Chapter 8: Trying to Fit in
The weekend could've not ended faster. It was everyone's least favorite day- Monday. Libby was in the school cafeteria, eating a sandwich her mom prepared while Scratch was talking on a ghost phone with Lecter.
''I've been having a really bad flu, alright? Trust me, it's better for me to not come'' Scratch lied.
''Do you honestly expect me to believe that?! Scratch, GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW! IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO REPORT YOU TO THE REAPER!''
''Again, I can't come! I'm sick, I'd probably make your house all in snot and stuff. Anyway, I'd be back next week, see ya!'' Scratch lied again, as he closed the phone and threw it through a ghost portal. ''Hehehe, man, I love seeing this guy losing his nerves!''
''Don't you worry about the Reaper?'' Libby asked.
''Nah, honestly. No worry, Libs, he can't touch me! I mean, really? He's gonna send me to Hell over a few weeks of not cleaning someone else's house? Oh nooooo, shiver me timbers!'' Scratch laughed.
''Uh-huh... I still think you should take that more seriously. I mean, it's the Grim Reaper...''
Libby deeply feared even mentioning Death. After all, she had trust issues of always checking her back, especially over the last time she and Molly met him in the woods. She knew he was targeting her...
''Libs, if I managed to avoid the Flow of Failed Phantoms for years, I can also avoid Hell. Trust me, it's aaaaall under control'' Scratch said, grabbing a cupcake out of Libby's bag.
''Heh, your appetite is one thing that isn't'' Libby joked.
''Meh, can't even deny that''
As they shared a laugh, Libby continued to eat her lunch. It was at least one moment of peace she had from all the classes and reading... But that peace didn't last long, since familiar faces came into lunch too. Tammy Myers and her friends.
''Well, there goes my lunch...'' Libby said in annoyance.
''Hey, you know I'm not letting her touch you, Libs!'' Scratch said.
Tammy didn't pay attention to Libby or the other nerds she could make fun of. Instead, her friends were laughing while she was explaining something in a very scared and desperate tone.
''I'm not joking! There was a monster in there, I swear! IT GRABBED ME!'' Tammy said.
''Girl, I think a softball hit your head or something. You can't be serious!'' One of the girls said.
''Or maybe you need to check yourself for schizophrenia or something. Ghosts and monsters aren't real, Tammy-
''OH, SHUT UP! I'M NOT INSANE, I KNOW VERY WELL WHAT I SAW!'' Tammy yelled.
Libby couldn't help but chuckle a bit. It was a pleasure to see all the students mock a bully. Yes, what Myers saw was very real indeed but nobody would believe her. After all, the very thought of ghosts existing was ridiculous.
''I guess she won't be a trouble for quite a time now'' Libby said with a grin.
While Scratch continued to go through Libby's lunch bag, Libby noticed someone standing in the corner of the cafeteria... It was the masked girl she saw on Friday.
She was staring right at Libby's soul with her empty eyes. Libby's smile disappeared and she also kept staring at the strange girl. She had no idea what she should do. Stay? Go over there? Have a chat with her?
It didn't matter, as a group of kids walked through the space between Libby and the girl, and once they were gone so was the girl too.
Libby was both confused and a bit creeped out. Was this in her head? If it was, why was she seeing exactly that girl? Who was she?
...
Molly was tapping her pen on the desk, while her classmates were presenting what their goals in life would be once they finished high school. It was a strange task for today, but it was way better than doing something like math, biology, or any other boring class.
One by one, every student presented and defended their choices. One wanted to be an actor, another a doctor, a third one a scientist, and many other interesting professions.
It was hard for Molly to pick just one goal since she had so many things she wanted to do. So, instead of writing just one how everyone was supposed to, she wrote a few. At least that would make the class a bit more interesting.
''Alright, next one is... Milly!'' The teacher said.
Taking a deep breath, Molly took her paper and went to the board. She had her usual smile and optimistic attitude like every other time she had to present something to her classmates.
''So, what is your goal, kid?'' The teacher asked.
''Now, I wanna say I'm very proud of what you guys dream about so far, but there's no way for me to pick only one! You see, I have way more than just one goal!'' Molly said.
''Ohhhh, bonuses? Hit us, young lady'' The teacher said.
She slowly looked at her list and started reading. Molly's positivity and optimism continued to grow.
