Lilly In The Storm

Chapter Six

       It's been about a week since Jezz has started coming with me to school. Jezz has proven to be a great addition to my school day since she accompanies me when I need quiet time but she is still accepting of me spending time with my other friends. Lately people have been picking on me for hanging out with Jezz, they think it's weird. This kid Jay always teases me, he tells me to stop talking to myself as Mom and Dad do. He always pretends to not see Jezz, how could someone be so disrespectful to a new student? Sometimes, it feels the same as when kids would pick on me at my old school, but this time I have friends to help me through the teasing that Jay and his friends commence every day.

       I am in class when Jay approaches then begins to taunt me as he does on the daily. He makes fun of me for hanging out with Jezz again, his friends join in on his act as well. They joke by pretending there is someone next to them and talking in a baby voice, insinuating that my talking to Jezz is immature for my age. As they continue their fun I begin to feel tears coming down from my eyes. I cover my face as the tears become more rapid. Everyone in the class notice the incident then I hear giggling echoing from throughout the room. I run out of the classroom and into the bathroom where I see Jezz. I usually don't see her during class because she usually just meets me at recess. But I'm glad she's here now that something has happened.

       She frowns as she brings her hand to my eyes and wipes my tears away. She sighs then pats me on the shoulder. "Are you okay?" She asks.

       I sniffle. "I guess so, Jay is being mean again. He says I'm weird. I thought the point of starting a new school was to start over, but I'm just in an endless loop of bullies."

       She pulls me into a hug as a bury my tear-filled face into her shoulder. "Why are they so mean?" I yell. "They're merciless!"

       She gives me a reassuring pat as I continue to cling to her. "It's okay, you don't need them. You have me and I will never turn on you."

       "Yeah and I have my friends."

       "I don't know, I heard them laughing when you left." She sighs. "Are you sure they're your real friends?" She asks.

       "I mean, yeah? They're always nice to me."

       "Well, all I'm saying is to be careful. Jay was nice at the beginning of the year, remember? You were dumb enough to trust him, why are you repeating that with these new kids?"

       Jay was nothing but an angel when I first met him. Suddenly out of nowhere he began to be mean to me and call me names, Jezz is right. What if it's the same way with Hannah, Fiona, Gracie, and Gabe? I try to change my train of thought and keep the negativity out, but somehow it still lingers there as I walk back to the classroom. All I can hear is Jezz's voice, she tells me I'm an idiot for attempting to have friends, she says there's no point of even trying. Her voice follows me as I walk to class, it won't stop. Its accompanied by Zero's voice echoing in my head, they tell me the same things, they talk over each other. I can only make out small parts, you're stupid, don't bother talking, you think they really like you Lilly? They're faking. I cover my ears and run, attempting to rid of these comments. I slow down as I approach the classroom, the voices stop. It's over.

       When I return to the table Hannah and Gabe have our flower pots and are dripping the food coloring into the water. Hannah sees me sit and smiles. "Hey Lilly, do you wanna pour the water?" She asks happily picking up the cup and showing it to me. "Gabe and I already did parts so I thought you'd like to do this part."

       I smile at her, attempting to ignore my doubts of her friendship. It is nice of her to offer this part to me, I know she likes to water the plants as much as I do and she cares about me enough to give it to me. I take the cup from her. "Sure, I'll do it."