Bullies

Bullies

Arabella

I'VE BEEN AT school now for two weeks. I've managed to get a pretty good routine down between my classes and tutoring Brock three days a week. He comes in and works his ass off on his assignments and listens when I talk to him. I work with him through a few problems and Brock catches on to what he's supposed to be doing. It's not hard helping him at all. I honestly have a good time when we're studying. Plus, it gives me a chance to work on my own homework while he's working on his. It saves me time when I'm not at school so I have less to do at home. This gives me more time with my brother so I don't have to work when he's sleeping.

There are only two dark spots on any day I have classes. Seeing the guys and running into the people who bullied me throughout high school. Karmen is still here and ruling over the same idiots that followed her lead all these years. I don't know if it's because she has dirt on them or what, but it's like we're still in high school. Thankfully, nothing too bad has been done to me yet. I'm still waiting for that bomb to go off. Seeing the guys around campus every now and then always makes a sharp pain fill my chest. They're always laughing, happy, and surrounded by a ton of other students. Mainly girls. It's not surprising considering that's how it's always been with them.

Everyone is drawn to the five boys who once were my entire world. Witnessing them living their lives happy as if I never meant anything to them always lodges the dagger just a little deeper into my chest. Now, I have the added worry of if they're going to do anything because of me saving Fallon when the old gas station was on fire. I don't know how they're going to come at me. Or if they even will. All I know is I'm not ready to see them on a daily basis because my walls have been so shattered by my mother that I can't continually build them up against all of the people against me here. There's just too many people I have to look out for and it's exhausting.

Honestly, I'm surprised Brock is still getting help from me. He's popular already and plays football with Fallon, Dash, and Braxtyn. I'm sure they're filling his head with all sorts of things about me. None of them are good either. No one ever has a good word to say about me. They don't know me, but they don't give a shit either. So, I keep my head down and wait for Brock to tell me he's done with his tutoring sessions.

I sit in the library when I'm not in class or working with Brock to see if anyone else will come to me for tutoring. There's only two other people I've seen offering any availability for it. Everyone goes to them and avoids me like the plague. I'm used to it. One of the girls shouldn't be tutoring at all. She doesn't do her own work and I have a feeling this is some game to her in order to meet guys. She tried to do it in high school and the principal quickly caught on to what she was doing and put an end to it. The guy, I don't know at all and I've never seen him in High Point.

Walking across the quad toward my math class, I keep my eyes peeled while looking around the area. I never know when someone will try to make a move against me so I've learned to always be on guard and make sure to watch my surroundings carefully. Today does not differ from any other day, considering how vulnerable I am when I walk through campus. It's completely wide open between the buildings and open for anyone to come at me. Plus, there are trees along the edges of the area I'm currently in. Anyone could be hiding there in wait for me.

"There you are," Karmen's nasally voice washes over me as she practically leaps out from behind one of the trees followed by several of the kids who bullied me in high school. "I've been meaning to catch you all alone. It seems as if today is the day we get to pick right back up where we left off."

I don't move a muscle because there's no point as the group surrounds me. This is when Karmen is at her worst. She has all of her little followers surround me so she can do anything and then twist the narrative to make me out to be the bad person in the situation while she's nothing more than a victim. I'm more than used to her tactics. She's never going to change because she's never gotten into trouble for anything. Karmen knows how to manipulate everyone around her and always uses it to her advantage.

The only difference in Karmen since we graduated is the way she dresses and looks. Before she had to tone down her clothes and make-up or she'd get in trouble at school. Not that she ever really got in trouble, but it did happen occasionally. Now, she can dress how she wants and wear as much make-up as she chooses. Today, she's wearing a pair of shorts so short and tight everyone can see the outline of her lady bits. The top she's wearing is more of a bra than an actual shirt. I don't know how she's allowed to wear something so miniscule here, but no one has said anything to her so far about her attire. Plus, her make-up is caked on so thick, I can see the outline of her foundation and it appears as if she applied today's make-up over yesterday's. I don't know much about make-up, but I know she looks ridiculous.

"What do you want, Karmen?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper as I keep my eyes locked on the ground at my feet.

"Other than seeing what a piece of shit you still are, I wanted to introduce you to someone. A relative of yours actually," she sneers, making my head raise enough to see the girl standing at Karmen's side. "Trash, this is your cousin Collette. Collette, this is no one you need to even remotely worry about. Arabella here is nothing more than trash who thinks she's better than all of us."

