——Sam

When Mrs. Seymour told me she was disappointed because of what I did to Aaron, my hatred for that cretin just went up a notch. Never in my life at Lediville High did I ever disappoint a teacher. I was usually their favorite. Someone they relied on. Someone they’d use to make a point where academic excellence was involved. Although, sometimes, I shared the spotlight with Bruce and Kerry.

When my last period ended, I stayed in my seat. Mrs. Seymour's feedback still gutted me. If she only knew about the things that Aaron had done to me. I guess it was all my fault. If I had told them that Aaron had been tormenting me, maybe they would also talk to him. And maybe then, he and his friends would finally stop pestering me, especially Nicole.

And what should I do about Aaron’s threat? I was considering my options on my way to my locker when Chloe came bouncing beside me. Because I missed lunch period with her and Bruce, I hadn’t seen her after Aaron rudely interrupted our conversation about her devirgination, which she grossly discussed with me in detail.

“Hey, loser,” she said. “How was your intimate chitchat with prince charming? You guys looked like you were about to give each other a mouth-to-mouth.”

“Don’t make me puke, Chloe. I am already feeling sick.” Which was true. I woke up feeling a little under the weather that day. I couldn’t finish my bowl of cereals at breakfast. And after everything that had happened, I couldn’t be happier that I was finally at the end of the last day of the week. Mom’s plane should have landed in Florida by now. I had already scheduled my weekend: rest on Saturday and do my homework on Sunday.

“Do you want me to give you a ride? You can fill me in on your conversation with Aaron. What did he want to talk to you about?” Chloe offered.

I sighed. “Bruce called for a meeting, Chloe. I’m actually on my way there.”

“I can wait for you.” She insisted. “Have you seen the weather outside? It looks like Mother Nature is on PMS today.”

“No, I insist that you go ahead.” The truth was I didn’t want to talk to about Aaron because I might slip and spill the kiss to her. I also didn’t want to talk about her and Vander, and I was pretty sure that it was what we were bound to talk about.

She pouted her lips and told me to call her once I’m home. I assured her I would, and then I went to see the rest of the Tutors Club for our weekly meeting. I remained quiet for the entire duration of our meeting. We welcomed our new tutors and shared tips to them. Miguel, Bruce’s VP, added some few pointers.

It was almost dark by the time we wrapped up the meeting, and my body had already manifested symptoms of an impending fever. In the hallway, the Booster Club had already started decorating for the upcoming Winter Formal. White and blue snowflake garlands and strings had already filled almost half of the main corridor. I didn’t attend last year’s Winter Formal, and it was very likely that I wouldn’t be attending now.

When I stepped outside, miserable dark clouds and thunder rumbled in the distance like a menacing warning. Maybe I should have let Chloe wait for me. I ran outside to the school’s parking lot, and my heart fell as soon as I saw that both my tires were flat; sagged and completely useless.

A note was attached to saddle.

for Aaron’s shirt and for not knowing when to shut up.

N. S

Nicole Smith.

I gritted my teeth and crumpled the paper. My house was still a twenty-minute ride away. I looked up to the dark sky and prayed for Mother Nature hold off the rain for me. I unlocked my bicycle and started my long walk home. I doubled my steps as a loud crack of thunder, followed by lightning flashed across the sky.

The same prank was played on Shelly Brown, too. She was scared to tell her parents or anyone about it. She kept it all to herself, and that was when she began to cut. But, I am not Shelly Brown. I would not allow myself to resort to such thing. I would not end up like Shelly Brown.

When Mother Nature could no longer hold the rain from pouring, I was already exhausted from head to toe. I got soaked in less than a minute. My entire body was trembling and was ready to collapse. I gasped at the roar of another thunder that shot through the sky, and I started to cry.

The rain continued to hammer down on me while lightning echoed in the distance, oblivious to my ongoing suffering. I ordered myself to get a grip and not blame nature. It completely had nothing to do with what I was going through.

I was busy trying to keep myself from breaking apart, at least until I got home when I noticed a car pulled over in front of me. My heart pounded heavily. I knew that car.

Aaron got out and shouted at me, “What the fuck, Banks? I waited for you.”

I just stood there, unable to move, and started to cry again.

“Are you crying?”

I didn’t answer and cried even more. I was freezing and dog-tired.

“Shit. Get in.” He grabbed my hand and coaxed me inside his car. Fever and exhaustion had completely taken over my body. I collapsed in the passenger’s seat, trembling like crazy. The world around me started to blur, and the last thing I heard was Aaron’s worried voice before my eyes finally closed.