Stigma

~*The Beginning*~

Delia was nervous. She thought she wouldn't be but she was. The first day to class was making her jittery and cold. Her hands were slightly shaking and it felt like she could throw up any moment. She wished Wendy was here but like everything in life she had to face it alone.

What could be the worst situation? They will hate me or maybe ignore and neither of the feelings was new.

She tried to calm herself all the way to the class with people excitedly chatting about movies and their favorite new song or the latest book they read. But she just pretended to stare at her phone and scroll down art feeds on Instagram. She reached the class as listed on the schedule and went and sat down on the first empty seat she found in a large lecture hall. 

No one came to sit next to her as she expected as the hall filled up slowly. 

She had mostly five subjects to handle this semester and that included Art History, Graphic Art, 2-D Art, Fine Arts, and Art Management. The last one doesn't even make sense for someone like her but she had to do it no matter what.

The teacher walked in who was a man may be in his last forties and had a thin hairline. He had square lens glasses and an unkempt greying beard. He greeted them with no enthusiasm in his dull tone and without welcome to the college speech he started with Art History. The subject interested her very much as he dwelled deep on each artwork and their artists.

Unlike his way of greeting and the way he dragged himself his way of teaching was good and he explained everything well enough for students to stay attentive in his face. The hour passed by soon enough and Delia decided she liked the subject and the teacher even though he would rather be anywhere but here.

Till lunch, everything went smoothly. She even escaped introduction in second class which was fine arts. Even though she liked her artwork, she was still not brave enough to show it to the world while giving an introduction of herself.

But that was stretch of her luck. She grabbed her lunch and to avoid sitting in the cafeteria she headed to another place where she could have lunch and spotted few people sitting outside near the stairs next to a beautiful graffiti wall obviously work done by art students. 

People sat there in groups or someone alone doing last minute work or just simply doodling on a sketchpad. As soon as she was about to sit, someone called her out.

"Excuse me, fresher." It was a male voice and she turned to find out that he was with accompanied by two girls and three other guys.

"Me?" She confirmed hoping they would refuse.

"Yes, you. That is our place." He said and Delia sighed.

Bullies.

She dealt with enough of them since she was in school. She started out as a weak person but weaker you are more they prey on you.

"It's okay. I will just move." She said cordially not trying to annoy them or pick a fight with them.

"But it's not okay." The girl next to the boy next.

She had sleek black hair tied in a high ponytail. She had done her make up with perfection and her green eyes were set on Delia promising trouble and menace. She was a sadist like the friends she hung out with.

"Oh, but Steve, it's okay. If she can do a little lap dance for Tim here, she can sit anywhere she wants."

That was it and Delia got up ready to leave in silence. But as soon as she was about to leave Steve caught her wrist.

"Where do you think you are doing?" He said with a nasty smile.

"Away from childish behavior."

And saw the girl raise her hand to slap her but she stopped her using her free hand.