sixteen → jade west

jade gets bullied

Seated in a corner of the Hollywood Arts library, Jade was engrossed in a play script, the words flowing in tune with the music pumping in her ears through her headphones. The world outside was drowned out, or at least that was the intention.

A group of students sauntered over, blocking her light. Jade looked up, her piercing gaze meeting their smug expressions. The leader of the group, a guy from her History class, sneered, "Look guys, it's Amy Lee. Still trying to look like a vampire?"

Jade took off her headphones, her sharp tongue ready with a comeback. "Well, it's better than trying to look like a reject from a bad reality TV show," she retorted. The words felt hollow, even to her. It was clear that the bullies were unperturbed.

Her cutting remarks, once feared, now felt dull. Her isolating existence was taking a toll on her. They laughed, leaving her with their cruel laughter echoing in her ears. Jade put her headphones back on, but the music no longer held any joy for her.

*

Jade stood at the front of the classroom, nerves calm and focused as she began her oral presentation. The classroom was unusually quiet, a sea of faces staring back at her. It was a core class, one she didn't share with her friends, but Jade was no stranger to standing alone.

Jade had spent hours pouring over the history lesson, making sure to cover every detail with painstaking precision. She spoke clearly and confidently, each fact flowing seamlessly into the next. The class listened, though some seemed more interested in their phones or whispering amongst themselves.

When she finished, Jade looked at the teacher, who gave her a nod of approval. "Excellent work, Miss West. Your comprehension of the material is impeccable."

Instead of the usual applause that followed a well-executed presentation, the class erupted in subdued snickers and whispers.

"Wow, Amy Lee is such a teacher's pet," a voice snarked from the back, causing a ripple of laughter.

"Amy Lee the history nerd," another student chimed in, the sneer in their voice unmistakable.

Jade held her head high, refusing to show her annoyance. She retook her seat, ignoring the murmuring. She wasn't going to let them see her rattled. Not now, not ever.

But as the snide comments continued, each one stinging a little more than the last, Jade couldn't help but feel the weight of the bullying pressing down on her. It was like a storm cloud on an otherwise bright day, its looming presence threatening to turn everything to rain.

*

The hallways of Hollywood Arts were always bustling with activity, but for Jade, they had become a maze of whispers and judgmental stares. The aftermath of her breakup with Beck had been brutal. She felt like an outsider in her own school, a place she once considered her sanctuary.

Jade had always been a strong, independent individual, but the constant bullying had taken its toll. The name-calling, the rumors, the isolation - it was all too much. She missed her friends, but the fear of rejection and the belief that she was the cause of all the chaos kept her away. She felt like a pariah, convinced that she was unwanted and unneeded.

Lunchtimes were the hardest. The cafeteria was a battleground, filled with the bullies who took pleasure in tormenting her; and on top of it, she had to avoid the friends she felt she had lost.

To avoid the stares and the whispers, Jade had taken to hiding in the library, immersing herself in her studies. But sometimes, the hunger would become too much to bear.

On one such day, Jade found herself sneaking into the girls' bathroom, locking herself in the last stall. She placed her backpack on the windowsill, pulling out a sandwich and a packet of nuts. As she ate, she tried to drown out the world outside, focusing only on the food in front of her. But the weight of her isolation pressed down on her, making every bite feel like a chore.