Zora

Chapter Thirty-One

Each shake trembled from her leg out to her whole body. She hadn't done anything wrong, at least as far as she knew. It didn't make going to the office any less frightening. For all she knew, the girls could have executed their threat on her and framed her for a crime she did not commit. That was one of her greatest fears. But having good news shared with her did not ease her conscious in the slightest.

"Thank you for bringing this situation to our attention, Zora," the principal spoke. "We talked with the girls, and they know not to continue messing with you. If their behavior continues, please be sure to let us know at once."

"Thank you, ma'am, for all your help," Zora murmured as she scurried to the office door.

"We mean it, dear," she called out. "We're here to help any and all of our students."

Facing the principal to give her a quick nod of response, she exited the office and entered the hallway. Only a handful of students lingered around by their lockers, and the hall monitors urged them to head back to class. Before a teacher could approach her, she held up her hall pass and entered the closest women's restroom.

It was easier to go during class periods. It was less likely that any students would be in there. And she didn't want to have to bother her friends to go to the bathroom with her every time she needed to go. She could use the bathroom alone just like any other person, despite how terrifying it was.

Facing the mirror, she sat her books on the edge of the sink. Clenching the marble in her hands, she narrowed her eyes on her reflection. It happened. The girls were reprimanded for their behavior, and she knew they would not be happy with the turn of events. She knew she was as good as gone, but her friends were going to be there to help her through it. As long as she was cautious with each step she took, there would be nothing to fear.

Standing up straight, she wiped the fear from her face and kept her head held tall. Fixing her red blazer in the mirror, she faced her back to the mirror to attire. Impressions were everything, and she needed her friends to understand that she was fine. There was nothing to fret over. Flipping her fading blue hair over her shoulder, she began to walk towards the bathroom door.

Before she could exit, the door barged open, revealing the three girls who harassed her each day. Tamara stood tall in the center with Bridget and Hadley on either side of her. Hadley blocked the door, propping her foot up and crossing her arms in an attempt to appear tough. With a baby-face like her own, it was difficult to do so. Bridget took Tamara's purse and slung it over her should as Tamara herself approached Zora.

"So, we just came back from a little hearing with the principal," Tamara innocently spoke. Facing the mirror, she began to fix her hair with a smile. "Seems someone complained about us."

"What for?"

"Seems as though someone found our behavior to be rude and immature. They claimed we were harassing the dignity of a student." She turned to face Zora completely. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about the meeting, would you? After all, this person was warned not to tell anyone."

As much as she wanted to rip Tamara a new one, she knew she couldn't. They were trying to rile her up so they could have the bathroom be banned from any and all transgender students. They wanted her to lash out to make her seem like the bad guy. But she knew she wasn't in the wrong, so she refused to stoop to their level.

"I told the faculty about your behavior. I was done playing games, so I put an end to it," she stated.

Tamara tsked. She held her hand out for her bag, but Bridget instead pulled out a pair of kitchen scissors and handed them to her. Chopping the air twice, Tamara smiled sweetly as she faced Zora. "But you see, dear, we aren't done. You messed with us when we told you not to-"

"You can't do anything to me," Zora claimed, her voice wavering. "You could get into more trouble if you do."

"Are you threatening me?" Looking back at her friends, she scoffed. "Seriously, is this freak threatening me?"

"I have every right to be in here. I am a woman," Zora stated. "I get it. You're scared because of what all those propaganda videos and photos say about transgender people. Well, guess what? We're just trying to use the bathroom like everyone else, and there is nothing wrong with that. I am a woman, so I am supposed to go in the women's room. It's as simple as that. There is no need to be worried. The last thing I would ever do is hurt anyone anywhere."

Glaring at Zora, Tamara commanded, "Hold her down."

Bridget pushed herself off the wall and held Zora's hands behind her back. As much as she wanted to fight back, she spotted Hadley recording her, wanting people to see her attack them. Knowing it would hurt, she powered through as Tamara grabbed a lock of Zora's hair and cut it off. When she realized that Zora would not fight back, she tossed the blue hair on the ground, dropping the scissors with it, and pushed the girl into the wall.

"Fight me, bitch," she demanded, kicking Zora in the gut. Falling to her knees, she was punched in the face, her nose cracking. She could feel the blood pour from her nose, but Tamara refused to lighten up, screaming profanities the whole time.

Once she was done, Tamara flipped her hair over her shoulder as the bathroom door opened. Tiffany walked inside, and stared wide eyed at Zora on the ground. Glaring at the three girls, she held out her hand to Hadley. Instantly knowing what she was asking for, the girl sheepishly placed her phone into Tiffany's hand. "Unlock it, now," she seethed.

"Don't do it," Tamara demanded and smirked. "Weren't you the one who said that she shouldn't use the women's room in the first place?"

"Have you heard me complain since?" Tiffany mocked and rolled her eyes. "I actually learned from my ignorance, while you deliberately make it your mission to put all girls below you. You call yourself a feminist, but if you can't even stand up for the right of a transgender woman, then you, my dear, are no feminist. Send me the harassment video, or else."

A ding blurted from her phone, and she smiled at the video message in satisfaction. "Get out of here," she demanded as she watched the video. Cringing in disgust, she saved the video to her phone and strutted up to Zora. Tiffany helped her sit up and asked, "What happened?"

"They've been harassing me for the past few months. They threatened me and told me not to tell anyone, but Terrance made me tell the principal. They wanted to rile me up and record me so they could make up the excuse that I was the dangerous one and ban transgender students from using the bathroom all together," she explained.

"Those bitches," Tiffany snarled. Standing up, she wet a paper towel and began to dab away the blood on Zora's face. Inspecting her nose, she said, "At least your nose isn't broken, but it will be crooked. Just be careful. It's tender to the touch."

"Thank you for helping me," Zora whispered.

Glaring at the door, Tiffany curled her knees up to her chest and said, "That's what happens when you listen to fear. You begin to fear the unknown as well, and it can make you hostile." She lolled her head to Zora and frowned. "I'm so sorry about everything I did to you."

"I forgive you," she whispered.

"No, you don't," Tiffany stated, "but I don't blame you. I will make sure no one ever does this to you again. I will tell the principal and get those girls expelled. The school will not let this bullshit go unscathed. You are just as much of a woman as they are, and you have right to use whatever fucking bathroom you want to use."

Zora stared down at her lap and smiled. "This is the sort of thing you did for me when I got mugged. You checked on me and made sure I was okay. I guess you're just bound to always by nearby whenever I get injured."

Tiffany threw her head back and groaned. "God, don't tell me I'm your guardian angel. I will do such a shitty job." Standing up, Tiffany pulled Zora up. Wrapping an arm around her waist, she guided her out of the bathroom. "Let's get you to the nurse."

"No. Don't bother."

"Are you sure?" Tiffany worried. "They got you good."

"Just help me outside," she pleaded. "I want to go home."

"Want me to give you a ride?"

"Would you?"