32 Payback time …
L
A wave of apprehension washed over me .
There was something in his gaze that sent a chill down my spine .
His eyes , dark and prating , seemed to look right through me as if he knew secrets about me that even I ,
didn’t know .
He looked like he could be a businessman or
something else … I couldn’t say but what unsettled me more was how he stared at me , as if he had been * waiting for me to notice him .
I felt my pulse quicken
a quick tremor passed through m
my head , I wanted to look away but I just cou.
’t why was he
here ? Was he a new teacher ?
–
Suddenly , something said sharply in my ear , startling me as I bolted up from my seat .
“ LOOK AWAY ! ”
I finally managed to tear my eyes away from the man , only to notice I was standing and everyone in my ss was staring at me strangely including Mrs Caldwell
32 Payback time ….
and Ms.
Hayley .
“ Is everything alright , L ? ” Mrs Caldwell asked eyeing me strangely .
“ You look like you’ve just seen a ghost .
”
My eyes went back to the entrance of the door , the man was still there and his eyes were still on me .
I
wanted to tell the teachers what I saw but they were humans and I could be the only one seeing it , I didn’t want them to think I was stupid .
“ I … ” I trailed off stuttering .
“ There’s an empty seat next to me and I was wondering if the new student would like to sit here ,” I said quickly with a strained smile .
“ That’s so sweet of you , L ! Ms Hayley beamed with pride and turned to the man at the door “ I told you Mr Dupree , our school is ‘ the best or your son , you don’t have to worry about him fitting in .
”
The man nodded but didn’t say anything .
“ Xander , go ahead and take the empty seat next to L and let’s go back to our teaching .
”
Xander nodded and waved at the man by the door
before making his way towards me .
I forced myself not to look at the mysterious man by the door .
Read thetest and free novels at .Com</a>
The man
19:24
2/0
32 Payback me .
couldn’t be his father – he looked far too young and Xander seemed like my age .
Xander finally slid into the empty desk beside me .
The man by the door lingered for a moment longer , his eyes still on me , before he turned and left .
I exhaled slowly , realizing I had been holding my breath .
Something about that man wasn’t right .
And Xander – I turned to look at my new ssmate and caught him looking at me .
“ Hi ! ” I murmured , blushing at being caught before I quickly turned away .
“ There was something off about him , too , though I
couldn’t quite figure out what .
W
lesson , discussing , with me bare
ntinued the
ontributing
anything .
Xander on the other hand remained aloof ,
drumming his hand on his desk without looking at Mrs.
Caldwell .
“ Xander ! ” Mrs Caldwell suddenly called his attention , though her smile seemed a little strained .
Could she feel it too ? I wondered .
“ We’re discussing Margaret Atwood’s “ The Handmaid’s Tale ‘ .
I don’t suppose you’ve
read it ? ”
32 Payback time …
His lips curled into a faint smirk .
“ I’ve read it , ” he said , his voice low and smooth .
“ It’s a good book , but it’s a little too … idealistic , don’t you think ? Offred was a fool .
She should have known better than to chase a dream that was never real in the first ce .
”
My brows furrowed .
There was something strange about the way he said it , as though he wasn’t just talking about the book as if he was speaking from
–
experience .
His words made me uneasy , though I couldn’t exin why .
Mrs Caldwell was caught unawares , she just stared at Xander for a few seconds before turning back to the lesson .
The ss continued , but my focus wavered .
My thoughts kept drifting back to ler , to the strange man – Mr Dupree who had stared at me so intensely and to the feeling that something was about to change .
My mind flitted to the dream I had when I was sick , and I wondered if it had to do with any of this .
I reminded myself to tell Nanny and ask her for interpretation today .
As the bell rang , signalling the end of ss , I gathered my things , my mind still racing
something wasing , I could feel it …
10:24 :
32 Payback time …
I made my way to the student cafeteria for lunch .
It was the first time I had ever dared to step foot inside .
In the past , I had always eaten my lunch either in the bathroom or outside by the field , too afraid of being bullied .
I entered the bustling cafeteria , picked up a tray of food , and made my way to an empty table .
I could feel eyes following me but I didn’t care .
