Chubby Duckling

5: Bully or Doxy

"I'm gonna kill her."

Elly stared daggers at the back of Tiffany’s head. "I'm really gonna do it."

"We believe you," I tell her. "But you can't. We won't visit you in prison."

"Why not?" Elly whined as she takes a banana peel off my head.

"Because the prison here doesn't have vending machines." Addy answered as she put her handkerchief under the running water of the bathroom faucet.

"Ugh! You and your snacks!" Elly frustratedly massaged her temples. "Wait- how do you know that?"

Addy just smiled at her deviously before continuing with wiping the side of my face where a goop of funny-smelling purple slime was dripping down.

"Okay, okay! I won't kill her. But can I at least kick her in the shin?" Elly pleaded.

Addy and I laughed.

"No." Addy said as she crossed her arms.

I shook my head. "It doesn't even matter. I told you, it was an accident."

"Accident my ass! How can they accidentally pour trash on you?"

"Jessica was taking out the trash when she slipped-"

"You honestly believe that? Why would she take out the trash anyway? We have janitors for that!" Elly is still fuming with anger.

Tiffany who had been crushing on Matthew Evans, only laughed and didn't believe that he was planning to ask me out. But when she heard about the rumor that I was Matthew's stalker fan who stole his underwear...As a true fan herself, who only wants to protect her idol, she didn't want me near Matthew and gave me a warning.

When Addy and Elly left my side after lunch to go to the library and save us seats, and I went to stop by my locker first to get a book that I needed to return, Tiffany and Matthew's other fans found me.

It's a sad reality that people at school only tolerate me. If it weren't for the goddesses' protection, I would have long transferred because of bullies.

"...she's just jealous that the rumors say you're the beautiful freshman he met at the party who rejected him."

I don't know how me punching him turned into me rejecting him, but I blushed at the thought that some people called me beautiful, "Pfft-! No one's saying that!" I cover my burning cheeks.

"Not now they don't! Now you're the psycho who stole and sniffs his filthy boxers. No thanks to that guy! I ought to kick him too!"

"Stop." Addy scolded Elly before she sighed, "Be serious. We can't prove that he started that rumor. Besides, we're no better. We also spread a lie about him, remember?"

Right, I thought. I had my friends start a rumor with me at lunch time.

"I'm sorry." I bowed my head in shame. I always drag them into my problems. Sometimes I wonder if they're ever tired of me, will they abandon me like my mom?

Both of them reached for me and consoled me, saying that it wasn't like that. "I'm just saying, getting physical is too much compared to just telling a lie," Addy explained.

The warning bell rang and Addy quickly gave me her cardigan to cover my ruined shirt. But just like how the cardigan couldn't completely cover the mess because it's too small, it also couldn't cover the smell. The stench of the garbage dumped on me was too strong that even Elly's expensive perfume barely made a difference.

"I give up. It's fine. Let's just go to class or we'll be late." I told my friends who hesitantly complied.

When I entered the classroom, everyone looked at me and covered their noses, except for Andrew, who was sleeping on his desk again in complete ignorance and bliss. Tiffany and her friends were snickering and Addy had to literally stop Elly from doing something that'll get her into trouble.

It was a good thing that not long after the final bell, the teacher for our last class of the day came in. Andrew woke up in time for the lecture and removed his jacket.

"It's so hot...bastards turned off the AC again already." He mumbled to himself as he looked at the AC vent, then at me.

He shoved me his jacket and said, "here, you look like you're cold." He furrowed his eyebrows and gave me a look that said I was weird for feeling cold.

I wasn't cold. But I put on his jacket which, because of his tall frame, fit me.

Since it was decided during lunch that I will confront Matthew to stop the rumors today after class, I couldn't concentrate on the lecture.

Elly and Addy were supposed to come with me as a support, but Addy had an errand to run and Elly was expected in a fancy dinner by her father. So, when the end of the day finally came, I was the last one out the door.

I dropped my things off in my locker and then used the bathroom. I tried again to wash my face and do something about the smell but it was clearly a task that only a shower could fix. I was unconsciously delaying the inevitable because I was nervous of confronting him alone.

