After the School Bully Forced a Kiss on Me, My Childhood Friend Lost Control
I have this naturally high-pitched voice.
But Bethany, the campus queen bee, calls it fake and cringey and leads everyone to ice
me out.
After I whine to my childhood best friend,
Jamie, about it, he glances in Bethany’s
direction and creates some distance between
“Bethany has a point, Cleo. Maybe you should hang out with me less.’
I’m stunned, staring at him in disbelief.
Later that week, during the school’s singing
competition, I’m in the dressing room when
the school’s bad boy starts making out with
Jamie bursts through the door, eyes
bloodshot, and punches the dude holding me:
“Get the hell off her!”
1
I walked into our history class and went to sit
next to Jamie. But then this tall, pretty girl
comes up, holding her books.
She’s wearing a cute pleated skirt and stops
in front of me. She glances at Jamie, then
whispers to me, “Excuse me, but this is my
seat.”
I frown, “It’s a lecture hall; seats are first-
come, first-served. There’s another seat in
the back; you can sit there.”
A soft breeze plays with her hair.
She bites her lip, eyes getting a little red. She
looks at Jamie next to me. “Jamie…”
Such a total Karen move.
I ignore her and pull out my book and
notebook from my bag.
mean, Jamie and I have known each other
forever. We’re like siblings. He’s always gone
along with whatever I wanted; there’s no way
he would go against me for someone else.
Even if a total stranger was sitting next to
me, he wouldn’t have any reason to kick me
out, right?
College seats are for whoever gets there first.
But then a long, elegant hand reaches out
and taps on my desk.
I turn my head.
Jamie is smirking slightly, looking at me, “I
actually saved this seat for Bethany. You
should move.”
I look at him in disbelief.
I take my book and throw it on the desk.
“I was here first, so I’m not moving!”
Bethany, standing there, starts to sound like
she’s about to cry.
“Just because you have a baby voice doesn’t
mean you can be mean.”
The whole lecture hall falls silent at her
words.
Everyone turns to look at us.
Even the professor at the front of the class.