''Okay, okay. So, first, I want to unite the world into solving huge problems like global warming!''
That felt... A bit childish to her classmates, which is why some let out a few giggles. The teacher also found it a bit immature, but mostly adorable at how innocent she sounded.
''Second, I want to entertain as many sad people as possible! I mean, imagine! A place where when someone is sad, they can just go and laugh! Forgetting about cruelty and misery!''
''So, you wanna become a circus clown?'' A boy from the back joked.
That caused more loud giggles but Jacob was the only one looking at him with anger. That joke hurt Molly as she felt like they weren't taking her seriously, but she kept her smile.
''Um... Th-Third one is that I want to become the first female US president!''
She didn't know how that sounded as immature as the other two, but that caused almost everyone in the room to laugh. Like no one else took her list as a joke...
''Aye now, everyone, no need to be like this! So, Milly, why exactly a president?'' The teacher asked.
''Well, a president's job is to rule the country and make sure the citizens live well! That's exactly what I wanna do! I want to make sure people feel safe, loved, and cared for!'' Molly said.
''You do realize ruling a country is different than pretending to be a mother of a big family, eh?'' A girl joked.
Everyone chuckled again, as Mia and Jacob were the only ones looking at everyone with annoyed faces. But only two not laughing wasn't enough to save her from the huge embarrassment Molly felt.
If that wasn't enough... Molly noticed one of the popular girls in the class recording her. That was the moment Molly's smile vanished. Her optimism was replaced with shame of what she was doing...
''Alright, let's try this. Imagine you're a presidential candidate. You and whoever your opponet is, are very close in votes. How would you convince us to vote for you?'' The teacher asked.
Molly knew the teacher was trying his best to save her from total humiliation, but there was no use. Still, Molly had a bit of hope that she could convince them that she wasn't childish...
''Wh-Well... I promise to listen to my citizens' requests! If there is something bothering people in the law, for example, I'd reconsider changing it! Also, I'd make sure those who work very hard always receive more money or big prizes! As a way of telling them ''Good job, continue to do your best!''. And, I promise to change the school format of teaching. Like, come on, give the kids a break! We should make them INTERESTED in learning, not FORCING them!'' Molly tried to explain.
''Oh really? How are you gonna fix the economy?'' The same boy from the back asked.
''Oh... E-Ehhh..''
''Or the huge problem in the Health Care system?'' Another girl asked.
''I... I'm not sur-
''Or how are you gonna convince world leaders to stop the wars around Europe and Asia?'' Another boy asked.
''Those... Th-Those are very complicated political stuff I haven't figured out... But I will! I just need a bit of time to understand it all!'' Molly said, as she weakly smiled.
''So, this is your way of convincing us? ''I'd figure it out''. You really are a politician, Milly, that's basically how our last two presidents got elected. ''Eh, no worries, I'd figure it out''!'' The same boy from the back joked.
That made the whole class burst into laughter. The worst part was that even the teacher couldn't help but hold his laughter at the joke.
Molly couldn't believe what was happening. That class felt like a total nightmare she wanted to wake up from. She wanted to just disappear and never appear to another human being ever again.
Even though he was something of a ''class clown'', Jacob didn't smile or laugh with the others at all. Instead, he gave the boy in the back a very threatening look that was screaming ''You're a dead meat, buddy...''.
''I bet you also don't have a plan for the immigrants problem. Oh, wait, I forgot! You're one too! Eh, not sure a Chinese Ching-Chong girl would convince even one person to vote for her'' The same boy from the back called.
''WHAT?! HEY!'' Molly said in shock.
''Tom, that was NOT cool! Apologize, now!'' The teacher said, mad.
''What! That's the truth!''
''Okay, first, I'm NOT AN IMMIGRANT! I lived my whole life here as an American citizen! Second, I'm not Chinese, I'm Thai!'' Molly tried to defend herself.
She really hoped for her classmates to cool down a little... But no, her last statement caused even more laughs.
''HAHAHAHAHA! Hold up, for real?!'' A girl laughed.
''You tripping?!'' Another boy laughed.
Molly was speechless... Were they really gonna start mocking her for being Thai?
''Wh... What, no! I'm Thai! Why?!'' Molly asked.
''D-Does that mean you were a ''Mollie'' before?'' Tom asked.