Finally , I settled on an empty table near the centre of the room .
As I sat down , their whispers reached my ears .
“ Is that really L ? ”
.
“ What happened to her ? ”
“ She looks … different .
”
I ignored them , focusing on my food .
I had just taken .
bite of my sandwich when a familiar voice cut through the whispers .
“ Well , well , well , ” Marissa said , her voice dripping with mockery “ Look who’s finally decided to grace us with her presence .
To join the rest of us in the cafeteria .
”
I didn’t look up from my food .
I calmly took another bite , the room was now quiet as everyone turned to
atore at 110
32 Payback time ….
“ Hey ! ” Marissa snapped , mming her hand down on the table .
“ I’m talking to you .
What’s the matter ? ”
I looked up at her now .
She was standing before me , nked by her usual group of friends .
Her eyes raked over me , a sneer twisting her perfectly glossed lips .
“ What do you want , Marissa ? ” I sighed “ Don’t you know it’s bad table etiquette to interrupt someone eating ? ”
“ What ! ” she scoffed “ You must have a lot of nerve , L , showing up like this and speaking to me in that manner .
Did you think wearing some cheap new clothes or putting oil in your hair is going to change
anything ? No darling , you’re still the same freak you’ve always been .
”
The girls with her giggled , the filling the Cafeteria .
gh – pitchedughter
One of them , chimed in .
“ Yeah , you can change your clothes all you want , but you’ll never stop being the
school weirdo .
”
I ignored them and continued eating my sandwich .
I could feel anger bubbling up inside me , but it was different now controlled , focused .
I was no longer
–
Фрушар тити
the helpless victim they expected me to be .
When Marissa saw I was barely reacting to them and apparently frustrated decided to escte things .
With a dramatic flourish , she picked up her used food tray and dumped its contents onto my food .
Her friends .
followed suit .
giggling as they emptied their trays into my food .
“ Oops , Marissa said with feigned remorse .
“ Looks like you won’t be eating in here after all .
Why don’t you run along to your usual spot in the toilets ? ”
In the past , this would have been the moment where I fled , tears in my eyes with their cruelughter following me .
But not today .
Today , I was different …
With deliberate slowness , I s up .
I picked up my tray , now a mess of mingled food and looked at Marissa directly in the eye .
Her smug expression faltered as I held her gaze .
“ You know , Marissa , ” I said coolly , “ I’ve been thinking about youtely .
About how small and insignificant you are and I was going to forgive you , truly … but I guess you do not deserve it .
”
Before Marissa could respond , I tipped my tray
32 Payback time
dumped some food from my tray over her head .
Gasps .
and shocked exmations filled the air as food dripped down Marissa’s perfectly styled hair and designer
clothes .
“ What the hell ?! ” she shrieked , stumbling backwards .
I didn’t stop there .
I turned to her friends , who stood frozen in shock and emptied the rest of the food over them as well .
The cafeteria had fallen into silence , as
everyone stared at me .
“ Listen carefully , Marissa , ” I turned back to her .
She was trying to wipe food from her face .
“ This is thest day you’ll ever try to offend or bully me .
Your father is a mere Gamma .
How dare you think you have the right
to torment me ? ”
Her face turned bright red as she tried to talk but I pressed on , not giving her a chance to interrupt .
“ I’ve faced things you couldn’t even imagine and survived , Marissa .
Your petty attempts at bullying
insults me .
”
Then I turned to the address of the rest of the cafeteria , my eyes sweeping over the shocked faces of my ssmates .
C
32 Payback time ….
“ Let me make something clear to all of you .
If you don’t want to end up like Marissa and her friends here , I suggest you mind your business from now on .
I’ll be in senior ss next year , and then I’ll be gone for good .
But until then , if any of you so much as looks at me the wrong way , you’ll regret it .
Do I make myself clear ? This is your final warning .
”
I straightened my shoulders , grabbed my backpack and strode towards the exit .
As I reached the door , I paused and looked back over my shoulder .
“ Oh , and Marissa ? You might want to clean yourself up .
That really doesn’t suit you .
”
Comment 11
View All >
Q
Leave the firstment for this chapter
Vote
Fandom
Swipe left to continue >
Send Gift