When there was nothing else left to do, I slowly made my way to the gym where Matthew is practicing with his teammates. I inconspicuously sat at the farthest bleacher to wait for them to finish their practice.

It was the first time I saw Southridge High's basketball team play and I was honestly impressed. Matthew was good and made a couple of 3-point shots. But it was another player that caught my eye. The one I told my friends about that I've been crushing on. The reason why I wanted to go to the party.

Carter Davies.

He's so handsome. I didn't get to see him at the party, but it was probably for the best. It would have been embarrassing to face him in my feathery outfit.

Every time Carter scored, I tried my hardest not to scream and cheer. I almost forgot that I came to talk to Matthew and not to watch them play.

When the coach announced that practice was over, I got up and waited patiently outside the door of their change room. Matthew was one of the last ones to come out. And he was with Carter.

I was surprised to see them together. I didn't know they were close friends.

"Uh...h-hi," I mumbled.

"What's that smell?" Carter asked and I tightened Andrew's jacket around me.

"Hey, I'll see you tomorrow. Go." Matthew ordered Carter.

Carter didn't even look at me and hurried for the door. It made me dislike Matthew more. He's so bossy.

We were finally alone and one look at him had me seething in anger. I looked him straight in the eye and cleared my throat, "Do you have a death wish?"

He didn't reply and only blinked so I continued, "Look, I don't know what you're playing at, but stop it. I'm not interested in you, okay? I understand that you might have been intrigued by me because I don't know? I'm the first girl to ever punch you?" I speculated as I raised an eyebrow. "And I'm the only one who treated you the way I did and maybe it was a refreshing change for you from all the other girls out there who flock at your feet. But I'm not like them, I won't flock at your feet just because you're a little good looking and pretty popular, because I like someone else. So, sorry." I said in one breath that I had to loudly intake air when I finished and bowed my head in an apology.

When he didn't say anything and only stared at me, I hesitantly smiled and started to leave.

"Hold up," he adjusted his bag and jogged after me. He looked like he was getting an aneurysm. "If anyone's apologizing here, it should be me. I'm sorry about what happened...at the party."

I was surprised how sincere he looked, but then he continued with, "Let's make it up to each other. Have dinner with me."

Make it up to each other? And is he ordering me to have dinner with him??

"What do you mean?" I try my hardest not to show how irritated I am.

"Well, you did punch me and started that rumor about me being gay. Do you know how many indecent proposals I got?"

"After you harassed me and spread that rumor that I stole your underwear!"

"I didn't harass you!"

"Yes you did! You were all over me!" I put my hands over my shoulder to cover my chest. "You know what? I take back my apology for rejecting you. And you deserve that punch!" I started to walk away.

"Wait!"

He ran after me again and held my wrist. I looked at his hand and then at him, and he immediately let go.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He said through gritted teeth. "You're right, it's all my fault. So, how about that dinner, huh?"

I scoffed. "Seriously?" He only smiled expectantly. "No." I deadpanned and turned to leave.

"Listen, Chammy - can I call you Chammy?" He said as he followed.

"No. We're not close enough to be on the first name basis, Evans."

"You know what? I don't need your permission, I'll call you Chammy." He smiled sweetly and matched my pace.

"Why bother asking then?"

"To be polite."

"Ugh! What is it? I've apologized, you've apologized, what more is there to talk about?" I stopped walking to look at him and crossed my arms.

"That dinner. What do you say? Friday night, meet me at Gino's at 7pm. It's a date!"

Is he serious or is he deaf? I know I clearly told him that I like someone else. Why does he still insist on this dinner and even call it a date? He's insane.

I stare at him in wonder and when I couldn't figure out what he was thinking, I just grunted and turned to walk away.

"Why are you following me?"

"Because you haven't answered my invitation to dinner."

"Oh so that was an invitation?" I bit out sarcastically. "What part of No, do you not understand?"

"That part." He smiled. He's incorrigible!

"Are you gonna follow me around until I say yes?"

"Yup!" He annoyingly said making the 'p' sound pop.

I groaned.