It was bad enough that I hadn’t gotten the score I thought I deserved; even worse now that I’m being publicly humiliated. I blinked back the tears that threatened to form. No; I would not give him or the ss the satisfaction of seeing me cry. Once had been too much!

“How did you even graduate to this grade, freak?” he goatled. “Not only are you a charity case, but it seems that you’re also he stupid. Aren’t you on à schrship? Blue Hill High is wasting it on such a useless student like you! Do they just give schrships to anyone these days?”

That earned him another bout ofughter, and I could tell that he was satisfied by this, because he let his guard down slightly, and lowered his arm just enough that I was able to snatch my paper away from him.

However, he was quick to react and tried to pull it away as I grabbed it, and the tug of war that proceeded between us finally made the paper rip down the middle, causing another bout ofughter as if I had just performed some clownish trick.

Finally, Shane let the paper go and I quickly picked it up from the floor, cradling it against my chest.

“That’s enough!” Mr. Hemming snapped at everyone, before his venomous gaze turned to me. “Miss. Valentine, you should be ashamed considering your poor performance in the exam. Behave yourself!”

“But I-!” I tried to protest, but was cut off once again.

“Get back to your seat, Miss. Valentine! And stay back after ss,” Mr. Hemming continued. “You and I need to talk.”

I couldn’t help but notice that even though Mr. Hemming interrupted our little fight, he still put the entire me on me and let Shane off without even a warning.

And I knew it was because of Shane’s reputation. I was a nobody, and so I was the easier target. Shane and his group were the school’s elite, whose parents funded most of the school’s activities. So they were basically royalty.

The unfairness of it all left a gash on my chest. Still…there was nothing I could do about it. I had no power to go against the rich and famous people in my school, especially when I had no one to back me up.

“Is this understood?” he pressed, waiting for an answer.

I nodded before I slumped my shoulders in defeat, nodding, “Yes, sir.”

“Alright,” he said with a shrug. As I stumbled back to my seat/at the far end of the room, I heard some sniggers from the other students, causing me to sigh at their behavior.

Wasn’t it fun to be the spectator while others get bullied? No one wanted to mess with Caleb and his gang.

Finally, after a grueling forty five minutes of photosynthesis, the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the day.

The entire ss immediately packed up and started to clear out of the room one after the other. I stayed back as Mr. Hemming asked me, sitting quietly and drumming my fingers on the desk to alleviate some of my anxiety.

Waiting for the rest of the ss to pour out, Mr. Hemming began to clear his table, putting away stacks of papers and markers.

I watched as Caleb and his friends were thest to leave the room. And I couldn’t help but notice how he had his arm around Caroline again, gently escorting her out the room.

And as much as I hated to acknowledge it, felt a tightening sensation in my chest, like my heart was being squeezed by invisible fingers as I watched them leave together.

But why was I feeling this way… this twinge of jealousy? It was ridiculous! I had nothing to be jealous of; after all, they were a couple…weren’t they?

But why did this weird sense of hope in my chest refuse to die? Why did I feel drawn towards Caleb like a moth to ame?

And most of all…why did I feel this sense of foreboding in my gut that there was more that meets the eyes?

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