Bully This

Part 4

Whether she was ready or not, the day had come and going back to school was mandatory.  Only armed with pepper spray, left her afraid and helpless, there was just too many of them.  She definitely had to talk to the janitor to see if he was on board with their plans.  Simultaneously she was spotted by Mr. Anderson her science teacher and by Caz and his girl Precious.  All three began to walk in her direction, when a group of boys walked by talking about King Terror getting killed by June.  Cynthia knew June since elementary school, he too was subjected to bullying.  Guess he got tired of it.  "Welcome back Cynthia" Mr. Anderson said as he approached her with his hand out gesturing a handshake, she tells him thank you and turns her attention to Caz and Precious who are a couple of feet away from her.  "Listen I don't want no problems and I didn't mention you or Caz." "I know you didn't Cynthia and I want to say I'm sorry for participating in the assault, and I'm also sorry, we've known each other since elementary school for Christ sakes. we live a few houses away from each other."  The look Caz gave her, she knew his apology was sincere and the distraught look on Precious' face added to the conclusion that they both regretted their actions. Before Cynthia could speak the bell signified that it was time for them to go to their next class. "See you at lunch," Precious said as she and Caz walked in the opposite direction. 

Still skeptical she only nodded her head and walked to her next class.  All she could think of was the exchange she shared with her so-called adversaries. It was unexpected and a little unsettling.  Could they be setting me up?  Why all of a sudden were both of them showing remorse for their actions. This has been happening for years?  Were they backing down due to Terror getting killed?  Either way she didn't want to find out. On the other hand they did say, keep your enemies close.  Cynthia covered her mouth so she wouldn't scream as she remembered her plan to commit suicide, there was no way she could go through with it.  She decided to take them up on their offer of meeting up at the lunch room, but she needed to speak to the janitor, ask him what she's been wanting to ask and find out what he thought about today's encounter. 

He must of read her mind because she spotted him in the hallway doing his janitorial duties. He peeked in the classroom spotted her and waved in her direction.  She knew this was the time and place to go forward and ask him, but first she raises her hand and notifies the teacher that she has to use the restroom, the teacher obliges and hands her the class pass.  Now outside classroom she looked from left to right, to catch sight of the janitor, but to no avail.  She shakes her head in frustration and proceeds to walk to the restroom, what she saw next startled her, it was Mr. Davidson and Jeffrey, it looked like something inappropriate was going on between the two.  What looked like a heated conversation could have been a cover up of some sorts.  Mr. Davidson turns his attention to her as Jeffrey goes down the stairwell fixing his glasses and tie. He motions her to come closer, "Cynthia so glad your back with us, I made a package to get you back up to speed with the class assignments. I'll have it ready, see you in class" and he abruptly walks away. 

Still confused about what had just happened she decides to go back to class.  There he was mopping the gym, "hey I just want to tell you thank you for helping me, without you, Lord knows what would of happened to me."  "No need to thank me, I'm just glad your safe and back in school.  Before your teacher comes out looking for you the answer is yes, I've spoken with your mother and have it in a safe place, now go on before we both get in trouble."  She was so stunned that her mother beat her to the punch, all she could muster was a dry smile and a head nod.  Everything was happening so fast that she didn't know how to react or what to expect. Lunch was in an hour and she felt more relaxed knowing she had the pepper spray and the janitor holding the taser, backing her up.  She knew she was outnumbered by the kings and queens but it didn't matter because she would always be outnumbered.  She was a loner, with the exception of a few girls who would give her casual conversation or tell her hi in the morning, but there weren't many. 

She was snapped out of her deep thought by Mr. Davidson who had a manilla envelope containing missed assignment and homework.  She takes it from him and asks him when is it due?  "A week from Friday, you should have more than enough time to complete the package.  You're one of my brightest students Cynthia and I'm glad you're back and he pats her on the arm and walks away." She looks at the envelope and mutters "great" sarcastically.  All this work has her hungry and it was almost lunch time.  "Cynthia do you have the literature textbook?  Come to my classroom I have an extra" he yells before he disappears. 

Waiting on the lunch line left her nervous and full of anxiety, not knowing what to expect was killing her.  Her gut was telling her to keep her guard up and the spray opened and ready, but her heart was telling her to forgive, but not to forget what happened to her, as well as who did it to her.  Then she began having second thoughts, when suddenly she felt a hand tapping her shoulder.  She turned to be face to face with Jeffrey, who immediately asks what she had seen and heard.  His facial expression was scaring her, when Caz and Precious intervene and ask "what's happening?" Jeffrey quickly says nothing, him and Caz say peace to each other and he turns and looks at Cynthia. He tells her "I'll catch you later" as he puts his hoodie on and walks off to meet up with dudes from his gang.  The rumors have to be true then she thought to herself.  Are Jeffrey and Mr. Davidson having a sexual relations, why was he so nervous and fidgety when he approached me earlier? 

She wants him to know his secret is safe with her.  Now Cynthia had another dragon she needed to slay knowing that Jeffrey could flip the script and the story, to make it like she's a liar and troublemaker, but would they believe her story? Especially when most of the school knew she was practically scared of her own shadow.  That led her back to Caz and Precious, were they genuine and sincere with their apologies?  Or were setting her up?  Cynthia didn't know what to think anymore.  Maybe she would skip her last two classes and leave, they may not even notice she was gone.  Non stop thoughts and scenarios popped up in her head sporadically.  She remembered what her mother told her, which was to go with her gut or as her father would say "you think long you think wrong."  Could she be overreacting and over analyzing the situation.  But how could she not, after all they were part of the group that assaulted her.  Maybe the janitor would give her the stun gun or stand by her when she confronted them later. 

The more she thought about it the more scared she became.  Her injuries were still healing and her mind and heart couldn't take anymore.  Why me Lord? why?  I didn't see nothing, I don't know nothing, why can't they just leave me alone?  Instead of going to class, she made a detour to the bathroom with hopes of running into the janitor.  What happened startled her, a shove in the back followed by a hand to her mouth so she couldn't scream.  It was Jeffrey and he looked really angry.  "I'm only gonna ask you once, what did you hear and see?" "I didn't see nothing Jeffrey I swear and I couldn't hear nothing because I wasn't close enough."  "You better not be lying to me, cuz if you think what happened to you before was bad it's gonna be worse this time" as he flashes the gun he has on his waist.  "Besides you do know what happens to snitches Cynthia?" Suddenly they hear voices and footsteps, he ushers her into a bathroom stall and covers her mouth again. "They gonna jump Cynthia again" says the girl putting her lipstick on to the other girl fixing her hair. "Maybe we should warn her?  But how and when?" "I got it, I can leave her a note in her desk in science class." "Make sure they don't find out it was us, cuz we both know what will happen if they find out it was us who warned her."