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Looking down from the crest of the Hill onto the golden field, long shadows casting from the setting sun, a young girl took a letter from her pant pocket. As she got down on the stone bench under a drooping willow, she started to open the letter. A strong hand suddenly gripped her shoulder.
“What are you doing here Shelly?” Asked the voice behind the hand.
“I’m here to meet someone. How ‘bout you Oliver, what are you doing here?” Replied Shelly with a smile on her face and her heart.
“ Same as you.”
Together they both waited for their rendezvous. Dozens of birds were singing and dancing around the willow’s branches. All of them were happy, all of them were free.
* * *
As I was cleaning out my hair after the jocks threw their spaghetti at me, all I could think of was how this school could be so cruel. The teachers talk to us about bullying, the possible consequences and how it can be stopped, but how would they know anything. Bulling is the only form of entertainment in this school and the tears of the victims are worth both the consequences and the possible guilt felt from the bullies afterwards.
I found myself half an hour later standing in front of Shelly Roberts in the washroom doorway. Shelly was an “acquaintance” of mine. Only now does she even notice I exist. She was the cheerleader’s captain and everyone knows she wants Oliver Simmins, my best friend. She thinks that with her blond hair, blue eyes and graceful figure she can get everything.
“Oh my gosh! Are you ok?” Asked Shelly with a little false pretence.
“I’ll be okay.” I replied coldly leaving her there.
I felt her angry gaze on the back of my head as I headed towards the library. I knew she would do anything to have Oliver, even stoop as low as to talk to a loner like me which you would never see in a normal day. By what I hear, she’s sick and tired of seeing me with her “man” even if it’s just for a second.
In the library, I finally felt as if I was at home. I always wanted to be a writer when I grow up. Write books with a hidden message in theme so I can tell the world how life really is and change the world with these messages. I sat down on the most comfortable couch and started to read this book about this girl who is lonely, unloved and unwanted. I like these kind of books because I can relate to most of them. I suddenly noticed Oliver was sitting next to me. I could see why Shelly wanted him so bad. Though we were friends for a year now, I really liked him. His tanned football player body, dark hair and those grey eyes complemented it all, but today they looked a little sad. We never talked much at school so this gesture both surprised and made me content. We talked a little but then the bell rang and we had to head to different classes.
The next day at school during Physical Education, the cheerleaders were in their little corner whispering something. They all had this evil looking grin on their faces. Shelly was showing them simple moves to go with this sort of new cheer she had come up with.
“Listen up everybody! Today we want you all to see how good we are so we’ll show you a cheer that we just came up with.” Yelled Shelly to the whole Phys. Ed. class. I hear some music start. Two cheerleaders came and got me to stand in the middle of their cheer circle.
“Thinking he’s her only man.
Not knowing it was all a scam.
Deep down inside she has no one.
Thinking reading is much fun.
Hoping they are more then friends.
Well, today will be the end!”
They did their cheer and at the end, they all got down on one knee and pointed their pom-poms towards me. I tried to hold back my tears as I made my way to the locker room. The whole gymnasium was laughing at me. I even saw the responsible teacher holding back a smile. Thankfully, I would be able to talk to Oliver next period.
By now, everyone heard about what happened in the gymnasium. Everyone was hi-fiving the cheerleaders. As I entered the laboratory, I saw Oliver hanging out with his football friends. They were talking about last nights game.
“Oliver, can I talk to you?” I asked ignoring the other guys. He looked very uncomfortable about the fact that I was talking to him.
“Do you actually think he wants to talk to you? I mean, do you really think he’s your friend or wanting to be more then that? I mean would a “friend” throw spaghetti to an other “friend”? Look at yourself. Nobody wants you.” Said one of Oliver’s friend.
All of the guys were laughing except for Oliver. He looked ashamed, even sad. Everytime Oliver’s friend said “friend”, he said it slowly and tauntingly. It cut right threw me as if I was pierced by a knife. This whole day just seemed to go on forever.
That night at home, I wrote a couple of letters. One to Shelly, the other to Oliver. In the letters, all I wrote was that I wanted to meet them at the Hill and talk to them. Say what I was always scared to say in class. I went to bed late that night but for the first time I had a smile.
* * *
Heading up the Hill that Saturday evening, I saw Oliver and Shelly sharing the stone bench, each at their own end. As soon as Shelly saw me, she put on this huge act to impress Oliver. Her arms were open ready to give me a hug.
“You know what Shelly? I had enough of your fake caring s**t. You think you’re all that, saying your sorry just in front of Oliver so you can impress him, telling him that the little cheer was all other girls’ idea. But I saw you giving the direction and all. Well I had enough of you making fun of me,” I said straight to her face with a eerie calm voice.
Shelly’s face flushed as she looked at Oliver trying to see if he would back her up but all she saw was him standing there looking amazed. She quickly got angry and walked away. I held in my smile as I turned around to Oliver. He was standing a foot away from me.
“Don’t get me started…” I said before Oliver interrupted me by putting his figure on my lips.
“Shhhhh… Please don’t say an other word. Just listen. I know what I did was wrong and I can’t even tell you how sorry I am. I don’t know what made me do it, I just did. I … I…” he stopped.
He was looking in my eyes trying to find the answer to a question he never asked. He must have found something because he slowly leaned toward me and stole a kiss. Dozens of birds were still dancing and singing around the willow’s branches. Only now do I see why they were all happy, why they felt so free.
 Yourdarkestangel · Thu Oct 05, 2006 @ 02:26am · 1 Comments |
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