and shut the hell up, girly!” She cut me off.

I gulped loudly.

Meanwhile Giant couldn’t stop laughing which seemed to aggravate Barbie’s mood.

She slapped him on the arm playfully.

“Aren’t you going to defend me, Jay?” She said in a weird, pissed off and yet trying to be sexy voice which ended up sounding like a shrieking cat.

The thought made me chuckle which was definitely not the best move. Now Jay and Alex were in hysterics and the poor girl was doing her best to keep her composure.

Right now, you’re the meanie, Lily, so do something to make things right.

“Ok, ok guys, enough!” I said seriously. “Listen, I’m the one to blame, here. Nicknaming people is a stupid habit of mine… I call Barbies all of Giant’s friends and it is in fact a compliment as Giant tends to like gorgeous-looking girls… “I paused. “You looked at me angrily earlier so…”