My Bully

Arguments and Silence

The next day, after lunch, I pass the hallway near the nurses' office and see Devon walk out. I call out to him. He glances towards me and continues walking. I softly groan.

I try to get his attention in history, but he just ignores me again. I wave to him in the halls. He just looks at me and says walks away from his friends. Eventually, he stops looking at me. I lean against the lockers the next day in the morning. I scroll through Pinterest, but there isn't anything interesting. I take a glance around the halls until my gaze falls on a certain brown eyed boy. Devon stares at me from across the hall. As soon as I see him, he looks away. I slide a hand down my face and groan again.

"Hey, Devon!" I yell after him. I can see him sigh.

"What is it now?" He clearly is annoyed.

"Just wanted t-"

"To check up on me? Yeah, not happening. Look, other people don't care about me. They care about my looks and my money. So why should the person who I bully everyday care about me? I mean, look at you!" He gestures up and down about my body. "Hey! Joshua! Kaden! C'mere!" I roll my eyes. They're gonna join in with the bullying.

"Yo! What's up dude?" Joshua high fives Devon. "Sup loser?"

"Hey, Devon. Loser. You know, your life is pretty boring. And you don't really have the greatest home life either, do you? Didn't your father leave you?" Kaden taunts. He must've heard Devon talking and decided to join because that's what they do.

"Hey, dude, I think you're taking it a bit too far this time." Why does it seem that Joshua is the one who cares about me the most out of the three of them?

"Whatever, dude! She can take it. Can't you, crybaby?" I don't cry. I stand there, arms crossed.

"Im not a crybaby, Kaden. You can stop now, Kaden." Does he? No.

"How about no? You never fight back because you're too weak!" Blah, blah, blah...He keeps throwing insults at me. About my weight, my intelligence, my appearance. Only thing that I wouldn't allow is-

"So, why did your dad leave? Because you were too much of a loser? Because your little sister fell into depression? Because your mother is a w****? Because-" WHACK! I slap my hand across Kaden's face. It was hard and made a satisfying sound. My eyes tear up. I back up a few steps, not believing the words he said and what I did.

"Dude! That was way too far!" Joshua shoves Kaden until he hit the lockers. Devon's hands are in fists and he rushes forward. He punches Kaden in the stomach, then swings again, but Kaden already doubled over in pain. I don't see much else. My tears blurred my vision. I hear grunts and groans and skin hitting skin. I don't know where Joshua is. I just sit there and weep. I weep because I know that the words Kaden said were true. My dad did leave us because I wasn't enough. My sister did become depressed. She loved Dad so much. My mom did too. She desperately wanted Dad to come back. Or at least, a man to love her. So, she put on a lot of makeup and clothes that were way too stripper-like, thinking that she'll attract men. Me? I tried to save what I could of our family. I kept the photos of our once happy family on my walls. I took up cooking, making dinner like Mom used to do. I tried my best, but even I know that I couldn't.

I feel hands wrap around my shoulders. I look up to see my English teacher, Mrs. Kretcher. Two other teachers have shown up, breaking up the fight again. Devon looks bad, but Kaden looks worse. Kaden had bruises, a split lip, bloody hands, and probably more underneath his clothes. Devon had red seeping through his bandages, but that was all I saw. There might've been more under his clothes as well. Mrs. Kretcher helps me up and I watch horrifyingly as Kaden glares at Devon and Devon just snarls at him.

As soon as I get my backpack (and stop my hands from shaking), I debate whether I should go see Devon. You just had to go and fight Kaden, huh? Idiot. Sighing, I walk to the principles' office and slide down the wall across from the door. I'm missing class for this, you idiot. You better not have gotten suspended.

The door clicks. Shoes appear in front of me. They're Nike's; black and white. Hm. Not bad.

"Oh my God..." a voice mutters. "What are you doing here, loser?" Devon asks. I look up. He appears more...tired? I get up from my spot on the floor and tilt my head up slightly to see his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I mumble softly.

"Again, why do you care? Why are here? Hell, why are you skipping class to ask about my well-being?! I don't understand why you're so focused on finding out if I'm okay after I fight!" He starts blabbering on about why and how I'm here. I cross my arms, roll my eyes and eventually, I get so annoyed by his constant questions that I blurt out, "Why do you get offended when others pick on me? You do the same thing, just with more violence than words." I don't think, I just said what I thought. He stares back at me, eyes slightly wider than before, confusion swirling behind those chocolate brown eyes.

"What?"

Well, well, well! What will happen? See you next time! Love and foxes!

~ FV4