Margot’s Rumour

The Rumour

- - POV Santiago - -

“Yes, please Santiago.”

Margot begged. I had just asked her if she really wanted to know about what her reputation was at school. This sweet innocent girl thought her reputation was that of some virgin push over.

I didn’t want to disabuse her of that. But I was the i***t that had brought it up. I couldn’t let her find out from someone else the next day at school. At least if I told her now she’d had time to process the whole idea.

“Well it has something to do about your grades.” I started.

“Oh, that’s odd, what about my grades?” She questioned.

“It’s about why you get such good grades.”

“Ooh, why I get such good grades?” She had such a questioning look on her face. I could see her brain trying to do the calculations in her head. Trying to guess what I would say, what was being said about why she got such good grades.

I had to rip this bandage off.

“Well in English and moral Ed you get really good grades, so the rumor is that it’s because of your relationship with Mr B.” I paused hoping she would get it. “That you are rewarded special grades because of that relationship.”

Margot’s face bunched up, and looked off into the distance. I was ready for her to start crying. This rumour was s**t. It was so obvious it wasn’t true.

“But that’s silly, I get good grades in math and history too. My history grade is higher than my English.” She replied calmly.

“Yeah but that’s multiple choice and math. That’s not subjective, and you're also” I pause again, I don’t want her to hate me, or think I’m insensitive, “you know.”

“You mean my dyslexia?” She was now the one to pause, “They think I’m not smart enough to get good grades in English because of my dyslexia?”

She was getting more upset about the accusation against her dyslexia than she was about the special relationship with Mr B. That was odd. Maybe she was more open minded than I thought. And didn’t care about a s*x scandal.

“Well it’s because you can’t spell certain words, how can you be marked so high in an English class when you can’t spell in your everyday life ?”

“OH my god are you serious!” She was pacing around, getting red and shaking her hands as if to shake out all her anger. “The essays are not a spelling test, there is spell check and proofreaders! Besides we are graded on content not if we can automatically spell ‘Atlantic’ correctly!”

“For f-sakes” she continued getting more bothered, “that one guy thought Animal Farm was about China! And he ended up passing! It’s not difficult to out shine stupid. And they think it’s because I have a good relationship with Mr B? What the h*ll.”

I just continued to watch her as she paced up and down. What? She was seriously not getting it. She thought the rumor was her getting good grades because she had a good relationship with Mr B? For such a smart girl she was seriously dense. It made sense now that she was more upset about the dyslexia part than the part of Mr B. I couldn’t tell her the worst part not after this reaction. I’m a coward, I could not hurt her more.

“I know, Margot! I know” I got up and grabbed her arms and held her still. “Margot I know! It’s just a stupid rumour by people that want to feel better that they aren’t doing the work.” I pull her close in my arms and hug her. Her hair smells like honey and myrr.

“It’s just a silly rumour. Look how many guys wanted to be your partner for this project. Mr B had to pick pairs for everyone just to save you! He knows you would do all the work. And they know you would do all the work and get them a high enough grade so that they can coast all year and still pass. It’s a nothing rumour. Just something to make them feel better, but no one believes it.”

I could hear Margot try to breathe back some tears, and whimpers. Even with her head buried in my chest.

“I just wish it was one of those stupid high school rumours like she’s never been kissed or she’s a massive slut. But of course it has to be about my disability. It’s just so embarrassing, that that’s how I’m constantly defined.” She said into my chest as I squeezed her tighter.

“Well if you want I can tell everyone how we slept together on Saturday.”

She pulled away laughing and slapped my chest half chastising me and half teasing.

“And sooo many would believe you” she replied sarcastically.

“Of course I’m a very desirable man. I could say, you intimidated me sexually. You being so much more experience than I.”

I continued to tease her. She was no longer hugging into my chest but she was near enough to me that one of my hands was still resting on her waist with a finger slowly hooking it’s way into her kilt. Ensuring she could not pull away more.

“Haha like anyone believe that. I’ve barely been kiss”