Love is Beautiful (She's so Ugly)

Chapter Eight

Merida waited outside the gymnasium, just where Jacob told her. He'd said he wouldn't take long—but it had already been an hour.

"What's taking him so long?" she murmured, glancing at her watch. Seven o'clock. The school would close at nine.

She finally decided to go back inside to look for him.

"Jacob? Is anyone still here?" she called. No answer.

On her way out the back door, she caught the faint sound of voices. Curious, she followed the noise to the players' shower area.

It was quiet now.

"Jacob?"

She stepped in slowly.

"Ja—"

A sudden crack! She felt a blow against her head, pain exploding as her vision blurred. Laughter filled her ears before everything went dark.

•••

Candice and her friends howled.

"Oh my God! She's so weak—one hit with a tennis racket and poof, down she goes!"

"Well, she deserves it," Candice sneered. "Alright, let's get her tied up."

They dragged Merida onto a chair, tied her tightly, and blindfolded her.

"That enough?" Lisa asked.

"Of course. We're not here to kill her. Just to scare her," Candice grinned.

"Let's wake her up."

Cold water splashed over Merida. She gasped, sputtering, heart pounding. She couldn't move—her arms, her legs, all bound. All she saw was darkness.

"Help! Somebody, please!" she cried.

Candice motioned, and Sofia slammed a racket against the lockers with a loud clang!

Merida flinched, sobbing. "Please don't hurt me!"

Their cruel laughter echoed.

"Do you even know what you did earlier, goldfish?"

"Candice? Please let me go," Merida begged, her tears soaking into the blindfold.

Candice's lip curled. The sound of Merida begging made her sick. She yanked Merida's hair hard, hissing in her ear: "You look—and sound—disgusting." She shoved her head down with force.

"Another bucket!" she barked.

"No, please!" Merida wailed, but the icy water hit again, followed by Candice's slap across her face.

"Swim, fishy!"

Lisa shoved Candice aside, itching for her turn. She struck Merida, spitting: "You don't belong with Jacob! And if you're wondering where he is—he left."

Merida's stomach twisted. He left? Did Jacob... abandon her?

"Aww, poor goldfish," Lisa mocked. "You thought he actually liked you? He doesn't. Just because he noticed you once doesn't mean it's forever. You're so stupid."

"Yep. Stupid!" Candice chimed in, and the others cackled.

Merida's sobs shook her body. Game over, she thought. Jacob had her falling so hard, only to leave her waiting in the dark.

"Will you let me go now?" she whispered through tears. "I swear Jacob was just being nice. We're nothing."

"We know that already!" Lisa snapped.

"Guys, it's almost eight," Mika cut in nervously. "We should go before we're caught."

Merida heard footsteps leaving.

"Wait—aren't you going to—?"

"No, ugly!" Candice snarled. "That's your punishment—for daydreaming Jacob could ever want you."

As the group shuffled out, Lisa lingered. She leaned close, whispering venom into Merida's ear:

"Since I'm nice, I'll tell you—Jacob was part of this. He told you to wait, but where is he? He left with a cheerleader. You know what that means, right?"

Then silence.

Merida's breath caught. Fear was gone, replaced by hollow disbelief.

Jacob... was part of this?

Her chest ached. Of course. He never had a reason to befriend me. He just played the knight for a while, made me feel like I wasn't ugly. But nothing beautiful lasts. Beautiful things are lies. And beautiful strangers like Jacob? They'll always do you wrong.

Her sobs grew louder, the blindfold soaked with tears.

I should stop being blind. Life is hard for ugly people like me. I'll never be beautiful.

•••

At 8:30, Leo dropped by a restaurant where the basketball team was celebrating. He clicked his tongue seeing them—loud, obnoxious. Still, something felt off.

Jacob was there. But no Merida.

Moments later, Candice, Lisa, and their crew walked in. Leo's eyes narrowed. Shouldn't Merida be with Jacob?

"Oh, Jacob! Merida couldn't make it," Lisa lied easily. "Headache. She went home."

Leo's jaw tightened. Same old Lisa. He waited for Jacob to question it, to at least care. But Jacob didn't. He didn't even glance up.

Leo exhaled sharply, irritated.

"I changed my mind. Pack it up to go," he told the cashier.

With his food in hand, he hurried out. In his car, he dialed Merida's number.

No answer.

"Damn it!" he cursed, slamming the wheel. His gut twisted. Something was wrong.

He started the engine and sped toward the school.