CHAPTER FOUR (unedited)

--- Kindly put your playlist here ---

"FUCK YOU
Here's a big fuck you
To all the two faced bitches
Back stabbers
Fake ass friends
The Exes
And every no one else who doesn't like me"

- 3am THOUGHTS

Song:
Logic - 1-800-273-8255 ft Alessia, Khalid

                          * * * *

ANNIE

No. God Please!

"Girls, isn't this fucking amazing?" I don't need to see who it is to recognise that voice. I grit my teeth and plaster a smile on my face. Turning on my heels, I drop my hood, coming face to face with the Queen bee —herself and her minions. "Annie is back!"

Sheesh! Now all eyes are on me.

Come what may, this fifteen minutes fame will fade as it's her usual routine which doesn't help me score any popularity point but just hateful glares.

Standing there in her skimpy black leather skirt with an even skimpier white off-shoulder top and a black chocker. A pair of black knee-high heels. Her long wavy dark hair falls, half in front and the rest at the back. Her skin is as usual the perfect caramel color and her outfit accentuates the emeralds green in her eyes. She isn't just an 'It Girl', she is 'The It Girl'.

Leigh is a stunner and she feeds on it. It's no wonder every guy on our school wants to date her, not to mention the models and celebrities who didn't attend our school but battle for her attention. It was a total shock she settled for Hunter.

"Leigh." I say, acknowledging her presence.

"Hi, Annie." She smiles, pretending as the two-faced person that she is. "How was your Scotland trip?"

Just as I am about to give an answer, she suddenly interrupts me.

"Thanks for asking, I didn't take a trip out but my summer was great nonetheless. Hunter, you know Hunter, your NEW EX-BEST FRIEND that I'm currently dating? Well, we went on the most romantic dates!" She smirks and adds. "I tagged you on Instagram so I'm sure you saw the pictures."

I tighten my grip on my books, nodding. Of course she did. "I am happy for you." Leigh knows Hunter is my weak spot. That I loved him and I have been crushing on him for the past four years but hooked up with him anyways.

It was as though she had just woken up one fine day and was dead set to ruin her ex best friend's life.

Sigh.

And I never saw it coming.

"Yea, you should," she turns cold. "Cute boots."

"Thanks, I got them on Etsy. And they're vintage."

"I don't care bitch, they're UGGSS." She huff away after giving me a nasty look. It's a shame really, that her pretty name and face is wasted on such an ugly personality. I refuse to believe she is the same person I was best friends with for all those years. We would tell eachother everything, from secrets to crushes.

Everything.

So much for going invisible to the eyes of human.

I try to ignore the other students smirking, trying to hide their laughters, or nodding their heads in approval at the hush —not so hush whispers as I pass them.

'She's got what she deserved.'

'I'm never shopping on Etsy.'

'What is she doing with her extra weight?'

'Poor girl. What's her name again?'

Oh yeah, the most hilarious one.

'I heard she warms Hunter's bed in exchange for his friendship.'

'Slut' 

Holy crap!

How can they be so insensitive with their words? I am human and I have feelings for crying out loud. I virtually want to go back to my car and drive home. Give up and admit I can't face this school year. Hell, how can I with all this rumours? But I know I got to make it through it all. So I blink back my tears, bite the inside of my cheeks, and compel myself to turn a blind eye to everything that cause me to remember how lonesome I am.

A step at a time.

I keep going.

•

•

•

I step into my first class which is Chemistry a little late but yet it's perfectly fine since the teacher, a man in his early forties walks in 10 minutes late to his own class and sets his briefcase on the teacher's desk. I have no choice but to sit on the left side of the classroom, second row from the back.

"Once again, I welcome you to your senior year." Mr Fleming starts. "I know you all had a great vacation but that's all over. Now is the time to put in your hard work!"

Everyone starts to groan and it takes a moment for him to get them all calm again.

"Okay as I've mentioned last week, I have this entire school year planned out that there's exactly two weeks for revision before each semester's exam. Which means all given activities —projects and tests will be on a steady pace. Most likely one after the other but the first task for the year is an assignment. Afterwards, the next projects will all be done in pairs." He announce the pairing.

In a state of panic, a whispered question goes round the room, "Do we get to decide who we pair with?"

I for one, do not give a tinker's cuss who partners with me as long as it isn't any drama queen or a bully. On a second thought, I will prefer a male partner because they are easy to deal with whether a slacker or an achiever. Anyways, I am accustomed to whichever. After giving reasons why no one pick their partner, he clears his throat and bring out a paper I assume would be a list. "Pay close attention to your names and that of your pair."

"Sincerely and Christian," Mr Fleming starts calling and a hand shoot up.

"Is that me, or Christian Peterson?" A guy I assume is Christian ask.

"That would be your Christian, sorry about that." He corrects. Christian nods and wink at the girl on the opposite side of the room.

"Harry Style and Tessa Young,"

"Lara-Jean Covey and Peter Kavinsky,"

"Jade Collins and Eros Petrakis,"

"James-Talon Harrington and Keeley Brewer,"

"Santana Klaus and Daemon Mathews,"

"Thomas Walker and Luke Parker," He procedes on and on, as some of them rejoice while the others groan acknowledging the names of their partners.

"Annie West and Cameron Anderson."

Cameron Anderson? The name doesn't ring a bell, and that is okay, given that I used to have a very small number of friends —now zero. Hell, I can't even put faces to most of the names I heard today. So I don't know if I should be overjoyed or disappointed. I jot down his name in my book as I tend to forget things if I don't write them down.

Mr Fleming finish with the pairing. He starts to go through the topic Electrolysis and its theory, the chemical change produced by passing an electric current through a conducting solution or a molten salt. Later, he hands over the assignment which is for us to research and study vastly on said topic. Before leaving the class afterwards, signaling the end of it.

*

At the end of my second class, I dash out as speedy as my legs will let me. I am so pressed. The people in the hallway keep on looking my way as I walk through and it makes me feel a bit hunted. I wish I can tell them all to fuck off and get a freaking life!

Knowing me, I will probably piss my pants before I tell them that.

Attention scares me shitless.

The line of people waiting to use the washroom is long for me to wait as well. My best bet will be to go use the third floor washroom aka — the shagging room.

A place where plenty relationship were kickstarted, virginities were lost, beauty drifted away from sanity and beast showed their demons.

It is located at the end of the corridor after climbing a three flights stairs and walking a whole floor to get there. It was now mostly used by couples... After all, no person in their right mind who really needs to take a piss would trek that long to get to a washroom.

Except me.

I walk fast into the nearest stall and sigh. But in the middle of cleaning up, I hear the door slam open, then shut. Follow by moaning and rustling of clothes. Peeping through a tiny hole to see them wrestling with their mouth and body. 

Just my luck!

        --- THANKS FOR READING ---

Author's Note: Stop the Bullying!!! You should never have to bring down others to feel good about yourself.

I know you find it fun but trust me, it wouldn't be funny anymore if roles were reversed. Imagine being bullied for something you have no control over, like —your skin colour, height, race, being intelligent, being a rich kid....

I can't wait for Annie to start making new friends.

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{18th of August, 2020}