Death of the Perfect Girl

10- The Hypocrites

"I'm telling you," Jenna whispered to Poppy and Liam," he's seducing her."

Liam shook his head and bit into his cheese burger. "I think you're exaggerating the situation. Are you sure you're not just bias?"

"I'm not bias, Liam. I know what I'm seeing."

Poppy ignored them and stared at her phone.

"Poppy, back me up here."

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I think you're reaching, Jen. Think about it. When, in real life, have you heard about successful student teacher relationships?"

"If they're successful then we wouldn't hear about them."

Poppy looked at Liam.

He had already given up.

"Sadie has little to no decorum. If she could boast about hitching her twenty -five year old teacher on her YouTube channel then she'll do it. Anything to get views."

"Hey guys," Fisher sat beside Liam.

Poppy froze then she stared down at her phone. Her hands were trembling. She quickly tucked them under the table, shoving her phone in her pocket.

"What are you guys talking about?"

They all looked at each other.

Jenna suddenly leaned across the table. "Answer this-"

Liam and Poppy groaned.

"There's this student and this teacher, right?"

Fisher nodded. "Okay."

"And the student is usually snobby and mean, right? She's stuck up and always yapping her mouth off. Then when she's in this teacher's class, she gets quiet and defensive of him and she seems vulnerable. She shakes when she's around him and has trouble forming words. Do you think she has a thing with the teacher?"

Poppy looked at Fisher. Jenna had described everything she felt.

He shrugged then he chuckled. "Is this a riddle?"

"Maybe she likes him," Poppy looked at Jenna. "That doesn't mean they're doing anything. From what I know, Mr. Pearce is a respectful guy. That's why he's got this job-"

"Wait," Fisher raised his brows. "Mr. Pearce? Do you think someone is with Mr. Pearce?"

"Shhh," Jenna quickly covered his mouth with her hand. "Be quiet."

Liam titled his head with a peeved look. "Don't do that."

"Don't do what?" Jenna uncovered Fisher's mouth.

"Cover his mouth and tell him to be quiet. You literally throw a fit when a little boy tells you that you're too loud.  It's not fair."

"It wasn't fair when men did it to women. It's our turn now."

Poppy looked at her. "You really shouldn't do that. If it makes you mad when people do it, please don't do it to them."

Jenna looked at Fisher. "Did what I did offended you in any way?"

Fisher shrugged. "If I could've done it back...I probably wouldn't care."

Jenna dramatically dropped her jaw. She stood up and grabbed her tray. "I think I'll go eat somewhere else."

They all ignored her.

She marched away.

Poppy stared at her food then she smirked, then smiled, then began to giggle uncontrollably.

Liam smiled. "What's so funny?"

"She's so over dramatic," Poppy covered her mouth and tried to stop herself from laughing.

Fisher stared at her in amusement then he chuckled.

Poppy began to cry from laughter.

"You're crying?" Fisher furrowed his brows.

"I'm so sorry," Poppy fanned her eyes and looked at the ceiling, then she started laughing again.

Liam suddenly joined in. "You're an idiot."

"She said...," Poppy laughed in between breaths," she said it was our turn."

Fisher shook his head. "Why do you guys hang out with her?"

Liam sighed. "Because she does," he pointed at Poppy

Poppy wiped under her eyes. "Sympathy, I guess."

"Why do you feel sorry for her?" Fisher shrugged. "She obviously doesn't feel sorry for herself."

"Because no one likes her. She's standing up for what she believes in, even though it's stupid. I would want someone to care about me and set aside our differences."

"But that isn't what she's doing for you. She sees a problem whenever someone tries to correct or help her. You tolerate her while she thinks it's the other way around. She clearly hates men because we can't speak a word without her flipping out. You're honestly torturing yourself by being her friend."

Poppy and Liam stared at Fisher. He was visibly upset.

"I'm sorry," he shook his head," but you guys are hypocrites."

"If we're hypocrites," Liam snapped, "then leave."

"Liam," Poppy sighed.

"No. He can't try to befriend people then call them hypocrites."

"At least I'm not saying it behind your backs," Fisher stood up.

"Fisher," Poppy frowned," you don't have to go."

"No. I do. You were the ones who befriended me, not the other way around. Besides, I wouldn't want to hang out with people who pity me and then talk about it behind my back anyway." He grabbed his tray and walked away.

"I honestly don't know what you see in him," Liam shook his head.

Poppy zipped up her lunch bag. "He was right," she mumbled.

"What?"

"He was right," she shot a look at Liam. "We're bad people. We should at least tell Jen how we feel. I pity them and you put up with them for me. It needs to stop." She stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"To find Fisher and apologize."