I don't bother responding as my cousin and I take in one another. My dad had a brother, but I've never met him. They never came to my grandparents' house when we were there or attended any of the parties they held before my dad died. Anything I heard about my uncle, aunt, and cousin was from eavesdropping on conversations they had about the three of them. None of what my dad or grandparents had to say was good either. Though, I guess that's not my problem.

Collette has long black hair much like I do. Her eyes are a dark brown, enhanced by the thick layer of make-up covering her face. She's wearing a tight shirt that leaves nothing to the imagination and an extremely short skirt. If a good wind picks up, she'll flash the entire campus all her goods. There's a sneer on her face as she continues to stare at me.

"I'd say it's nice to meet family, but you really are trash. How does it feel to know I now live in our grandparents' mansion and will gain access to all of that money while you dress in clothes that look to be older than we are? I mean, are you for real right now? I don't claim this dog as my blood. She's lower than a pile of dog shit someone steps in," Collette finally says, her voice almost as annoying as Karmen's.

I raise my head and hold my shoulders back. I'm not about to let this bitch make me cry in front of everyone here. She's not worth it. None of these people are worth a second of my time. Instead of staying here to engage with them, I try to move away from the group circling me. No one lets me out though.

"Oh, did you think this was over already?" Karmen questions me, yanking my bag from my shoulder so hard it rips.

I hear my things hitting the ground as everyone laughs at me. Still, I don't pay attention to that as Karmen finishes pulling my bag from my shoulder. The fabric rips even more as she holds it in front of her. Now, I watch on as everything I have for today's classes and tutoring flies all over the place. The wind picks up some of my papers, sending them flying further away from us.

Dropping the bag to the ground, Karmen reaches out quicker than I can flinch or move, and rips the front of my shirt. I've got my coat on still, but the shirt rips almost completely down the front. My cheap bra is exposed to the group as they all laugh even harder. Tears pool in my eyes as I try to hold the thin fabric together. Not only has she exposed my bra, but the bruising I've gotten from the latest beating from my mother and the newest man to come in the house. It was a particularly brutal beating and one I can barely move from. However, I have to make myself walk normally when I'm at school so no one questions me about what's wrong. I'm talking about the few professors who saw the cuts on the first day.

Karmen gets in my face and I think she's simply going to talk more shit, but that's not what she does. That'd be too easy. She reaches up and grabs a handful of my hair. Yanking it back, she drops me to the ground before landing a few kicks. No one's laughing now, but they sure as hell are staring at the damage being done to my already battered body.

"Stay the fuck out of our way and away from the guys," Karmen shrieks, her voice rubbing against me the wrong way as usual. "Brock is included in those guys. I don't see why he wastes his time with a piece of shit like you. He's gonna drop you as a tutor before you know it and you'll be back to sitting in the library every day looking like the pathetic, loser you are."

"And if you think of telling anyone we're related, I'll make you wish you hadn't ever opened your mouth," Collette adds in before leaving with Karmen and everyone else.

With tears in my eyes, I wait a few minutes for them to leave and head to their various classes before even attempting to get up. Once I'm steady on my feet, I kneel down to pick up everything Karmen scattered from my bag. I place it all back inside knowing I can't carry it on my shoulders. I'll have to hold it to my chest and hope I don't lose anything as I make my way to my math class. It takes forever to pick everything up and I know I'm late for class as I rush across campus while holding my bag to the front of my body. At least I don't have to worry about flashing anyone on the way there.

***

Walking into the lecture hall where my math class is held, Professor Rollins has already started today's lesson. His eyes immediately land on me as I take a seat in the very back of the room.

"Miss Moore, nice of you to finally make it to class. I see you had some sort of run-in on the way here. Did you manage to finish your homework for class or am I going to give you another zero for this class?" he calls out, bringing everyone's attention to me.

My eyes land on Brock where he sits next to Karmen. His eyes widen when he takes in my current appearance. When Karmen leans over to say something to him, he ignores her in favor of trying to communicate with me silently.

Brock isn't usually in my math class. He said he was making some changes to his schedule, but never indicated what they were. I assumed he was dropping or adding a class. Not changing his math class to the one I'm in. Though, I'm sure it has more to do with Karmen and Fallon than anything else. Especially with him sitting next to her. I honestly thought he was going to be different, but I guess I was wrong.

"I finished my homework," I say, turning my attention back to Professor Rollins.

