The Laxstar

persephone's p.o.v Last week I was dating one of the hottest guys in school, Demetri Mane. He was such a great guy. Being his girlfriend was good at first, I got respect in the halls of Saxs High. I didn’t have many friends, but while dating Demetri everyone treated me friendly. But now that me and Demetri broke up, everyone treats me like before, before I was somebody.  I walk into the school where the days have been heavy, where people give me dirty looks because of the rumors Demetri tells about me. I hear them here and there, but I say nothing to defend my name, I don’t stand up for myself anymore, because Demetri continuously taunts me. It's tiresome to be my own hero.  Walking down the hall, holding my head down, I’m trying to avoid the daily dose of hatred from my peers. I reach my locker, but when I open it, loads of trash rain from it. I can hear kids laughing in the background, and taking pictures of the scene. I hold down the tears that are building in my throat, I simply grab a trash can and pick up the scraps. When the hall started to disperse I began my descent for class.  I walk into the first class of the day. Full of buzzing and talking, students. Talking and conversing, totally ignoring I exist. I make my way to my seat, trying not to raise attention to myself, when I make it to my desk I see a note taped to it. When I open it, it almost makes me burst in tears. I recognize the handwriting instantly  Everyone knows that you’re a slut, you didn’t want to give it up for me but there are a lot of guys who can beg to differ. I can’t see why you put up the front of being a virgin, you know you’re a slut. You don’t have to admit to me. But to yourself, you're not just a nobody anymore, you’re a nobody and a slut. I crumble the note and throw it away. “slut” Demetris says. He is sitting two chairs across from me, he has made it his mission to torment me every morning before class, he used to write me love notes. But they're now filled with hate. I don’t know why he hates me so much, he even gets his friends to lie and say they’ve slept with me. He was such a sweet boyfriend in the beginning but when it came down to s*x I wasn’t ready, instead of being understanding he broke up with me the second time I denied him. We were only dating for 2 months, I didn’t want to give up my virginity just yet. He made it seem like I didn’t love him, but the thing is I wanted to be sure. You see he has a track record, I didn’t know about it until we were dating, but slowly most of the girls around me started to ignore and dislike me while we were dating. He told people the only reason he dated me was because he wanted to take my virginity, and now that failed he told everyone “he couldn’t get it up.” the teacher comes in interrupting my self pity. “Ok guys lets get the homework” oh no I was too busy picking up trash I didn’t grab my books, I raised my hand to get the teachers attention “Mr. Cowel, I need to go to my locker to grab the homework sir.” I feel so anxious because most of the class turns to me, I feel squeamish under everyone's eyes. “Come and get a pass” I began to walk to the front of the class when I heard someone in the class say “slut.” “ok who said that” the question got giggles, I say in a very hush voice so that only Mr. Cowel can hear, “they all hate me sir” I take the pass without looking at him directly, I can feel sadness in his face without making eye contact, but I don’t need his pity right now, I don’t need a reminder of how much my life sucks. I walk out the class room to an empty hall, and back the way I came to my locker, when I get close enough I can see a kid with red curly hair that falls just above his eyes. He’s fumbling with the code, but fails. He sees me and make an attempt for small talk “I usually get it on the first try if you know what I mean.” The words made me dislike him already, I think about how Demetri and his friends. The way they talk to me and how they taunt me in the halls, how they mock me with cat calls. He must have noticed my annocance right away because his next words shocked me even more. “If I could get any sucks bad enough being a virgin” he walked away from the lockers, he grew uncomfortable with my presence, I felt bad for him for the simple fact I was a virgin. I knew what a virgin can cause, rumors. Rumors that can mess up your chance with anyone. I grab my homework realizing the failure of a job I’m doing retrieving it. Spending too much time in my head. I walked into the classroom to be presented with dirty looks and scowels. Why do you hate me so much, why do you listen to a moron. Nothing could be said to change made up minds, I keep scanning the room when I notice the boy from the hall. He must be new or something, I’ve never really seen him around. When I made contact with him he immediately looked away. Great another person to hate me in this school.  Class goes by and my peers begin to disperse. I stay back pretending to gather my books to give my bullies a head start, I hate the fact that I have to literally time out my classes to avoid Demetri and his goons. Some days are better than others but today seems like he has bigger plans to ruin my life. As if breaking up with me and spreading lies wasn’t enough, as if the backlash of his anger isn’t enough. I can feel the tears behind my eyes, threatening to leak and cause me to cry. Even though Demetri was an asshole, I miss him. I miss the person he used to be.  When I’m in the halls I can see Demetri and his friends standing at the end of the hall laughing about something, he’s in a good mood, just keep your head down. When I walked past I made the mistake of looking his way. When he catches sight of me I can see that he is debating to come over and tourture me. I avert my eyes looking for some escape, I feel like frantic prey running from a predator, I don’t want to be targeted but this is inevitable. My fate. I look again to see if he’s coming my way, but when I look again his attention isn’t on me any more. Phew,  I let out the breath that I didn’t know I was holding on to. I walk into my next class, my thoughts are so scrambled I just sit not realizing where I was, I close my eyes. Trying to push down the tears that are caught in my throat. Don’t cry, the day is almost done hang in there. Don’t show them you’re weak. I’m startled by someone clearing their throat. When I raise my head, I see the red haired boy who was in my previous class. “Excuse me but I think this is my seat” everyone turns to see the commotion that's going on, I see the empty seat in front of us that was meant for me. “Oh, I’m so sorry” when I raise out the seat and reach for my book I nearly fall. Before I hit the ground I felt two firm hands on the small of my back. When I make eye contact I can see the worry in his eyes. “Hey ya gotta be careful doll” Doll? Who says doll anymore. I break out of his hold, apologize to him and take my seat. Doll? Trying not to think about it, trying to think about class. Doll? But the thought of him catching me kept replaying in my mind. The way he showed so much concern for my well being, it made me feel a little better. It made the tears on the brink of rolling down my cheeks vanish. All because of the mystery boy.