TEENAGE DREAM

Chapter 2

The threat

"I think you've got a new secret admirer, not so secret."

"What are you talking about, Jen?"

I was in school, having lunch outside with Jen, considering it was an amazing sunny day. We were sitting on the grass while she was doing her Math homework and I was trying to do that shit extra homework of my Spanish class. I wasn't getting anything at all, I was bad-tempered and on top I had no idea what Jen was talking about. I only wanted to finish that homework, otherwise I was going to be forced to miss my first day at the club Donuts and Coffee, and therefore I was going to miss the chance to see that sexy cheerleader.

"The geek girl, Darren." Jen answered, still doing mathematical calculations.

"Don't call her geek, it's not nice." I said trying to complete for the third time the same incomplete sentence in Spanish.

"Are you kidding me, Darren?" Jen exclaimed in disbelief, now looking up to me and I just shrugged. "You always called her geek. Why would you change your mind now? It's not as if you're lying when you call her geek."

"Could be. Maybe she is, maybe not. I don't know, Jen." I shrugged indifferently, trying to focus on my Spanish homework but Jen wasn't helping. "I was just saying it isn't nice to call her like that. You wouldn't like to be called like that, so if you wouldn't like it, don't do it."

"What is wrong with you, Darren? Yesterday you were calling her geek and now you say we shouldn't call her like that. Who understands you?" Jen asked, looking at me incredulous. Her face just made me laugh, she always used to tell me I had that ability to change my mind every second, and she was right.

"You do, that's why you're my best friend." I answered, tickling her playfully until she punched my arm playfully while laughing. "My point is...we both saw her performance yesterday, Jen."

"Yes, it was a damn good one. I didn't know she was good at acting, I never saw her in any drama class." Jen said thoughtful and I returned to my Spanish homework.

"That's because she never took any drama class. She was there only because of her punishment, you know, for what she did in my Spanish class." I replied while shrugging and again bad-tempered because of that stupid exercise of Spanish.

"How do you know it?" Jen asked curious.

"I talked to her, she told me." I answered and I threw away my notebook, frustrated because there was no way to do that Spanish homework. "I give up with this shit. There's no way to do this stupid homework." I said leaning against the tree behind me and I looked at Jen, who finished doing her math homework long time ago and was now looking at me frowning. "What?"

"Why do you talk to her?" Jen asked curious and still frowning.

"I don't know, Jen. Why do I talk to you? I just talk to everybody." I answered shrugging. I couldn't get why Jen was asking me about that girl, and besides I had no idea why we were talking about her in the first place.

"But Darren, she's not like everybody. She's weird and if you keep talking to her you're gonna get in trouble." Jen said serious. Why was she so upset?

"And what if she isn't like everybody? I just don't see what the problem of talking to her is. It's not like she's my friend or something. I just met her yesterday and I talked to her because, I don't know, to be nice." I said shrugging. I was starting to get annoyed because I didn't want to talk about that girl, I was just anxious to see the cheerleader later. "And I don't even know why we're talking about her."

"Because I told you that you've got a new secret admirer. And, obviously, I was talking about that girl." Jen responded while looking away.

"That's ridiculous, Jen." I replied in disbelief. I was thinking that Jen was making up things in her mind only because I talked to that girl yesterday.

"It's not. Listen, we never saw that girl before and now it seems she's always wherever you are. And have you noticed the way she looks at you? It seems she's eye-fucking you every time she looks at you, Darren." Jen said with eyes wide open and aghast. I couldn't help laughing out loud. She was overreacting and it was funny.

"Then I'll have to make sure to wear hot underwear." I joked still laughing but Jen didn't laugh.

"I'm serious, Darren. Beware of her. I'm pretty sure that her intentions with you are far from being nice and friendly." Jen said serious and worried, still looking away exactly at the same point. "Look, she's there now. Why would she be there? She knew we were here, so she just came here. Because you're here and she wants to eye-fuck you." Jen said looking at the only girl who was outside alone, leaning against a tree not so far from where Jen and I were. She seemed to be a lonely girl and I stared at her in silence for a while.

"Well, I guess we'll have to find it out." I said standing up, smiling amused.

"What? What are you doing Darren? Oh no, you aren't planning to talk to her now and here, are you?" Jen asked in disbelief and altered. I just laughed because of her reaction.

"It could be fun. And we'll find out if she wants to eye-fuck me or not. Fortunately I'm wearing hot underwear." I joked laughing out loud and I started walking towards that weird and lonely girl.

"You're crazy, Darren." Jen sighed in disbelief but anyway she followed me.

That day you woke up feeling better than the day before. That drama class helped you a lot to feel better and you still couldn't believe that some people listened to what you were holding back for so long. And you still couldn't believe you got to talk to Darren Everett Criss. Yes, now you knew his name and it was beautiful. You always imagined how it would be to talk to him, to meet him; you always dreamed of that moment. Of course, you didn't meet him the way you dreamed of, but you met him after all, and that was what mattered. You got to see every feature of his face and he was perfect. Yet, you didn't know what to think about him. On one hand, he seemed to be ashamed to be around you, you noticed it when he helped you and he looked around to check if someone was looking at him; he seemed to be uncomfortable with you. But on the other hand, he helped you and no one helped you before; and in the drama class he sat next to you to talk to you, and he was very nice. Maybe he was only ashamed to be seen in public with you, but he wasn't ashamed to be seen with you in front of his friends. You didn't know. It was kind of sad to think about it, but at the same time you were really happy because this was what you always wanted and you couldn't complain. You actually never thought you would get to talk to him.

