Page 43 of Bullied By The Bad Boy

“Goodnight, Ben,” she whispers when I’m on my bike. I give her a curt nod and drive out.

As I near the big gates, I glance behind to see her still standing where I left her. For unknown reasons, I honk once but keep my gaze straight ahead until I am back at the house. The loneliness hits me harder than it does on the weekends Asher leaves. I dial Olivia, but she doesn’t pick up. Somehow, I am always available when she needs a shoulder to cry on, but I can’t count on her for the same. I restart the bike and drive around the city. When I slow down, I’m at her house.

The window to her room is closed. I get off my bike and park by the tree I did the first day. Is she asleep? She and her Dad left the café much happier than when they walked in. It must be nice for her to have such moments with him. Why does she fight? It’s not for people like her.

I am not sure why or what I am doing here. But when her window opens, I pull the coat a little tighter around myself. Her head peeks out like she can sense my presence. For the fun of it, I wave. Tessa smiles and actually waves back. What the fuck? I get on my bike and ride off.

Twenty-Six

I hada weird dream last week. In that dream, Ben was staring at me, and I waved. I’m thinking of the possibility of that happening in real life when I get to the library to drop my reply to Lett. The content of Friday’s letter is still fresh in my mind. The words burned so hard that I was unable to think up a good reply. I bring out his letter to read, which hurts even more than it did last week.

Lett: I don’t need your pity. I don’t need your wishes. You can keep the fucking letter. It’s not even real.

Me:I’ve never been to a high school party before. I’ve never dated or kissed anyone. I think I might die celibate because no one ever looks at me like they want me. I’m not sure what alcohol tastes like. My parents see me as this innocent child, and I don’t want to ruin that image for them. Daddy is always busy, but he tries to be there for me. Sometimes I wish he would lose his job or get demoted so I could see him more often. Lol. Between you and me, I never said that.

At school, I am bullied by this guy who thinks it’s okay to be mean to me. I try to be tough when the pranks and bullying start, but it really gets to me. It sucks. My best friend tries, but sometimes it’s not enough. I go home thinking and wondering if they will still bully me if I look a little more like them and less of myself. But then, I like how I am for at least most of the time. Being skinny sucks.

I’m sorry for taking your letter. I’m even more sorry for reading it. I won’t bother you anymore.

Satisfied with my reply, I insert it into the novel and dump it on the shelf. The tips of my ears are red from the cold as I hurry out of the library to my locker. Maria is waiting there with a frown. My steps falter, I bridge the gap between us, and her frown deepens. “Where were you, Tessa?”

“Nowhere?”

Maria gives me a onceover that sends chills down my spine. I push one foot out. “You keep disappearing.” To check on Lett. I don’t want his letter to get into the wrong hands. My lips stretch into a thin line, and she stops typing on her phone to inspect my face. “Is it a boy?”

Eyes wide open, I blurt out, “No. There is no boy. I don’t even like boys.”

“Yep. It’s a boy.” She empties the content of the binder into her bag. “Make sure he’s cute, at least. And I’m here when you’re ready to spill. Have you decided on your Halloween costume?”

“No, I’m not interested.” Maria has never required my presence at these parties, and I am happy being in the shadows. She pulls me by the ear. I wince, but she doesn’t release me. “Maria, stop.”

“No. Not until you say you are going.” I nod in a desperate attempt to free myself from the nails digging into my sensitive skin. Her hands jam together in excitement. She smiles and massages the spot. Slinging her backpack over her shoulder, she wiggles her brows. “I’ll go as Catwoman, and you will be Wonder Woman. You’ve got the height. And you don’t have to drive. I’ll pick you up.”

“Thanks, bestie,” I reply with the enthusiasm of a dying goat.

Maria laughs. She throws her arm around my shoulders, and we talk about everything from her and Daniel to the costume we will be wearing. They are not dating yet but are back in the talking zone. Good for me since it means I never have to mention that video Daniel showed me to her.

We are in the corridor leading to the drama hall when she says, “How’s drama club going? You never talk about it.” Because there’s nothing to say about it, and it’s not as fun as having an audience on YouTube or being the superstar in the school’s choir. “Come on, Tessa. It can’t be that bad.”

“It isthatbad, maybe worse.”

Maria stops walking, forcing me to do the same. She grips my shoulders gently. Incoming speech alert. “I think you don’t enjoy it because you already closed your mind to it.” She has a fair point, but it’s hard to commit when no one shows up. “Try to enjoy it, okay? I know you, Tessa. You can act. For God’s sake, you had my mom bawling her eyes out at that stupid church play.”

ThePassion of Christplay. Our pastor asked us to act instead of watching the televised version like we usually do. It was more fun than I expected, and many people commended my acting.

“Fine, I’ll do my best. You can go now.”

“Not yet.” I groan, and she returns her arm around my shoulders so we can resume the journey to the hall. “Guess who I saw in school today?TheBenjamin Carter. We should go fuck him up.”

“Are you still on this?” I ask.

Maria makes a face. “Excuse you. I was never out of it.”

A sigh leaves my lips. Ben didn’t show up for any of our classes today. “What is your plan?”

“We can’t beat him since he’s too strong but we can slash his tires,” she replies. I would have been on board, but I have to consider Asher. Who will pick him up? The poor boy shouldn’t suffer for his big brother’s stupidity. I smile to get Maria off the topic. I’m not interested in slashing anything. She moves to my back and nudges me forward. “I’ll meet you after practice. Don’t keep me waiting, Theresa Grace Mower.”

She skitters away before I recover. Questions flood my mind. What will she be doing while I’m at practice? Daniel Holt. He was in school today. I stare in the direction she went and shake my head. Soon enough, she will be in a relationship, and I will be the odd one out. The third wheel.

---