Confessions of a hopeless romantic

Chapter 6

"I hope you like the little surprise I made for you."

I'm looking at Alicia who is wearing a bitchy grin, twirling her blonde hair. Ugh, that action pisses me off.

By her sides are her three friends and also that t**t, Alyssa. They all have their arms crossed except for Alicia who is still twirling her hair. I could have left the dumb theatre but I don't. I really want to know what's up their asses. Maybe it's a bad idea? It doesn't matter, we need to get this over with.

"What surprise?" I feign nonchalance, my eyes not straying from hers.

If there's anything I've learned from the tons of American highschool movies I've watched before starting at Lincoln high is "never let the bully get the satisfaction that they've gotten to you." if they do, then your social life would be officially ruined.

It's just unbelievable how movies realistically portray high school life. Trash.

From the few encounters I've had with Alicia and what I've heard others say about her, I can tell she can only push too far before she gives up and backs down which probably means she'll resort to using something against you or do something douchy.

"Ooh my bad, Alyssa here told me you can barely even read," She pauses, they all erupt into laughter and my heart sinks. "So I suppose it explains why you won't know..."

A lump the size of Texas forms in my throat, everything inside me revolts, I have always tried to hide the fact that I'm dumb or "dyslexic" as my doctor calls it but it's failing, unfortunately. It's not my fault I am dumb, actually I have tried several times to get a little smarter, from Google searches to giving up, accepting the fact that everyone has a flaw.

Fair game, Alicia.

I freeze, unable to come up with a better retort. Certainly, I am confident over confident for that matter but it's all faltering at this instant.

"What are you telling me, that she can't read?"

I shift my gaze from Alicia to Titi, another dumb blonde who is wearing an amused demeanor. For a fact, I know Titi is foolish. She's a literal example of the forced friendship in a friend's group, the one forced to carry the books and the one to pick up lunch just to fit in.

"Uhuh" Alyssa nods. They giggle.

I hate this school.

I blink, trying to regain my lost senses. I want to scream, cry and get out of here but I don't feel my body anymore. I am vaguely aware of how many seconds I've spent standing here speechless but I feel fingers on my forehead snapping me out of my thoughts.I get the feeling they've been talking all this while but I can barely register what they've said considering one of my top secrets has been revealed. It may not seem like a big deal, but it's surely a big deal to me.

I settle my eyes on Alicia who is inches away from my face staring at me with a look of amusement. How can a person in their normal senses enjoy tormenting others?

As I process the whole situation and the pressure of her two fingers on my forehead, I subconsciously place my hands on her shoulders pushing her away from me, nearly knocking her off her feet.

"You dare not touch me and you dare not call me dumb, you're just a pretty wannabe who wants the world to revolve around you but it clearly won't." My voice is weak, I am trying to act like it doesn't bother me but it does. And they know.

Way to go Leah, you've officially made a fool of yourself. This has got to be the worst comeback I've ever managed to come up with. Probably because I am freaking out and I desperately urge myself to get out of here.

"You've had enough, I didn't want to have to do this but you leave me no option since you insist on being a bitch." She says with a smug face.

She sends Titi a nod and Titi swiftly returns with a bucket filled to the brim with water and pushes it to Alicia who is having a hard time holding it before I'm forced to shut my eyes as I feel water cascading down my body from my head to the floor, beneath me.

I could have left but I didn't. Would it be right to conclude I caused it all for myself? So much for being so stubborn.

They all start to take steps backward, laughing hard, all except Alicia's other best friend who looks concerned, I'm not sure what her name is. As I think about it, she is the only one who hasn't been mean to me. But it doesn't matter, she didn't stop them and she could have.

I feel an inexplicable sense of unease wash over me. I need to go back home. I feel tears pricking at the sides of my eyes. My whole body is drenched with water, my shirt clinging to my bare skin and my sweatpants dripping with water.

Without hesitation, I take a bold step forward and land a loud smack on Alicia's cheeks, her pale skin turning red. It was instinctive.

The laughter all comes to a halt, even my eyes widen at my action. As if my body knows what I have done, I step backwards then run towards the door. I see Alicia's lips apart from the corner of my eyes as I sprint out of the theater.

I can feel people after me but I don't turn around, I'm a good runner but I've never been under pressure and it's actually draining, nothing like I've ever felt before.

I continue running although I know I'm not being followed anymore, I only stop when I'm by the school building.

Pull it together Leah, you must be insane for putting yourself in a bigger trouble. I really need to learn how to control my temper.

I breathe out a sigh, wiping water off my face and rolling my hair into a bun, catching my breath. I can't go to class with my body dripping water, thankfully I don't have more tests.

I gasp when I feel a tightened grip on my arm, dragging me into the art theatre besides me.

I'm doomed.

She closes the door behind me_ I know it's a girl without sparing her a glance. Probably Alicia or one of her friends.

I reach for the door knob, I can hear the sound my heart pounding in my chest and I know she is able to as well because she tells me to calm down and I do.