Even though you were excited to see Darren Everett Criss again, you were also scared to go to school that day. You didn't know what those popular guys could do to you, you just didn't trust anyone. You couldn't get why your sister was with them and was laughing at you instead helping you. Yes, you never had a good relationship with her, but she was your sister anyway, and if she were in your shoes, you'd help her. When you returned home the day before, she didn't even apologize and she didn't talk to you, neither did you. That day, you decided to go to school walking and not with your sister in her car. On your way to school nothing interesting happened, but it was good to go walking, it helped you to clear your mind and think about anything but your fear of going to school.

When you arrived at school, a lot of people whispered gossip about you while you were passing by them. Yes, you should have expected something like that. Of course they were talking about how that popular football player called Brian Clerk hit you the day before. Of course they were talking about your bruised eye and your broken nose. You just tried to ignore their comments and you just walked to your locker, hoping not to see Brian and his friends. If there was something you hated about school was the bullying, the gossips, the discrimination and hypocrisy. But what you hated most was that the principal never did anything to stop it; always the nerd people like you were punished while the popular people were always safe. Everything was so unfair.

During the day, nothing at all happened. No one tried to beat you; no one tried to bully you. And it was weird, but you knew that sooner or later it'd happen. So you just couldn't walk relaxed, you were all the time checking if someone was trying to push you against the lockers or something. You hated walking through school with this fear, but you couldn't do anything at all. When it was time for lunch, you went to your locker to leave your books and you noticed how two people stood behind you. Shit, you didn't want to see who they were; you were scared because you knew they were Brian and one of his friends. You really didn't want to be bullied again. But you had to face them, this bullying needed to stop. You shouldn't be that harmless and frightened girl. When you turned around, you were very nervous and scared, but you knew you were making the right decision. But surprisingly, they weren't Brian and his friend. They were Peter and Alexandra, your friends since your Freshman year. You haven't seen them the day before and you wondered why, but now they were there and you were happy to see them again after the long summer.

"Hi guys! You scared me, I thought it was...it doesn't matter. I missed you guys." You greeted them with a wide grin. But they didn't smile back and that was weird. "Is everything alright?"

"No, nothing is alright." Peter said nervously and moody. He was always nervous, but this time it was worse than ever, therefore you frowned in confusion.

"Why? What happened?" You asked curious still not getting why they were looking at you that way. Maybe they were upset because you didn't spend the summer with them.

"We found out you're behaving in an inappropriate way and it goes against our values." Alexandra replied, talking as a politician.

"What do you mean?" You asked gingerly.

"We cannot be around someone who encourages violence the way you did yesterday with Brian Clerk. You punched him and you had to go to the principal's office. We cannot be friends with someone who can ruin our excellent reputation and behavior. You're like a black sheep." Alexandra answered frivolously and you just looked at them both in disbelief.

"What the fuck?" You asked incredulous.

"Watch your words. Peter, we cannot be around her, she's a bad influence." Alexandra said looking at Peter. Oh no, you couldn't believe it. "We don't want to see you anymore."

"Well, I'm sorry for trying to make people respect me! I'm sorry for trying to defend myself from bullying! And you know what? I don't regret having punched that asshole, he had it coming. No one is gonna mess with me." You yelled angry at your friends and they just looked at you bitterly. "And I thought you were real friends. But you only care about your stupid reputation. Guess what? You're just crap like me in the school, but the difference is that at least I admit it and I deal with it, instead you two live in some sort of bubble. If you don't make people respect you, you're gonna end in a bad way." You yelled in a rage and people who were around turned to see your dispute. You slapped your locker and you started walking away from them, but then you turned around to yell at them something else. "And on top of it, you just lost a real friend. Do you really think those popular people would be nice to you two only because you don't wanna be my friends? Do you really think it can stop the bullying? You're so stupid, I can't believe that with your intelligence you can't notice that those popular people don't care about anything and anyone but just themselves. You're gonna regret and then I won't be there."

People around just looked at you yelling like a bitch and they started to whisper things and to point you, but you didn't care. Your ex friends did nothing; they just stood there, ignoring your words as though they were snooty people, and you really didn't care. You didn't know what was happening to you this year, but you weren't that helpless and stupid girl anymore. You were rebelling and you were trying to show that you were strong and that you wouldn't let anyone mess with you. Not anymore. Yes, this grumpy and rude girl wasn't you, but you needed to be like that until you get people respect you. You were angry, frustrated, and sad. You couldn't believe that your friends could have done something like that; you thought they were real friends but they ended up being hypocrites. Just like the others. When you were walking to nowhere in particular, you realized that now you were completely alone. You had no friends, you were still the weird, outcast and excluded girl, your sister was a real bitch to you, your scores weren't as excellent as before, you went for the first time to the principal's office and you didn't know what to do with all of that. You really needed to calm down and you couldn't do it inside the school where everybody was pointing you and gossiping. So you just went outside and you walked towards a tree to sit on the grass and lean against it, just to think about what recently happened, what happened the day before and what would happen later.

