ROSE'S POV
I took a deep breath as I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My face was pale, and my eyes were puffy from all the tears I'd shed earlier. My heart still raced, but I had made up my mind on what to do. I was going to class. I wouldn’t let the bullying keep me hiding in the bathroom forever. Not today. I couldn’t keep letting them win.
"Okay, Rose," I whispered to myself. "You can do this."
Pushing open the bathroom door, I stepped into the busy hallway. Students rushed past me, barely sparing a glance in my direction. I clutched my backpack tightly and made my way to class, ignoring the whispers I was sure were about me, the snickers I pretended not to hear. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me broken.
As I walked through the classroom door, I imme
