Chapter 1

Kristine

I really didn't have friends till seventh grade but, hey! Everyone at my old school thought I was either a demon or the devil. Once I did get to school people immediately started staring at me. I got nervous so I started fidgeting with the fidget cube I always keep with me. I think one of the kids noticed. I looked at the sheet in my other hand and read it over again it said;

Dear Kristine King,

I will be your buddy for the next few days so you'll have at least one friend here. My name is Payton Osborne and you will be able to find me in room #214 east building. Your locker is floor 2 #295 of the east building. and here's your locker combo 25-16-06. I have a few friends I would like you to meet. Their names are Louise Young and Lilly Hone. I am hoping you'll have a wonderful and fun year! Remember room #214, 8:15 a.m. East Building.

Your friend,

Payton Osborne

Apparently, I wasn't very good at reading and paying attention to where I was going so I accidentally bumped into someone who was in front of me.

"Sorry, I'm so sorry." I took a step back. "I didn't mean to bump into you I was just making my way-"

"It's ok. Don't worry, my name is Louise and you look lost

. Do you need some help?" The redhead- Louise said.

"Yeah, to be honest, I am lost. Wait... your name is Louise? OH! Payton mentioned you in her letter," I said starting to get more excited.

"Ah. I see Payton didn't tell you,"

Louise started. I slouched a little and took a tiny step back. If she noticed she didn't say anything about it.

"Payton uses the pronouns They/them. Me personally, I use She/Her but yeah, Payton uses They/them." Louise finished.

"I didn't realize." I looked around the room to make sure it was empty then continued "I also use They/Them pronouns."

"That's great!" Louise said.

"What's your name?" Louise asked.

"Um... Kristine..."

"How do you spell 'it'"

"K-r-i-s-t-i-n-e"

"No. how do you spell 'it'"

"OH!" I chuckled a little bit. "I-T!"

We both started laughing then she said.

"Holy Hephestaus! We're gonna be

late to Payton's meeting!"

We started walking and talking to room #214. I still noticed people giving us stares so I started fidgeting with the fidget cube in my oversized sweater. We walked a bit farther then I saw the room number 214. Louise opens the door and we immediately hear a person say

"YAY! I'm so happy you two could make it!" said the person turned out to be Payton. Their green eyes flashed wonderfully

.

"Yup! I was just helping out Kristine. They couldn't find this room and I was coming here anyway." Louise said obviously proud of herself.

"Showing off now Louise?" Another voice called.

"Oh hello Lilly! I didn't realize you were here!" Louise answered.

"Would the person standing beside you be Kristine?" Lilly asked then took a step towards me.

"Um... yeah I'm Kristine..." I told her.

"Well, you already know my name is Lilly but it is a pleasure to meet you," she came closer an extended her hand and I shook it.

"Um, nice to meet you too," I said to her.

"Come on Kristine. Do you mind if I call you Kris? Well anyway, come and sit with us!" Payton said their happiness clear. As I looked around I noticed that in fact, everyone else but me was sitting down. I pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Welcome to Willow Creek Middle school, Kris!" Payton welcomed me.

"Thanks, Payton. I'm just really nervous..." I told the group.

"There's no need to be nervous. You have us to deal with anyone who tries to mess with you." Louise announced. My mind went back to my old school 'Trinity School for Girls and Boys'. There was one kid, his name was Denis he... he was the biggest bully in the whole school and the person he decided to bully the most was me. I'd walk into the school and hear the whisper of people

saying 'Vampire' which was something Denis would call me a lot because of my violet eyes. A few minutes later I'd here 'gay' and much, MUCH worse. It's true I am gay well technically lesbian but the way they say it. It hurt me a lot.

Denis was a creepy person. He was always trying to see if I would go out with him. I always told him no and he'd get ready upset. There were days when I'd go home with bruises from where Denis had punched or kicked me earlier. He was always in the grade above me so I got a break from him in fifth grade. But once it got closer to the end of the year my anxiety started worsening again. I already had anxiety but it had gotten better when Denis was not there. The next year I would be in the 6th grade. That's when things would get real again. Once I had gotten to the 6th grade Denis was even worse. He'd use all the worst he could against me. He would tell me I was 'pathetic' a 'crybaby' or even worse a 'Faggot'. It got to the point where he started to tell me to die. That I didn't deserve to be on this Earth. All the friends I had made in the year prior had stopped talking to me except through text. They told me that if Denis saw them talking to me he'd give them all a hard time. I didn't want my friends to suffer so I told them it was fine. I think they saw me get more and more upset as each day past. My mom asked me why I didn't invite friends over anymore and I told her it was nothing they just didn't have time. One day I texted one of my friends to see if they wanted to come over and she said
"Sure! I would love too!" I told her to come on Saturday and we could have

a sleepover at my place. I got home and told my mom. She

was absolutely delighted to hear the news.
That Saturday I awaited the arrival of my friend Annabelle. Sure enough around midday she arrived. I took her

to my room, and we talked until my mom had finished making us lunch. Then Annabelle and I continued talking over the cheese quesadillas my mom had made. After lunch, we went back to my room, and we got to the topic of Denis.
"You've gotta do something about him girl!" Annabelle started. "He's gonna so worse to you if you don't tell"
"He'll plead 'not guilty' and be a teacher's pet. You know this" I told her.
"Well, what happens if I have audio proof?" She asked. I looked over at her like she was crazy. No way could she have dirt on Denis! It was impossible.
"Say if I did believe you. How. How did you do it?" I asked her.
"I happen to be really good friends with one of his cronies. He also happens to owe me a favor for some" she hesitated before continuing "experiences..."
"But- but HOW!?" I glanced around the room before continuing. "It's not like your friend could've but a tape recorder on him..." I trailed off, my eyes widening, as I saw Annabelle's reaction.
"That's exactly what he did isn't it?" I pressed.
"Well yeah, and I have the recording with me. So I can show someone," Annabelle said.

"Annabelle... are we actually going to do this? Are we really going to show this to someone?" I asked her quietly just above a whisper.

Suddenly my door burst open and my mom asked

"Show what to someone?"

"Um... well show this to someone..." Annabelle took out the SD card from her pocket "they are from a kid at school."

"He... um well, he bullies me every day..." I said slowly and quietly.

"HE DOES WHAT?!" My mother shouted then took a moment to breathe. "let me get this straight. He bullied you... and you didn't tell me?"

"Well, I... I didn't know how you'd react, and I know how much worse it would get if I didn't have any evidence and he found out..." I answered kind of ashamed.

"Awww... sweetheart it's alright. Now you have evidence. We can stop him. whoever he is, you never told me." My mom replied.

"Well, his name is Denis Young and he's the biggest bully in our entire school," Annabelle told her.

"Well then. let's take a listen at that SD card!" My mom exclaimed.