"Hi, freckles." A man's voice said next to you and it made you startle in a ridiculous way that you even threw the lunch you had on your lap.

You heard laughs and then you looked up to find that Darren was standing in front of you with a girl you saw yesterday in drama class. Why could he never find you in a normal way? Every time he was around you, you always had to do a stupid thing and it embarrassed you. Now your food was on the grass and you even messed up your shirt with ketchup. But besides that embarrassing moment, he called you freckles. Freckles, really? And why was he there anyway? You went there to be alone and he was now there with his friend. Not that you didn't want to talk to him because that was what you wanted most, but because the last thing you needed now was to see how someone was feeling uncomfortable and ashamed just for being near you.

"Hi...freckles?" You greeted him frowning and surprised by the way he called you.

"Yeah, it's just you have freckles and in sunlight those freckles are more noticeable and I always make up nicknames for people...Not that I'm saying that having freckles is awful, I have freckles too, yours are cute...Uhm, doesn't matter." Darren rambled and you grinned amused. You started to think that rambling was part of his personality and it only made him cuter.

"I don't mind that nickname, it was just weird. In any case, it's better than geek." You said smiling and looking down. Damn, you really didn't want to say it to make him feel guilty.

"Yes, I'm sorry if I ever made you feel bad for calling you like that. I was a jerk." Darren said now feeling guilty while the girl behind him looked at him frowning and astonished.

"No, I told you, it's okay. Not that you were the first one calling me like that, I've been called in worse ways." You said smiling kindly.

Darren frowned and then he sat next to you on the grass. The girl who was with him looked at him in disbelief and then she looked around. It was the same thing that Darren did yesterday, she was checking if someone was looking at them. Anyway, the girl sat next to Darren.

"How do you do it?" Darren asked curious, looking deeply into your eyes. Hell, his gaze was intimidating but because of its beauty. You noticed his eyes were even brighter in sunlight.

"Excuse me?" You asked frowning because you couldn't get what he asked because you were really distracted looking into his eyes.

"I mean, people are all the time calling you in rude ways, they bully you, they say shit about you, as if everyone was against you; but you still smile and you're still nice to people, even if they hurt you in different ways. How do you do it?" Darren asked intrigued, still looking deeply into your eyes.

"I'm used at it. It's been always like that and I just ignore them. I can't do it any other way." You answered lazily, you really didn't want to tell him all you thought and all the things you did to make it, at least not yet.

"No, but really. How can you be nice to them, to us? How can you be so brave to face them even if you know you're going against the entire school? Doesn't it hurt you the way they treat you, the way we treat you? I don't know, if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be so strong, I don't know what I'd do." Darren said thoughtful and his eyes were even brighter. Maybe you could be honest; after all, he was asking you something that anyone else asked you before because no one really cared.

"Well yes, it hurts. It hurts too much." You answered looking down but not wanting to cry, just feeling sad. Darren looked at you intently and so did the girl who was with him. Suddenly the girl wasn't worried about being seen with you, she was just looking at you. "It hurts when you're being discriminated against by someone because of the way you look like or because of the way you think in terms of your values. It hurts when people put you on a rude label like loser or nerd or fat ass, only because you're not like them because you don't have the same interests as them. In this school if you aren't rich, if you don't have a sculpted body, if you don't get a nose job, if you don't wear makeup or you don't have designer clothing; then you happen to be the uncool person, the outcast, the excluded one. Therefore, the entire school calls you in that way, even if they don't know you. It's a huge hypocrisy." You said bitterly still looking down. Darren and the girl were still looking at you intently in silence. "But then you start to realize that everybody is weak in their own way. I'm weak because I could never defend myself and who I am, because I let them hurt me to this point. But they're also weak. The people who aren't popular but aren't losers either, they're weak because they're afraid all the time, because they don't want to do something that could lead them to be a loser in the eyes of the popular people; so they are just unhappy because they can't be themselves." You said shrugging and Darren and the girl who was next to him exchanged glances. Maybe they felt part of those people. "And the popular people are also weak, it's just they don't know it. They think they rule the world, but truth is they could rule the school, but school isn't everything we have. When they finish their time in school, they'll realize they're just like me, or you or the girl who wears high heels. But the saddest thing is they're gonna realize they're alone because they only cared about themselves and their own goals; therefore they don't have true friends. You know, everybody is weak, and if everyone is weak, that means I'm not so different from the others or they aren't so different from me. And that's the thing that allows me to keep going. I have faith in good people; I know there are good people. It's just matter of time to find them." You grinned slightly and Darren and his friend smiled back. "When you realize it, then not even bullying can stop you. Yes, it hurts and some days it's really hard to keep going. But we all have trouble, we all trip and stumble. And I believe life is beautiful and I believe there is something good waiting for me, it's just I still haven't found it." You said smiling faintly and shrugging.

Darren and his friend were looking at you with bright eyes and smiling softly, still in silence. You didn't know why you told them all of that, but you didn't feel uncomfortable because they didn't look at you in a weird way in any moment.

