Murder at School

Bullied

On Thursday, when I got to school, Tazmin and Saffron were picking on poor Brooklyn again. This time I yelled at them. "Why are you picking on Brooklyn? Because she's new? What has she ever done to you? Or do you just want power over her?"
"Shut up, Christmas. You don't control us," Tazmin hissed. "Besides, at least we can speak properly, unlike the new girl."
"She has a name, you know-and besides. I think she speaks perfectly. I bet you're just jealous that you don't have her awesome American accent, huh?" I folded my arms across my chest and glared at her until she rolled her eyes and looked away.
"Well, Christmas, you may think you're helping her, but really you're the reason why she won't last at this school. You keep protecting her, so she won't be able to stand up for herself. You won't always be there to save her."
"Sorry, but there's a flaw in your logic, Saffron," I retorted. "By which, I mean there won't always be bullies like you interfering in her life. Therefore, she won't have anyone trying to pull her down. So really, I think you're the one who needs to change. You won't always be able to force people to bow down to you."
She simply snarled and stomped away. "Whatever," she mumbled.
Meanwhile, I went over to sit with Brooklyn, who had her head down, facing the table.
"Thanks again," she half-whispered. I genuinely felt so sorry for her.
"No worries, why don't you stand up for yourself? Like, seriously. They have nothing over you." She shrugged, yet remained silent.
How can I cheer her up? I wondered, before changing the subject.
"Brooklyn," I began, as she turned her head and looked up. "Do you want to sit with me and some of my friends on the field at lunch? We can just chill out for a bit, away from those two." She smiled and nodded.
Suddenly, Emerald came over and asked if Brooklyn was alright. "I know exactly how you feel, really. I'm so sorry that they're putting you through this. I guarantee they're satan in disguise," she smiled at Brooklyn; her emerald green eyes sparkling. Then she noticed Tazmin glaring at her, and rushed off.
At lunch, after the introductions, we discussed Brooklyn's problem and tried come up with some solutions.
"You're being bullied?" May gasped with one hand over her mouth, horrified that anyone could be so mean.
"Why don't you stand up for yourself?" April asked, acting much tougher than she really is.
"Or tell the teacher," Melody added. "If they already hate you for whatever reason, why don't you both give them a half-decent reason too, and solve the issue in one go?"
"I was bullied at my other school. I tried everything. But they were relentless! I appreciate your suggestions but they won't work." She sighed. Then Hartness finally piped up.
"Why don't you go to the library every morning? Christmas can come collect you so you won't be alone with them as much."
"Yeah," Alexander agreed. "And if they come looking for you, they can't raise their voices, and Miss Lauren-the librarian-is really nice and you can chat to her, too."
Brooklyn's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Yeah, that's a great idea! Thank you all." I grinned at her. Finally, things were looking up!
"By the way, Brooklyn, I'm going to Art club on Monday, would you like to come? I've been for the past three years, and I must say it gets better each time!"
"Sure, so long as the two bullies aren't going to be there."
"They've never been before, so I don't believe they will be."
Then the bell rang, so we headed back to form.
The next day, I met Brooklyn in the library, as planned, and we made our way to form. Upon our arrival, Tazmin sauntered over to us and whispered something, harshly, in Brooklyn's ear. When she'd left, I enquired about what she'd said.
"She said I'm a wimp, and a coward for not coming straight to form," she replied, her expression full of hurt and sadness. I felt anger arising in me: she didn't deserve this at all.
"Don't listen to them," I soothed. "They're just annoyed that they don't have anyone to wind up to make them seem powerful. Or that you outsmarted them by keeping your distance from them. Either way..."
First period was tutor group, so Brooklyn was one hundred percent safe but unfortunately straight after we had DT...and she had Chinese. I wished her tons of luck when we split up, but it didn't help to any extent.
When we met up on the field, in our usual space, Brooklyn seemed close to tears.
"Oh no," Hartness stated as she caught sight of her, half running half stumbling over to us.
May looked horrified. "Brooklyn, what happened?" she cried, comforting her as she sat down.
"What have those bitches done to you?" I asked, firmly, my eyes wide with revenge in mind.
"N-n-nothing," she stammered between loud sobs.
"Of course they did something. Just look at the state you're in!" I exclaimed, my hand gesturing towards her.
"W-well in Ch-Chinese, t-the boy next to me st-started talking to m-me. He was j-just being friendly s-so I spoke back to h-him. After t-the lesson they cornered me a-and told me not to talk to him ever again or else t-they'd report m-me as being a b-bully and m-make sure I'd get suspended." She totally lost it and started weeping. Why can't she speak to this guy?
"A-and then, when I asked w-why, they simply said it was none of my business 'you irrelevant foreigner'."
"Don't you listen to them," concluded May. "They can't speak to you like that."
"She's right. You can't give into them," Hartness agreed.
"Yeah," Ivy nodded. "Their opinion is irrelevant to your life; you have good friends that like you for who you are, good grades and a good family. At the end of the day, they just want to break your spirit, so don't let them."
We all nodded at each other. No way were we going to let Tazmin and Saffron have their way. No matter what we had to do to stop their little game...