Chapter 12: Bully
1212 Words
Elara’s POV
“.....And the cerebellum is allocated at the base of the brain as we all know it, it helps in coordination and posture.” The professor uttered, adjusting his glasses properly on his nose bridge. Mr Oscar's gaze drifted round the classroom, searching for an ill-behaved student to ask a question.
“However, each component works in union with the others. Keep that in mind.”
I quickly scribbled notes into my book, my pen moving so fast as I tried to keep up with every word Professor Oscar said. He was a really nice professor who did all he could to enlighten us all.
His voice echoed through the quiet class, the room being as silent as a graveyard as no one dared to make a sound.
I could feel his sharp eyes scanning the room from one student to the other and I sat still, praying silently that he wouldn’t call my name. My pen trembled a little in my hand as I wrote.
Science wasn’t exactly my strongest subject, but I was trying my best. After the drama that had happened earlier today, I didn't wish to have a bad day again.
Mr Oscar suddenly stopped talking.
“Hey…. You…. Kyla. On your feet, young lady.” he ordered, his finger slightly pointed at Kyla.
Kyla, who had her eyes buried in her phone, raised her head, surprise etched on her face.
The entire class turned.
Mr Oscar stepped closer, disappointment heavy in his tone.
“I’ve told this class over and over again, phones stay in your bag during lecture hours.” His eyes narrowed. “This is a place of learning, Ms Pratt. Not whatever corner of chaos you live in outside these walls.”
The class held its breath.
Kyla scoffed. “It was just a message—”
“Then reply when you are not in my class.” He cut her off sharply.
Then he turned, his gaze landing on me.
“Look at Ms Elara,” he said, pointing, and a cold drop of dread slid down my spine. “She struggles in this subject yet she is focused, attentive, willing. She tries. That is what a student should be.”
A few heads turned toward me. I raised an eyebrow, I wonder why he even called me?
Kyla’s jaw clenched, Her eyes slid to me slowly, she did not look happy. I've been feeling very confident since the cafeteria incident. I don't want to go back to who I was before, a scared pup who couldn't even look at people's faces. So I did something the old me would have never done.
I smiled and Kyla, not a big small but a polite one, she looked looked livid and then I turned back to the boated ignoring her existence
She flipped her hair and then smiled like nothing bothered her, just to keep face. Twice she had been humiliated today, But I saw the flare of anger behind her smile
She gathered her bag with a dramatic shove, chair screeching as she pushed it back.
“Whatever.” she hissed and stormed out.
The classroom exhaled. Professor Oscar continued, not even caring
All I wanted to do was go home, today was more than I could have imagined.
---
School was finally over, Draven had already texted me to meet him at the parking lot, I might have to tell him what happened in class. Maybe he would be proud of me.
I'm so dumb why would he care?
I walked out quietly, hugging my books, and running as fast as I could to catch up. I had spent too much time at the library, the halls were practically empty. Before I could leave–
A hand grabbed my wrist.
Then another.
Then pain.
They dragged me, quick and rough, down the hall and into the empty bathroom. The door slammed.
Kyla, and her two less intelligent minions were right beside her.
“So,” she laughed, “Miss Teacher’s Pet thinks she’s better than me now?”
Before I could speak, the first hit came.
Then another.
Then the third, she used her wolf strength and my face hurt badly, blood dripping down my nose.
My back slammed into the sink. Someone yanked my hair. Someone kicked my stomach. The world blurred. My ears rang like bells underwater.
She takes a fist full of my hair.
“Know your place you mutt, don't you ever talk to me like that in front of people ever again.
She throws me to the floor and they kick my stomach then my legs, everywhere hurt.
“Stop,” I choked, voice cracking, “please—”
They laughed.
Kyla leaned forward, grabbed my chin hard.
“You don’t get to look at me. You don’t get to be compared to me.”
Then she spit at me.
Her friends followed like it was a game.
My knees buckled.
My hands shook.
My body curled in on itself.
And in my head, the words came uninvited:
I should have kept quiet.
I should have stayed hidden.
Why did I even smile?
Why did I think I could be better? It's all his fault, he shouldn't have given me hope.
I had spent years learning how to be invisible.
Why couldn’t I stick to it?
They finally stopped when Kyla heard foot steps and they all scurried away
The bathroom felt colder once they left.
I stood up slowly, wiping my face with trembling fingers, trying to steady my breathing. The mirror reflected someone small, bruised, pathetic.
I ran out.
And of course, the universe hated me because Draven was right in front of the school doors.
His eyes caught mine immediately.
I turned my face away, hiding it with my hair, trying to walk past him like I was nothing more than air.
But he saw right through it
“Elara.” His voice was calm. His beautiful green eyes observed my face. The way he looked at me, his eyes were full of care like I was his real girlfriend and for a minute I couldn't look away, tears threatened to leave my eyes.
“You're bleeding, who did this to you?” He questioned, I looked away. I didn’t say a word, I felt like the old me, the one who would rather die in silence than speak up.
His eyes trailed to the side just in time to see Kyla walking out the second exit , swinging my torn tie proudly before tossing it into a trash bin.
Draven watched her do it.
He didn’t move.
He didn’t speak.
But a slow smile formed on his face was not kind or soft
He placed his hand at the small of my back and guided me to his car.
“Let's go.”
I did. I was trembling not because of what Kyle did you me but because Draven smiled. It didn't reach his eyes.
The door shut softly.
The world went silent.
“Sweet Sweet Kyle.” he whispered. He looked over to me and said. He looked over at me and smiled but this time reaching his eyes. “I'll protect you.”
Kyla had just signed her fate
- Writer