"I wish all of us could see things the way you do." Darren said after looking at you bewitched.

"You're admirable." The girl next to Darren said and both you and Darren looked at her amazed. You weren't expecting something like that from her. "I'm Jen, by the way."

"Well, thank you, Jen." You smiled kindly at her, still amazed by what she said. "But I'm not admirable. I'm just a dumb human being in a rough situation feeling that I've lost, but I'm not helpless anymore. That's it." You said shrugging.

Then it happened something you definitely weren't expecting. Jen leaned over to pull you into a hug. You got strained by the hug because you couldn't remember the last time someone hugged you and because you never expected that a stranger would hug you. It seemed that Darren was also astonished because he was looking at his friend with eyes wide open and raising eyebrows. However, you hugged her back. That hug just felt good and you felt good; not only because they seemed to care about you and because they listened to you, but also because this was the very first time in a long that someone showed you a little thing of what people called affection.

"I...I have to go to class." You said after few seconds, so then Jen stopped hugging you.

"Yes, yes." Jen nodded looking away but then she looked at you again. "See you at drama class, after school."

"Right. See you guys." You said still astonished and then you stood up to leave.

What the hell was that? Why did that happen? You didn't know, but it was good, more than good.

I saw the mysterious girl with freckles walking away and, when she disappeared, I turned to look at Jen.

"Would you explain me what the fuck was that?" I asked looking at her with eyes wide open.

Minutes before, Jen was telling me that the girl was very weird and that we shouldn't talk to her because we were going to get in trouble. Minutes before, Jen told me it was a really bad idea to go to where she was. Minutes before, Jen told me that I should beware of that girl. Minutes before, Jen called her geek. But now she hugged her? Jen hugged that girl? Why anyway? Jen wasn't one of those girls who used to hug everybody, it took a long time for her to hug me and now she hugged a complete stranger. Yes, the way the girl talked was very soulful, but it wasn't such a big deal to get a hug from Jen. Really, Jen wasn't an affective person; she barely showed her feelings even with her friends.

"I don't know, Darren!" Jen said with choked voice before hugging me. Of course I hugged her back, I was always the one who hugged her, but this time she did it first.

"Seems you want to hug everybody today." I joked giggling softly, but then I felt something warm on my chest. "Jen, are you crying?"

She was definitely crying, but why? I could count with only one hand the times she cried because she was actually this cheerful and positive girl. So she not only hugged a stranger but she was also crying and this was beyond weird. Now I felt bad, because it was still odd for me to see her crying and the times she cried was because something really bad happened. But as far as I knew, nothing bad has happened lately. I rubbed her back to reassure her and then I kissed her forehead and I saw she was in fact crying.

"Hey, Jen, what's wrong?" I asked softly, trying to calm her.

"I'm sad, Dar." Jen answered with cracked voice, trying to rest her head on my chest again so I wouldn't see her crying. I let her doing so and then I started caressing her long hair.

"Why? Has something bad happened and you didn't tell me? You know I'm here for whatever you need." I asked curious but feeling bad for the way she was crying almost inconsolably.

"No, it's just this girl!" Jen replied with a sob. The girl? Was she crying because of the girl?

"What's up with this girl? This is weird, you know it. What has to do this girl?" I asked frowning and more confused than ever.

"I feel bad because I judged her and she seems to be a good person. She's just too hurt and nobody understands her, and she tries over and over but everybody keeps ignoring her! This is so unfair and I'm a terrible person!" Jen said sobbing in my chest and damn, her crying was heartbreaking.

"You aren't a bad person, Jen. Not at all. You're one of the most softhearted girls I've met. You cannot do anything for that girl, we all judged her. But what actually matters is that you realized what kind of person she is at the end." I said trying to comfort her.

"You don't get it, Darren. What she said, how her life is...it reminded me of my brother. And it killed me, Dar." Jen said still sobbing even more heartrendingly.

Why did she mention her brother? I knew her little brother died three years ago, when we were in our Freshman year. And it was the first time I saw her crying. It was a terrible day when she told me that her brother passed away in a car accident. But I really couldn't get what his brother had to do with this and with that girl.

"Why?" I asked cautiously and confused.

"Because there's something I've never told you about my brother and how he actually died." Jen sobbed in a way she was almost making me cry along with her. It was distressing to see her mourning like that.

"What are you talking about, Jen?" I asked her, frightened of hearing the answer.

"He didn't die in a car accident. He committed suicide." Jen mourned inconsolably.

"What?" I asked disturbed and with trembling voice.

This was one of the most terrible things I've ever heard. The worst was that Jen kept it only for herself all this time and she was surely feeling terrible about it, but she never could get any kind of help because no one knew it. If a death of a loved one was terrible, I didn't want to imagine how it'd feel to lose a loved one because that loved one decided to die for own election. Fuck, surely all this time Jen felt guilty for her brother's death, guilty because she never realized that his brother was going through a rough situation, guilty because she couldn't help him, and guilty because she surely thought this was her fault. I was expecting any kind of answer, but not this one. I honestly didn't know what to do or say to make her feel better; because if I was feeling sad and I wanted to cry; I didn't want to imagine how she was feeling.

