My best friend's rival

Claire's pov The announcement made by the student body president left everyone speechless. We didn't know how to react. The school's best hockey player had been suspended indefinitely, and we weren't told the reason. We had an upcoming match against our rival, and we were sure going to lose without him playing. A few minutes later, Ethan Hansgrove walked quietly back into the class. All eyes were fixed on him. Some faces were mocking while others were sympathetic. Groups of girls ran over and surrounded him pretending to be sympathetic. He broke away from the crowd and started walking toward me, waving. I turned my head around to make sure there was no one behind me that he was waving to. There wasn't. I turned back slowly,still confused. "Hi, Claire. Do you mind?" he asked, pointing to the empty seat beside me. "No, it's free," I replied almost inaudibly. By this time, half of the class had their eyes fixed on us. Some even came to sit closer just to eavesdrop on our conversation. I felt uncomfortable getting this kind of attention. I kept my eyes down and focused on my notebook. I didn't want it. I never wanted attention. He stood up, then bent close enough for me to feel his breath. "Can I have your number? I have something important to discuss with you," he whispered. I didn't think too much of it. I tore out a piece of paper, wrote my number on it, and handed it over. Whatever it was, it probably had nothing to do with me personally. He smiled, took it, and left. I continued writing my poems when I heard someone hit my desk forcefully. I didn't have to raise my head to know who it was. It was Sarah, the popular and rudest girl in school. She had come looking for trouble, and I didn't have time for that at the moment. "Oh, so you think you have the guts to start ignoring me because Ethan is talking to you now? Girls, grab her book." Everything after that happened so fast. They snatched the book out of my hand, and I struggled to get it back while everyone else in the class seemed to be enjoying the show. My chest tightened . Not the book. Anything but the book. They threw it to Sarah. She flipped through the pages slowly, like she had all the time in the world. "You're writing poems? Aren't you a little too old for that, nerd?" Everyone burst into laughter. She started tearing it. Page by page. I watched and said nothing. I always said nothing. I pressed my lips together and stared at the pieces falling on my desk like they were nothing. Like they hadn't taken me months to write. Like they weren't the only place I ever felt like myself. "Pick up your trash because that's where you belong. And whatever Ethan told you, don't believe him. He just likes playing with the feelings of nerds because he is mine and mine only.The popular girl and the star athlete always go together". She paused, waiting for approval from her classmates. As soon as people started murmuring words like, "Yeah, they would look good together," she continued. "And no funny games, or your scholarship will be gone with the snap of my fingers. Keep that at the back of your mind." She left my desk and returned to her seat. I bent down picking up the pieces of the paper. A few minutes later, the bell rang and the teacher came in. The class went by in a blur. I kept thinking about how I was going to get my poems back. I already knew the answer. I wasn't. They were gone. Every single word I had carefully put down was now in pieces scattered across a desk, and nobody cared. I put the remaining pieces into my bag quietly and said nothing. Closing time came earlier than I expected. I got on the school bus and headed to my mom's bake shop to help her out, though she never lets me. I just needed somewhere to be. I changed out of my school uniform into something more casual and tried assisting her with sales. My little sister, Lily, was running around the shop. I didn't even notice when she went into my bag and started searching through it. She pulled out the torn pieces of my book and tapped on my mom's shoulder. My mom saw them, and her expression immediately changed. "Isn't this your poetry book, Claire? What happened at school today?" My expression changed and my heart started racing. I tried to sound as calm as possible. "Mom, nothing serious happened. It's just high school. Accidents happen." My mom gave me the 'I know you're lying' look. "I know you're lying. You always make little circles on your body when you're lying. Now explain to me what really happened, or I'm calling the school." I took a deep breath. I hated this part. Saying it out loud made it as if I was reliving the pain. "I was on my own as usual. Then a star athlete approached me, and a few minutes later, a group of girls started harassing me, claiming I was trying to take someone's man. Then she tore the book." My mom stared at me for a few seconds. "Because of a boy? Was it Sarah? Because if it's her, I think it's high time I reported her." "Mom, please. It was her, but please don't report it. I promise not to let them bully me anymore because if you call now, you'll only be adding fuel to the fire," I pleaded. She heaved a heavy sigh. "Make sure you do. Even rich people should have manners, and her parents are the ones sponsoring the scholarship, not her." I nodded and went back to folding pastry bags. I didn't say anything else. There was nothing else to say. The book was gone and no amount of talking was going to bring it back.