Digging through the loose papers in my bag, I hope it's one I managed to grab from outside that the wind didn't take. I finally manage to find it and set my bag in the seat next to me. Standing from my seat, I use one hand to hold my coat closed so not everyone in class gets a free show while making my way to the front of the room. Professor Rollins rips the paper from my hand so hard I'm surprised it doesn't shred. Then he really could give me a zero for the assignment. I'm not sure how he can now when it's done and turned in during class. I guess that's just how he works. Hopefully he wasn't being serious about me getting a zero on everything I've turned in so far. That won't be a good thing for me.

Making my way back to my seat, I don't let my eyes wander over to where Brock and Karmen are sitting together. There's no need for me to see the look on his face as he stares down at her or watch her whispering to him. I got to see more than enough of her doing that with Fallon in high school. Karmen might ‘be with' Fallon, but he's not the only one she's having sex with. I've heard all about her various exploits from her and the guys enjoying her body. To each their own, I say.

The rest of class seems to fly by as I answer questions correctly, but get told my answer is wrong. Professor Rollins seems to call on me more than normal today. Usually, he simply ignores me. Karmen and Brock also answer multiple questions and get praised for their answers. I know Brock's are right because I'm tutoring him. The two Karmen answers are wrong, but she gets told they're correct and treated like a queen by the professor. What the hell is wrong with this picture?

"Class is dismissed. Your homework assignment is on the board. Make sure it's turned in at the beginning of our next class," Professor Rollins says, glaring at me as I try to pick everything up once again from my bag so I can leave.

I'm done with classes for the day and more than ready to get off campus and away from these assholes. I want to spend the rest of my day with Vinnie since it's a day off and not think about anything other than my homework and baby brother.

"What the fuck happened to you, Arabella?" Brock questions, making me jump since my back was to him and his deep voice is angrier than normal.

"Nothing. I'm busy and have places to be, Brock. I'm sure Karmen is waiting for you," I say, still not facing him as I keep my eyes on my belongings to make sure I don't leave anything behind.

"I don't give a shit what that bitch is doin'. She's not anyone I want to associate with. Did she do this to you?" he asks me, not leaving my side.

"It doesn't matter. She's in the crowd you really belong with, Brock. I'm nothing more than your tutor. And we can stop anytime you want. I wouldn't want the guys and her giving you shit about working with me," I say, knowing I can't stall any longer.

"I don't give a fuck about any of them. Not that I even know what guys you're talkin' about. I'm not endin' my tutorin' sessions with you for any reason," he states emphatically, his voice hard and cold as the door of the lecture hall opens once again.

"Brock, what are you still doing in here?" Karmen questions him. "You're supposed to walk me to class."

"No, I'm not, Karmen. I don't know what the fuck game you're playin' but I'm not gonna be involved in it. Arabella is my friend and nothing you can say or do will ever change that. So, I suggest you run along now," he says, never turning from me as I look between the two of them.

"Fallon isn't gonna like this," Karmen retorts, her voice angry as she glares at me.

"I don't give a shit what he thinks. And he hasn't once told me to stay away from Arabella. He knows she's tutorin' me. Run along, Karmen," he says, finally pulling his eyes from me to look at her.

Karmen stomps her foot before turning and stomping out of the lecture hall. I'd laugh at her child-like temper tantrum, but it's only going to come back to bite me in the ass. Brock disrespecting her is only going to make the target on my back even larger. It will be her excuse for the next attack she launches against me.

"Now, what the fuck happened to you, Arabella? And who left all those bruises on your body?" Brock questions me as I quickly try to close my coat so he can't see the evidence of my abuse.

"It doesn't matter. I really have to go, Brock. I'll see you at tutoring tomorrow," I tell him, trying to squeeze by the small space he left me to get through.

"Let me give you a ride home. I don't understand why you don't just stay on campus like everyone else."

"I can't stay on campus. There are things at home I have to take care of every single day. And I appreciate the offer of a ride, but it's not necessary. I'm used to walking."

Despite the pain filling me, I hustle out of the lecture hall and leave the building. Thankfully, we're on the first floor so I don't have to go down any steps. I'd probably fall flat on my face if I did. I can hear Brock calling my name as he follows me from the room. He wants answers I can't give him. I won't give him. No one knows my life and what happens with the exception of Mrs. Andrews. Even she doesn't know the details, she only sees the aftermath of my abuse. The quicker I can get away from campus, the easier it will be for me to breathe. At least until I get home to see what kind of shape my mother is in.