"He was feeling bad, really bad and I couldn't do anything for him. He was like her, he was always bullied at school because of the way he used to dress up and no one ever tried to know who he really was. He was ignored, discriminated, beaten and he was living in a hell. But unlike her, he couldn't take it, he couldn't make it. And I did nothing because I was scared to be the uncool girl at school after helping my brother. I've chosen my stupid reputation instead of saving my little brother's life." Jen cried devastated as I've never seen her before. What she was saying was very rough. "I'm one of those weak people she said. I thought I was going to learn after my brother's death, but I'm still the same terrible and awful person who chooses reputation instead being myself, instead being nice to those who really deserve it. And I judged her the same way those people judged my little brother. I killed my brother, Darren."

That was too much to me. Listening to Jen thinking that way about herself and knowing that Jen was feeling like a terrible person was too much to me. But what pierced my heart was to have heard her saying that she killed her little brother. I couldn't help shedding tears of sadness. Her words were making me feel really sad. I never knew she could be feeling like this, that she was holding back all these feelings.

"You haven't killed your brother, Jen. He decided to do what he did. Nothing is your fault, you just did all you could have done. You never thought he could do something like that. Sadly, sometimes we cannot help people. Each person is a whole world and because of that we cannot guess how they're feeling or thinking if they don't let us know." I whispered reassuringly in her ear while I was stroking her hair. "And yes, you're weak; but so am I and so is everybody. Don't forget that the girl said so, and we both know it's true. You judged her, I judged her and she judged other people. We, human beings, are always judging; it's inevitable. Point is if whether we're brave enough to admit we made a mistake or not, whether we're humble enough to put aside our pride and apologize to the person we hurt or not. And you did it; you showed her that you were regretted when you hugged her. She noticed it and she forgave you. And I'm sure that, wherever your brother is now, he also forgave you. But don't feel guilty because they know you are regretted, because they know what kind of person you're after you apologized to them; and they already forgave you because they understood you. You're a damn hell of amazing person Jen, and don't let anyone make you feel the opposite."

I was still shedding tears in silence because it was breaking my heart seeing her so sad. I kissed her forehead again and the kiss lasted a while, I didn't know any other way to make her feel better. I wanted to show her how amazing I thought she was and how much I loved her for being just the way she was.

"Do you really think that my brother forgave my mistakes?" Jen asked looking at me and wiping her tears away.

"I really do." I smiled fondly at her, fondling her cheek.

"Thanks, Dar. For always being here." Jen said sincerely before kissing my cheek.

"Well, yeah, I don't know what I'd do without my crazy best friend." I said hugging her again as she chuckled faintly.

"Darren, don't you have to go to that club of Donuts and Coffee?" Jen asked after a while, her head rested on my lap.

"Yeah, but I'd rather to be here with you. You're my best friend and I wouldn't change you for a hot girl." I laughed softly.

"No, Dare. You should go and talk to that hot girl once and for all." Jen said, now sitting upright. "Anyway I have to go to Speech and Debate club."

"Again, tell me why you've chosen to join that club?" I asked in disbelief and she laughed. Jen never showed any interest in those kinds of things.

"Because I think I'm gonna study Journalism, or maybe Politics. Soon I'll be the president of the USA." Jen laughed and then she stood up. Yes, she had the ability for those kinds of things about speeches and all that shit.

"Better if I get extra benefits, then." I joked as I stood up. "I guess I'll see you at drama class."

"Guess so. Good luck with the hot girl, Dar." Jen said winking at me before she left, running to go to her club.

"Thanks, will need it!" I yelled while laughing.

Yes, I really needed luck. That hot girl never noticed me and she was so damn sexy that surely she wouldn't want to talk to me, a quirky guy. This was going to be my one chance to finally talk to her since her boyfriend or whatever Jim was, wasn't part of the club. Duh, Jim was that kind of guy who enjoyed partying hard with alcohol and drugs, the opposite of this club's intentions. I needed to show that hot girl that I was a better option for her, better than Jim. But I was freaking out. Damn, Darren! Cool it.

After your Chemistry class, you were walking through the hallways of the school, deep in thought, thinking about how Jen, Darren's friend, hugged you unexpectedly. Why would she do that after the way she was looking around not to be caught talking to you? You weren't used to be hugged and less to be hugged by a stranger; but you couldn't deny that it felt good, as though someone finally cared about you for real. You didn't know if she cared about you or not, but that was what you felt in that moment. Well, you'd have to figure out what that hug was for.

Still walking deep in thought, you started to realize that a lot of people was looking at you and laughing archly. Some of them were doing weird gestures when they looked at you and you couldn't get why. Until you saw it. In your locker, there was a picture of you from last year. You remembered that moment; it was at Peter's house, when you, Alexandra and Peter were studying for an exam. You were having a bad day that day because you had an argument with your sister so you had swollen eyes for crying, not only that but you also had a disgusting pimple on your nose, not to mention you were wearing sportswear. Only Alexandra and Peter had that picture. But there was a note in the picture. You tore the picture from your locker and you read the note.

