A bullied girl meets the popular new student.
*****
"Still saying that you're perfectly okay?" Max whispers.
I'm surprised to hear that his voice is shaking.
"I'm going to find who did this to you."
*****
One time, I was the most popular girl in sch...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Everything else falls into place not long after that night with Max near the river.
The rumor about me being a druggie has been countered by Dad and Aiden. Those media exposing false rumors about me quickly make another statement, now revealing the truth.
It may take longer to make the rumors completely gone, but since the truth is out and the culprits are now paying for their mistakes, our family can now finally breathe.
I know for sure that Dad and Aiden want to destroy the people who made me suffer, but when I see that those media only expose their initials -- such as RP -- I somehow feel slightly relieved.
I've never liked war, although I can't help but feel that something is off.
Yet, that doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that my heart is finally at ease. This incident has taught me how wrong it was for me to succumb to my fear, and how important it is to trust the people who love me.
Now that I step out of the car and stare at the building of my school, Royal Heights, a sigh leaves my lips. How long have I not been in school? It has been almost two weeks, I guess.
When I step into the corridor, people stare at me, as usual. When would they not stare?
I head to my class and notice how they look at me. Some pity me, some have guilt on their faces, while some other still look at me with disgust. No matter what happens, there would always be those people who hate me and choose to not believe the truth.
When I arrive at my class, most of my classmates are already here, talking to each other about their weekends, their celebrity crushes, and so on -- just like any other morning.
A soft smile touches my lips -- I'm grateful that I still can go to high school like a normal teenager. I can't say that what happened to me is categorized as normal, but still, I'm grateful.
An empty desk in the second row catches my attention. It's Rory's.
She's gone.
After everything that has happened, she can't be here anymore, for sure.
Pain strikes as I remember everything that has happened between us. But strangely, I don't feel sorry for her. She hasn't only hurt me but also the people dear to me.
I settle at my desk and sigh. The noises around me fade out as I remember how Dad and Aiden despise this school. They hate me being here, but I don't want to move.
It would be such a hassle to transfer to another school.
Besides, I've been doing just fine here in terms of academic records, although it's not the main reason why I stay.
An abrupt movement from the door makes me look up, and there he is, Max, his breathing fast as he arrives. He looks like he just ran all the way here.
