Chap 1
1525 Words
Emilia's POV
"Everyone, isn't there a strange smell?"
"Oh, what's this smell?"
"It stinks."
"I think I'm going to die of suffocation."
"Hey, Sandra, spray some perfume."
Those were the whispers from my classmates when i opened my locker. Someone had actually poured milk, and God knows what on my P.E. dress.
The snickers and giggles spread like wildfire, and soon the whole class was in on the joke.
I sighed, feeling a familiar knot in my stomach. This was just another day in the life of a scholarship girl like me. I didn't fit in with the wealthy crowd that dominated our school, and they made sure I knew it.
I tried to brush off the milk stain, but it only seemed to spread. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I realized I'd have to wear this smelly, soggy dress for the rest of the day.
"Hey, Emilia, looks like someone's having a moo-ving day!" Tiffany, the queen bee, cackled as she walked by, her designer handbag swinging from her shoulder.
I bit my tongue, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. But inside, I seethed. Why did they always target me? What had I ever done to them?
I remembered the countless times they'd mocked my thrift store clothes, my "poor" lunches. I'd tried to ignore them, to focus on my studies and my dreams, but it was hard when the constant barrage of bullying made me feel like I didn't belong. I was an outcast, a loner at Bayshore High School.
As I closed my locker, I caught a glimpse of Liam, our school rich playboy, Tiffany's boyfriend, watching me with an unreadable expression. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of sympathy, but it was quickly replaced by his usual smirk.
I turned away, feeling a sting of disappointment. Even the popular crowd's golden boy couldn't be bothered to stand up for me.
I decided against wearing the uniform like that, and instead, I headed to the sports field after dropping the uniform with the laundry woman. Coach Jaxon raised an eyebrow as I approached.
"Emilia, where's your P.E. uniform?" he asked, his voice firm but curious.
I apologized, "I, uh, I'm sorry, Coach."
Coach Jaxon's expression softened slightly, but he just nodded. "Alright, well, you'll have to run around the field as your punishment, then."
I nodded, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. As I started running, I could hear the snickers and giggles from the other kids.
I kept my head down, focusing on my footsteps, but I could feel the sting of their words.
As I finished my third lap, Coach Jaxon called out, "Alright, Emilia, you can stop now."
I slowed to a walk, feeling exhausted and humiliated. That's when I saw Liam again. He approached me, Tiffany by his side, her eyes flashing with amusement. "Hey, scholarship girl, tough day, huh?" Liam asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
I felt a surge of anger, but I bit my tongue, refusing to give them the reaction they wanted.
Liam raised an eyebrow, a smirk spreading across his face. "Oh, don't think i am offering you pity, Emilia. You're not like us, and you never will be." He said and bumped into me.
Sighing, I rubbed my arm where Liam had bumped into me.
Liam chuckled and leaned towards me. "Oh, Emilia, you're so sensitive. Can't handle a little bump?"
I rolled my eyes and headed to the basketball court.
"Hey, Emilia." I heard and turned to see Tiffany throw a ball at me, but it hit me right on the nose, and I fell to the ground. I felt a surge of pain and embarrassment as I heard the students burst out laughing.
"Ha! Look at her!" Tiffany cackled, clearly pleased with herself.
I stood up, my face burning with embarrassment, and brushed myself off. But before I could say anything, Coach Jaxon blew his whistle.
"Alright, alright, that's enough," he said, his voice firm. "Back to class, everyone. Now."
The students slowly started to disperse, still snickering and glancing back at me. I felt my face grow even hotter with embarrassment.
Tiffany smirked at me as she walked away, Liam by her side. "You're such a clumsy freak," she whispered, loud enough for me to hear.
Coach Jaxon approached me, a concerned expression on his face. "Emilia, are you okay? That was quite a hit."
I nodded, still feeling embarrassed. "Yeah, Coach. I'm fine."
Coach Jaxon nodded. "Alright, well, let's get you cleaned up. You can't go to class like that."
She led me to the locker room, where I cleaned up and tried to compose myself. But I couldn't shake off the feeling of humiliation and embarrassment. It seemed like no matter what I did, I would always be the target of Tiffany and Liam's cruelty.
********
As I walked into the classroom, our homeroom teacher, Mr. Johnson looked up from his desk, a hint of surprise on her face. "Ah, Emilia. You're a bit late, aren't you?"
I nodded, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. "Sorry, Mrs. Johnson. I had to clean up after... an accident on the field."
Liam, who was sitting in the back of the classroom, snickered. "Yeah, Emilia was playing basketball, and she got hit in the face with the ball," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "She's such a clumsy athlete."
I felt my face grow hot with embarrassment as the class started to snicker. Mrs. Johnson raised an eyebrow. "Well, Emilia, are you okay? That sounds painful."
I nodded, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Mrs. Johnson nodded sympathetically. "Well, take your seat."
I made my way to my seat, trying to ignore the whispers and giggles from my classmates.
"So, as i was saying, you have many things coming up, so brace yourself. " Mr. Johnson, the homeroom teacher, said, looking around.
The class erupted into a chorus of groans and complaints, but Mr. Johnson, the homeroom teacher, just held up his hand for silence.
"Don't forget your test is on Monday, and you all will be grouped in fives to create a study group for your five days excursion trip and your upcoming exam." He paused to look around and continued. "The banner will be pasted very soon."
I groaned inwardly, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. A five-day trip with my classmates? It sounded like a nightmare. And to make matters worse, our grades would depend on how well we worked together as a team during the trip.
I glanced around the room, trying to gauge the reactions of my classmates. Tiffany and her friends were chatting excitedly, no doubt already planning how they would manipulate the situation to their advantage.
Liam, on the other hand, looked uninterested, his eyes fixed on some point outside the window.
I wondered who I would be grouped with for the study group. Please, anyone but Liam, Tiffany, and her friends.
Mr. Johnson continued to explain the details of the trip, but I tuned him out, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. This is going to be the longest five days of my life.
"Class President!" He called, looking around.
"Yes, sir." Rachel, the class president, answered.
"Follow me to my office." He said and left the class, followed by Rachel.
As the teacher left the classroom, the noise level rose again. Everyone started chattering excitedly about the trips and who they wanted to be grouped with. Most of them chose Liam, obviously. But Tiffany won't hear any of that.
*********
I walked into class the next morning. Rachel, the class president, stood at the front of the room, a stack of papers in her hand. "Okay, everyone, please write your name on this piece of paper," she said.
I scribbled my name on the paper and handed it to Rachel, trying to push aside my worries.
Rachel left the room and returned about an hour later with Mr. Johnson.
"I hope you are all preparing for your upcoming test?"
"Yes." Everyone, chorus.
"That's good. I have grouped you all in fives, and Rachel here will call out your name and groups." Rachel cleared her throat.
"Alright, here are the groupings," she said, holding up a sheet of paper. "Group one: Tiffany, Jack, Olivia, Alex and Matt. Group two: Liam, Emilia,..."
My heart sank as I heard my name paired with Liam's. Of all the people I could have been grouped with, it had to be him.
Liam raised an eyebrow as he caught my eye, a smirk spreading across his face.
"Sir, can we change our partners?" Tiffany asked.
"No, you can't. It's already been decided." Mr. Johnson said.
Why did I have to be grouped with the one person who seemed to take pleasure in making my life miserable?
Liam's smirk seemed to grow wider, and I felt a familiar knot in my stomach. I looked away, trying to focus on the rest of the groupings.
"...Sophia and Jerry," Rachel finished.
I sighed inwardly, wondering how I was going to survive this with Liam.
- Writer