"Remember you're the crap and we're the strong ones, so don't mess with us and don't act as if you were the badass girl, you fucking fat ass. You're gonna lose and we'll hunt you down until you have to wallow in shit, begging down on your knees for forgiveness. Watch your back, pimples. –W-"

When you finished reading the note, you noticed that your hands were trembling. Who were they? Who was "W"? Because it seemed they were the popular guys, but they didn't have that picture of you and there was no way they could have got it. And Alexandra and Peter weren't the ones who wrote it because that wasn't their way of talking. Now you were really scared. Throughout the years in that school you'd been beaten and insulted, but this was the first time you were being threatened and bullied in a really rude way in anonymity. You looked around furtively and in fear to check if someone was looking at you, if those anonymous people were looking at you; but truth was everybody was looking at you in a wicked and sneering way. Still trembling, with the picture in your hands, you crumpled it up and then you ripped it, throwing it on the floor in fear and anger.

You started walking away from your locker to go to the Speech and Debate club classroom, trying to ignore the looks and evil laughs. As you passed by, people around shouted "pimples" in your face. As you passed by, people around scoffed you. You couldn't take it anymore, it was really rough and hurtful; but you needed to remain strong, they couldn't bring you down. Or could they? You wouldn't stop wondering what exactly you did to deserve to be treated this way. What was wrong with them? Or...what was wrong with you? You only wished this could be just a nightmare, but it wasn't; it was real and it was happening.

When you arrived to the club classroom, you didn't look around to see if someone you knew was there, you just sat in the first empty chair you saw. You wouldn't stop picturing the picture, the note, the wicked looks and the sneer laughter. You wanted to cry because of your weakness, but you also wanted to find out who has done it to punch that person or those people because of your anger. You wanted to go home to lie down in bed and calm down, to let out all the frustration you were feeling, to find out what you were doing wrong to deserve this. You wanted to talk to someone about this because you needed to vent all your feelings; but you also wanted to be alone because you were scared, because you were ashamed, because you felt so little and vulnerable, and because actually you didn't have anyone to talk to. The person or people who have done it, really knew how to mess up your feelings, they really knew what your weak spot was. You were so thoughtful that you didn't realize someone was asking you something.

"Freckles?" Jen asked and you finally looked at her disconcerted. "Are you okay? I've been talking to you, telling you that I couldn't believe you were part of this club too. I was telling you that now we were going to be fellows in this club and at drama class. But you seem to be very distracted."

"Yes, sorry. I was thinking about something else. Sorry, I didn't know you were here." You replied, still disconcerted and thinking of what happened earlier. You had no idea what you were going to do to focus in your classes.

"It's fine." Jen smiled at you.

That was weird, and after what happened earlier you couldn't trust anyone. And then you started thinking about an off-chance. What if Jen and Darren had something to do with this? This never happened before you met them and for some odd reason they were being nice to you even if they didn't know you. You knew the saying: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. What if you were an enemy for them for some odd reason? No, it couldn't be like that. They couldn't be so morbid to do something like that. But at this point, you couldn't rule out any possibility. Or maybe the people who were harassing you wanted you to think this way; they wanted you to be completely alone so you'd be a point blank shot. You just didn't know anything now.

"Is there something wrong?" Jen asked looking at you, apparently worried.

"What?" You asked thoughtful and taken aback.

"Are you okay?" Jen repeated, now frowning and evidently worried. Maybe you could trust her; you needed to tell someone all your worries.

"I..." You started saying but suddenly your phone buzzed. It was a withheld number.

"Listen, pimple face with fat ass. If you tell someone how you feel waiting for any kind of help, we're gonna beat you to death; not only you but also all the people who attempt to help you. Would you let them suffer what only you should be suffering? Are you that kind of selfish bitch? We're watching you. -W-"

You looked around terrified. The people who were harassing you were there now, they were watching you and they were watching all of your actions. And they had your phone number. How the heck have they got your phone number? This was going out of control and you really didn't know how to stop it. You were in danger, you knew it; and they knew how to play this morbid game. How were you supposed to escape from this situation? You were frightened, nervous and strained and you couldn't prevent your body from trembling. They were watching you.

"I'm fine." You answered with trembling voice, trying to calm down and still looking around terrified.

"You don't look fine. You're pale." Jen said in concern with eyes wide open.

"I'm fine, I'm just remembering that I forgot to do my Math homework and I really have to go to do it." You said still with trembling voice and standing up nervously.

You left the club classroom as fast as possible; you wanted to be away from those people who were watching you, harassing you. As you were walking fast, more people were looking at you in a suspicious way. Now everything seemed suspicious to you, all the places and all the people. Now your school turned into a place that didn't seem safe anymore. You didn't know where to go but you needed to go away. Ladies bathroom, you thought. When you arrived to the ladies bathroom to calm, you saw something in the mirror that scared you even more. With a red lipstick was written:

"Beware, pimple face. We're everywhere, bitch. -W-"

So a woman was also involved. This was too much, this wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening. You looked around to see if someone was there, but the bathroom was empty. Someone was plotting against you and the situation was getting serious. You couldn't talk to anyone, you couldn't get any kind of help; because they were going to hurt all the people who tried to help you, and you couldn't allow it. You couldn't show up your weakness because they were going to make this worse, but you also couldn't face them, whoever they were, because they were going to kick you down, and you didn't know how far they could go with this. You were alone on this and they screwed you at the point you didn't know what to do. Then, your phone buzzed again, it was the same withheld phone number.

