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~ Three years ago ~
I keep my head down, trying to avoid eye contact with my tormentors, I hunch over eating my tuna sandwich, trying to become invisible.
"What's for lunch today, Mannie Annie?" Reggie says plopping down at my cafeteria table, grabbing my lunch box, Chuck sits down beside him too.
I try and reach for my lunchbox but Reggie pulls it back with a smirk, he takes out my juice box, poking the straw in drinking it.
"Why can't you guys just leave me alone?"
"Why can't you guys just leave me alone?" Chuck mocks, knocking the sandwich out of my hand.
Reggie laughs, high giving Chuck triumphantly. Why the insisted on bullying me everyday, was beyond me. I had never did anything to either of them!
I go to reach for my lunchbox again, but Reggie pulls it back once more, stealing the glasses off my face.
I try and reach for them, but it's too blurry, I do hear him feel him rise from the table and I stand up as well, attempting to walk over to him.
"Dude throw them in the trash!" Chuck suggest from beside Reggie.
"Give em back!" I shout reaching for where I think Reggie is, Reggie just pushes me back lightly. I felt useless, Why was no one willing to help me?
"Hope you like spaghetti!" Reggie laughs, throwing my glasses in the trash.
I cry as I reach my hand in the trash can, searching through piles of milk and spaghetti noodles, I try not to throw up from the stench.
"Guys, Mannie Annie is digging in the trash can!" Reggie shouts and the whole cafeteria erupts in laughter.
I pull out my glasses turning to Reggie with so much hate and loathing. "You'll rue the day, Reggie Mantle, I promise you'll pay for this!"
Reggie can't even take me seriously because he's laughing too hard. Clenching my jaw, I storm for the cafeteria exit, bumping into everything in my way.
*** I pull on my black, a red cropped sweater and black combat boots, brushing my black hair, sweeping it over to one side.
"Everyone is going to be so happy to see you!" Veronica, my cousin says, as she applies red lipstick.
I just let out a low laugh, if only she knew. Back then everyone hated me, just because I wasn't like them, just because I was different.
Well things were different now, I was far more confident, I swapped my glasses for contacts, my messy big brown hair, for straight black hair, my brown paper bag clothes for a more unique style. They were all gonna regret treating me like shirt.
"You ready?" I ask Veronica shrugging on my my leather jacket.
"Yeah," Veronica says fluffing her hair one last time.
We both exit her condo, heading downstairs where Archie was waiting for the both of us in his car.
"Good morning love," Veronica says climbing in the car, beside Archie.
"Good morning," he says pulling off. "Wow Annie you look really different, I mean you look good, really good, like great."
"Wow, am I intruding on something?" Veronica says, rolling her eyes.
"I'm just being nice," he argues, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
"Thanks," I say to Archie as I stare out the back window.
The rest of the car ride to school is mainly silent, when we make it to school, Veronica and I get out the car, while Archie parks it.
Veronica locks arms with me as we walk in the school. "This is so exciting, isn't this exciting?" Veronica asks as we make our way to the student lounge.
As soon as we step foot in the lounge my eyes find Reggie's. "I'll be right back," I say to Veronica, walking over to Reggie.
She stares at me confused, but I ignore her walking over to Reggie. He looks up at me, rising to his feet.
"Annie?" He asks looking me up and down. "Wow you look-"
Before he can finish his sentence, I punch him in the nose hard. So hard his nose trickles blood, so hard my knuckles ache.
The lounge stares at the scene in anticipation.
"I guess I deserved that," Reggie says wiping the blood off his nose, staring down at me.
"Oh you deserve a lot more than that,"
"I'm sorry Annie," he begins. "I was stupid then."
I say nothing just roll my eyes.
"What can I do to make it up to you?" He asks and he actually sounded sincere which made it much harder to hate him.
"Let me punch you again," I say plainly with a shrug.
"What?" He says furrowing his eyebrows, laughing nervously.
"Let me punch you again."
"If you let me take you out on a date," he offers with a smirk.
I roll my eyes. "Fine."
"Well go on then," he says gesturing to his face and I do, I punch him lighter this time, but still a punch nonetheless.
"You've seriously got an arm there," he says holding his nose that was beginning to bruise.
"How's Friday for the date?" I asks crossing my arms.
"Friday is great," he says smiling while still holding his nose.
I nod walking back to my seat with Veronica. "What the hell was that about?"
"Just catching up on old times yanno," I say with a shrug, smiling at her.
