Chapter 36 — Damsel in Distress
1173 Words
I pushed through the crowd, not minding the bodies pressing against me or the occasional shoving.
Finally—
I reached the middle, heart-wrenching as my gaze landed on Lena, face down on her table. Her hands were clamped over her ears, desperately trying to block out the harsh words spilling from everyone's lips.
I rushed forward, crouching in front of her.
“Lena.”
She raised her head, staring at me with red eyes. “Rosie.”
She flung her body into mine, sobbing loudly.
“Oh my God, Lena.” I croaked, wrapping my arms around her tightly.
“Where have you been?” She stuttered in between sobs. “They-they've be-been saying so many mean th-things about—”
“Shh… shh… shh.” I cooed, patting her back gently. “It's alright, I'm here now.”
My consolation didn't ease her, instead it made her cry more.
Murmurs circled around us, low and harsh.
“Didn't Lena's mum accuse Rosie's mum?” someone asked.
“I'm surprised that they're still together. If I was the one I would have cut her off.”
“Maybe Lena's mum was right about the fact that Rosie's mum slept—”
I turned to the person sharply.
“I will knock your f*****g teeth out, if you finish that sentence.”
The girl in question froze.
Lips parted mid-sentence.
“You all should be ashamed of yourselves,” I spat angrily.
“For butting into matters that are of no concern to you. And to make it worse, you used this personal information to attack an innocent person.”
They all turned their gaze away from me, some staring at the ground, others at anything that wasn't me.
“You all forget she is also a victim of whatever happened between her parents and not one of you stopped to think about how this matter is currently affecting her.”
“Excuse me…”
“Coming through… yes, thank you.”
Andrew pushed through the crowd, then stopped in front of me.
“Are you alright, Rosie?” he asked.
I ignored him, glaring at every one of them.
“If any of you were in her shoes, how would you feel?”
They all began murmuring amongst themselves. Expressions filled with guilt.
“I can't ever be in her shoes, because my daddy isn't a cheater.” Cheerleader Lyra sneered, flicking her hair over her shoulder.
“Seriously, Lyra. You shouldn't even be talking. Everyone knows your dad's a cheater, he's just very good at the game,” I replied.
Her face reddened with anger.
“You f*****g b***h—”
“What is going on here?” A familiar deep voice asked.
The crowd parted, revealing Henry as he walked forward.
Not just him.
A familiar figure walked alongside him.
“Samuel?” Lena called.
He came forward, crouching close to her.
“Are you alright?”
Lena nodded.
“Come here,” Samuel said, and she released her grip from me, going to him.
Okay…
I squinted, staring at both of them suspiciously.
Samuel carried her bridal style and began walking out of the classroom.
No one stopped them.
No one said anything.
No one questioned why some random man was carrying my best friend away.
Okay so… maybe he wasn't some random man but…
“Excuse me—”
“Leave him, Rosie.” Henry cut in, quietly.
“But—”
“Trust me when I say she's in good hands.” Henry murmured, staring at me.
“Alright…”
He handed me an envelope.
I frowned slightly, staring at him in question. “Your teacher is here, read that when you get home.”
With that, he walked out. Following close behind Samuel and Lena.
What the actual f**k?
“Let's all settle down,” Mrs Tega said.
Low murmurs and grumbles filled the air.
Everyone slowly began moving to their designated seats.
“Let's go, Rosie,” Andrew said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I stood up, following close behind him.
After a while, class fully settled down.
“Okay…” Mrs Tega began, smacking her lips. “We did not just see two insanely hot men walk in and leave with a girl in their arms.”
Even through the anger and hurt, I still cracked a small smile.
“Very damsel in distress coded. Maybe I should act that out too… I wonder who would save me though.”
I pursed my lips, fighting back the laughter.
Quiet snickers and mocking laughter filled the air.
“Maybe if she considered losing, like… a hundred pounds, someone would step in.”
Andrew said.
“Let's hope she didn't hear that—”
“Which one of you just called me a fatso?”
No one said a word.
“You've all suddenly gone quiet.”
I exhaled heavily.
And here comes—
“Four pages—”
Groans filled the air abruptly.
“Quiet down!” Mrs Tega thundered, and everyone did.
“Five pages—”
“You just said four—” someone screamed.
“That's it… six pages.”
No one said anything.
“I thought as much.” She murmured, huffing slightly.
“I'll be your knight in shining armor, Mrs Tega,” Hockey team player, Brian shouted.
“Application's closed, Brian.”
“We love you, Mrs Tega.”
Someone shouted and soon enough the crowd erupted, chanting ‘we love you, Mrs Tega.’
And as usual, Mrs Tega fought back, the smile threatening to spill on her face.
“Alright, alright, calm down.” She said, rolling her eyes.
And the classroom fell into silence.
“Two pages of an apology letter to Lena. I expect you all to know better, and I don't want a repeat of this again. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Mrs Tega.” Everyone chorused in unison.
“Cheerleader Lyra and co, and Ria. Report to the Principal’s office after school.”
“But I didn't do anything,” Ria whined.
“Everyone knows you started this rumor, Ria. I assure you, your mother is very disappointed in you.”
She pouted, slumping in her seat.
“What are you all waiting for?”
A girl raised her hand.
“Yes, Annalise.”
“Some of us weren't involved in all of this, Mrs Tega. Do we have to write too?”
“I'm sure you stood by and watched, so that makes you a participant.”
She huffed, sitting down.
A boy raised his hand this time.
“Yes, Ruben.”
“What about the people who weren't in class at that time?”
“This whole thing started as soon as Lena stepped into class, then went on for a good thirty minutes. So you're writing because you came in late.”
His shoulders slumped in defeat, then he took his seat.
“If that's all,” Mrs Tega said, eyes roaming the class. “You may all begin.”
- Writer