"Funny how many enemies you can get in a matter of days. You're so fucked up, bitch. And you're gonna pay for all you've done. Let the game begin. -W-"

Your whole body started trembling in fear and desperation. You were a game for them and they wanted to see you ruined. They wanted to humiliate you until you give up. But you couldn't give up. You wouldn't let them win; they needed to know that you weren't a stupid person. But how would you do it alone? How would you do it if you had no clue? How would you do it if you didn't even know how to start? But one thing was for sure: They wanted to play? They were going to play. They'd know that they couldn't mess with you.

You left the ladies bathroom and you walked to the Speech and Debate club classroom, decided and serious. You shouldn't let them know that you were actually scared. You walked ignoring all the comments and laughs, the looks and rude gestures. But when you were about to arrive to the club classroom, you saw that there was a huge image of your picture hung on the wall with the words "Pimple face" written on it.

"Have you made sure to use acne cream? We really don't wanna be sunk with the pus of your cystic acne, pimple face." Someone laughed malevolently behind you. You turned around to see Brian Clerk.

A feeling of extreme anger took over your body. You were never ever this mad and rabid. Brian was surely involved on this game and you wouldn't let him humiliate you. You couldn't control your anger any longer and your anger was making you blind and deaf. Your anger was pulling out the worst of you, all the rancor and frustration you've been holding back all these years.

"Wipe my ass, you fucking jackass." You yelled at him in a rage.

You were red of anger and you closed your fist firmly and tightly. Your whole body was trembling in a mix of fear and wrath. You, the girl who had a faultless behavior, were now facing that stupid guy, you were now swearing and cursing, and you were doing the most stupid thing you could have ever done. Brian looked at you in disgust and madness, also closing his fit firmly and getting closer. Evidently he didn't like at all the way you called him, the way you insulted him in front of a lot of people. He didn't like at all the way you cut him off, the way you lowered him.

"What did you say, bitch?" Brian yelled at you also in a rage and threatening you with his fit. Everybody was watching intently the fight, expectant, screaming like idiots 'Fight, fight, fight'.

"Wipe my ass, jackass, and wipe it with your impotent dick." You yelled like a really bad-mannered person. But at this point you didn't care.

Shit, wrong decision.

I was so freaking nervous to go to the Donuts and Coffee club, but I really needed to talk to that hot girl. As Jen said, this was my last year in high school and I couldn't end it before at least talking to her. So there I was, in that club only for her. I was feeling like a stupid twelve years old boy, feeling nervous and anxious to talk to her. Crap, I didn't even want a kiss or get laid with her, it was only talk to her and I was this damn nervous. Yeah, sometimes I could be this stupid eager guy. The funny thing was she wasn't there yet. But minutes later I saw her entering the room with her cheerleader uniform which fit perfectly in her bloody sexy body, she entered the room with her long and smooth hair, with her beautiful outlined eyes and her damn hot red lips, and with her delightful perfume. Seriously, her presence was stunning. Of course every guy in the room turned to look at her and I just couldn't take my eyes off her. How the hell was I supposed to talk to her? She was kind of intimidating, I felt so crappy and gross next to her. Why would she want to talk to me? I was Mr. Nobody for her.

But she sat near me and my hormones were like exploding. Damn, she was so near and all I wanted was to stand up and push her against the wall.

"Stop it, Darren. You need to control yourself; you're here only to talk to her." I thought in my mind. "Fuck, she's so perfect. Alright, alright, focus, Darren. Focus on what that guy is saying, stop looking at her like a moron and perverted guy."

But I couldn't focus on what the guy was saying because it was really boring. Instead, I started thinking how I could start talking to that girl. I couldn't regret at this point and I couldn't miss this chance. After all, she was the reason why I was there. The guy kept talking bullshit and then he said something to start meeting each member of the club. This was the chance to talk to her. I noticed that everybody started standing up to talk to someone and I stood up as fast as possible to be the first to talk to this girl, because evidently, all the boys wanted to talk to her.

"Hi!" I said like an idiot when I reached her.

"Hi." The girl answered indifferently without looking at my face. She seemed to be looking for someone.

"I'm Darren." I said again like an idiot, nervous as hell. Great way to impress her.

"Nice to meet you Warren." The girl said frivolously still looking away, looking for that someone.

"It's Darren, not Warren." I said now feeling like a stupid. Noticeably the girl didn't want to talk to me and I was just there making a fool of myself.

"Sorry, Darren." The girl huffed and she finally looked at me. Oh, her eyes were like a dream, man. "Sorry I was just looking for someone who promised to be here but obviously he isn't here, as always." The girl said bad-tempered.

"Is it your boyfriend?" I asked curiously. I shouldn't have asked that, such a meddlesome.

"Yes. He always breaks promises. Whatever." The girl huffed again grumpily.

"I'm sure he'll come soon." I said shrugging and the girl looked at me curiously. "If I were your boyfriend, I'd never leave you alone in a room full of men."