''What does that even mean?!'' Molly asked, mad.
''You know those girls who... Aren't really female, but trans men PRETENDING to be girls? Agh, how were they called!'' A girl asked.
''L... Ladyboys?''
''YES! EXACTLY!'' The same girl responded.
Everyone burst into even more laugher. Molly couldn't take it anymore. She felt her eyes watering, while her whole class was roasting her...
''So, are you a ladyboy, eh?'' The same boy from the back asked.
''WHAT?! NO! I'M NOT A-
''Nah, she's nervous! She definitely is! Aw, is little Mollie now mad?'' One of the popular girls asked.
''I'M NOT A LADYBOY! I'M A GIRL! I'M BORN A GIRL, YOU JERKS!'' Molly yelled, as she was on the verge of crying.
''You know what they say about Thailand! Thai women are like a box of chocolates. YOU NEVER KNOW WHICH ONE HAS NUTS!'' Tom joked again.
Molly's heart felt like it was shot. All she wanted was to show what her goals were... There was nothing wrong with them, only things that were supposed to help society, yet that turned out with the whole class mocking her...
''S-STOP! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU ALL?!'' Molly asked, as she felt a tear going down her cheek.
''YEAH, HONESTLY! I love dark humor, but that's getting out of control!'' Jacob got up.
''You people are sick!'' Mia said.
''Aw, come on! We don't harm anyone, we're just having a bit of fun with the ''fake girl'' in class... Or should I say DUDE!'' One of the popular girls said.
Molly couldn't take it anymore. Even though her friends tried to defend her, she felt more alone than ever. She felt like all that mockery was a way of her classmates telling her ''You don't belong here''.
It was one thing to mock her for daydreaming. It was another to get rejected by a club for her crafts... But to be mocked and called ''a fake girl''? That was the last straw. She was NOT gonna take that level of bullying.
With both teary and angry face, Molly ran out of the classroom... Yet, even that wasn't enough for the students to stop.
''Bet three bucks she'd be back with a short hair and a male voice!'' Another girl joked.
''Alright, that's it! Tom, Bertha, Buzzy, ALL THREE OF YOU! DETENTION! After school day is over, in my office!'' The teacher yelled.
Neither of them cared. Molly admitting she was Thai was enough joke content for the rest of the school year.
First time in high school, things turned out absolutely disastrous. It didn't matter when she almost didn't make any friends in Brighton, it didn't matter when she cried in the first day of second grade, that was officially the worst start of a school year in her life. She was never that alone, mocked, and rejected.
Molly reached her locker and pulled out the cage with her pet bunny in it. After the rats incident on Saturday, there was no way she'd let it stay there.
''S-Sorry, Mr. Puffles, we're leaving early today...'' Molly sobbed.
She didn't care if she'd get in trouble with leaving early. She didn't care about the test they had later. All she wanted was to leave and hide somewhere to calm herself...
...
A few hours in, the school day was over for Libby. Well, there was no way for Scratch to escape Lecter as he used the old tactic the Council does- Portals that suck ghosts into the Ghost World.
Well, she knew it would happen. A person can't run away from their duties forever. But one thing she hoped was for Scratch to find a way to escape that slave job...
While walking away, she saw Tammy Myers chatting with two O.A.S. soldiers. She was a bit surprised to see someone pulling the courage to even reach those guys... Which became a bit suspicious. Quietly stepping to a tree, Libby listened carefully to what they were talking about.
''Can you be more specific, kid?'' One of the O.A.S. agents asked.
''It-It was big! Like, VERY big! Blue, sharp teeth, red eyes, A TOTAL DEMON!''
''Hmm... In the school?'' Another O.A.S. agent asked.
''YES! I saw it, I swear! Please, please, PLEASE, just check it out! I don't want to go in the bathroom with a bible every time nature calls! PLEASE!'' Tammy begged.
''Thanks for reporting... We'd see...''
With relief, Myers got her backpack from the ground and continued her walk from home. Libby couldn't believe it! Yes, it was wrong for Scratch to scare her, but getting these weirdos involved?!
''Ugh, you total snitch!'' Libby muttered, while staring at Myers walking away.
Now who knows what the agents will do? Would they actually put the school in a lockdown or what? Would the school day continue with them harassing every single kid? Libby didn't wanna know...