Fuck, Darren, fuck! Why the hell did I say it? You fucking stupid jerk! Go ahead and freak out the hot girl. What was wrong with me? I was babbling, smiling eagerly like a goofball and if it wasn't enough, I was talking about her boyfriend and I was being obvious about what I felt for her. But anyway, the girl laughed and it made me feel better. Her laughter was breathtaking.

"Well, I'll let him know that I'll end up dating you instead him if he keeps breaking promises." The girl laughed. I really didn't know how to feel; if embarrassed because she noticed I was into her, or really flattered because she said she'd date me.

"Well yeah, sorry about that. I was just thinking aloud." I said making a stupid gesture, but it made her laugh again.

"You're funny." The girl said grinning widely. She was smiling at me and it was the most amazing thing in the world.

"I'd say I'm a goofball who cannot be tamed." I joked, now feeling more comfortable.

"The beast cannot be tamed. I like it." The girl said laughing again and I just smiled goofily because this was going so well. "Let me introduce myself properly. I'm..."

"Fight, fight, fight."

The screams from outside didn't let me hear her name and suddenly she had a terrified face. It happened too fast.

"That's my friend who's yelling. Sorry Darren, I need to check what's going on." The girl said exasperated and she left the classroom, running.

I just stood there for a few seconds, astonished for all that happened in a matter of seconds. When everybody started leaving the classroom to see what was going on outside, I decided to go check as well. What I saw startled me and everything happened really fast that I was so disturbed. Freckles was there facing Brian, the hot girl was standing next to her boyfriend Jim, and Jim was behind Brian. Everybody else was screaming "fight" constantly. Freckles was looking at Brian defiantly and Brian was showing her his fit closed firmly. Then Freckles made the wrong decision, the most stupid thing she could have ever said.

"Wipe my ass, jackass, and wipe it with your impotent dick." She yelled in a rage. Well, I wouldn't have expected that kind of vocabulary from her.

I saw how Brian hit her with his fist in her stomach; I saw her grimace of pain. I saw how now Brian hit her in her cheek and I heard how everybody was laughing at her, like idiots. I saw the hot girl laughing at her and it pierced my chest. Brian was going to leave her unconscious if he kept hitting her the way he was doing. I needed to stop it, this was very violent and the poor girl seemed to be really suffering. It was even worse than the last time. But, again, I couldn't stop it because there was that hot girl. Apparently the hot girl didn't like Freckles and I couldn't just defend her. I was such a coward and selfish guy, I felt really nasty and bad.

"Stop it! Stop it!" I heard a familiar voice yelling in a desperate way.

"Oh Jen, what the hell are you doing?" I thought in my mind, freaking out.

"Leave her alone, you moron!" Jen yelled angrily, stepping between Freckles and Brian.

"Stay the fuck out of the scene or I'm going to fucking destroy you like you've never imagined." Brian yelled looking at Jen in a rage, showing her his fist. He was out of control and this wasn't going to end in a good way.

"Then fucking destroy me because I'm not leaving." Jen replied back, in a defiant way. Why the hell was she doing it? Why was she risking this way for a girl she didn't even know? Stupid Jen!

"You got it!" Brian said trying to hit Jen, but she was faster and she punched him in his stomach.

I couldn't stand it. That guy was going to hit my best friend and I couldn't be there idly. Not even that hot girl would stop me from protecting my best friend. When Jen punched Brian, he looked at her maddest than ever. He raised his fist to punch her straight in her face but I ran to him and I pounced on him, knocking him down. I got on top of him and I started punching his face. I was never a violent person, but this guy pulled me crazy.

"No, Darren! No, stop, stop, Darren!" I heard Jen yelling distressed but I ignored what she was screaming. Brian really deserved this and I wouldn't let him hit my best friend, he wouldn't mess with Jen.

"You motherfucker don't mess with my friend again!" I yelled madly while I was still punching his face with all my strength.

But then I felt hands taking me by my shoulders. It was Jim who knocked me down. He started hitting my face and then Brian joined him and he started punching my stomach. Damn hell, it was so painful and I couldn't make it against them both, they were football players, so they were huge and super strong. I heard Jen screaming distressingly, but I couldn't do anything, I couldn't move. Then one of them, Jim, stopped hitting me for some reason and I could see that it was because Freckles kicked him so now Jim wanted to hit her again. This was going out of control and I could barely see.

"What is going on here?" Suddenly an authoritative voice yelled. It was the principal.

I was never gladder than that time to hear the principal's voice. Brian stood up quickly but I couldn't stand up. He hit me hard and it was so painful that I just couldn't stand up. I only glanced at Jen who was looking at me crying distressingly; then I looked at Freckles who was bleeding, lying on the floor, she seemed to be unconscious. Then I glanced at Jim and Brian who played innocent in front of the principal. Those assholes. And then I couldn't help looking at the hot girl. She was serious and she seemed to be disturbed; for some reason she was looking at Freckles and then at Jim. Damn, I was feeling so weak, I just wanted to rest; I wanted to stop the pain and sleep. Everything was blurry now and I could barely hear what the principal was saying. Damn, now I couldn't see anything at all, everything was dark and painful.