Zillah struggled to get on the edge of the pool wall. She wanted out. However the cruel laughs around her paralyzed her from moving forward—a lot of partygoers rushed toward the scene, to watch as they ridiculed poor Zillah. As if she needed this right now.

Jackson caressed his right cheek, but rather let her rot in the muddy, worm-infested pool. This was his pool, this has been his house. And for him not to show any chivalry seemed petty. Liz folded her arms and looked proud as what she accomplished. Her trap was a success.

Are they anyone from this careless crowd that do care?

Finally!

Ava and Sammie came to Zillah's rescue. They helped pull her up.

"Are you alright?" Sammie said horrified.

"Zillah?!" Ava wondered with true concern, as she tried to help yanked the slimly worms out of Zillah's mudded hair.

Zillah remained speechless, dejected from the cruel prank Liz just carried out. And just as Zillah begun to lift her head, showing her melancholic face amongst the negligent onlookers, Miles rushed out of the crown and tried to come to Zillah's aid.

"Zillah!" Miles yelled.

"No!" Zillah hollered. "I don't want your help!"

"Please!" He begged her. As he walked closer, Zillah felt not only sadness, but anger. There has been anger that was brewed the moment Zillah found out she got duped.

"You set me up."

"What are you talking about?" He explained. "Once again, I didn't mention anything about Jackson having cameras."

"It was your phone! You texted me."

"For the last time I didn't texted you." Miles stated sternly. And then like a snap, he pivoted to Liz. She looked sassy, still with her arms folded. Miles knew what was going on. "It was you!"

"What...me?!" Liz puzzled.

"Don't act dumb. I know it was you." Miles continued. "I told you about it."

"Told her?" Zillah questioned.

Miles couldn't let this slip away. He confessed. "I told Liz about your camera collection. She must have gotten my phone."

"I would never." She said.

"Don't lie, Liz! You hated Zillah no matter what happened back in the past."

Zillah should've figured it was Liz. But still felt a bit betrayed, he would tell something personal to someone like that. He supposed to be a "true" friend, but didn't when he told Liz about her camera collection. Miles maybe didn't know, but deep down he planted the seed for this prank. The sadistic prank that was unforgivable.

Miles approached her. "Listen Zillah, I'm sorry..."

Before he can fully apologize, Zillah couldn't allow it. She let out her anger—probably on the wrong person, but she slapped Miles hard.

A lot of oohs echoed through the stringent crowd.

Miles held his cheek firmed as Zillah began to tear up. "How could you!"

She then ran off as Ava and Sammie called for her to come back. But should she, this hasn't been a place for her to stay around. Still covered in the stinky mud and worms still crawling over her, she continued her pursuit to exit the premises the better. However she overheard a barrage of shouts, several partygoers yelled out...

"Wormgirl!"

Liz and Jackson even joined the foray as they all yelled out, "Wormgirl!"

Zillah fled away from the party as fast as she can. She regretted leaving Mr. Craig's house. It may have been boring, yet felt it was safe. But her house was evens safer. She regretted about taking those texts. And now she has mud and worms as proof of why she felt tricked.

She continued her run until a spraying-like sound can be seen not that far. She suddenly approached a sprinkling hose. She rushed toward it, the water gushed out of synchronized holes. She took as much water as she can. She may be wet, but she can be able to clean herself. Digging the dried mud out of her, and the excess worms flying out of her hair; she don't care if her brown hair got soaked, at least she can be more presentable and not be a embarrassment all the way home.

Once she finished cleansing the flit, she resumed her way down Evegrove and toward a Bus Stop. Waited for the bus to come, she seemed upset that the bus won't arrived until another thirty to sixty minutes. Disgusted there was nothing else she can do, she stayed by the wooden seat and resumed her wait.

"Why I'm so dumb to even come here." She said quietly.

Still haunted by that prank, Zillah can't understand why she would fall for Jackson's charms. Obviously he was faking. He would never want her. Liz...maybe, but if you put Zillah and Liz together. Time and time again Jackson would choose Liz. No matter how many failed chances Liz would get to him, he would get to her. Jackson would only need to do it once. Unfournately, Zillah pulled the very short straw.

Zillah continued to wait for the bus and then she heard honks from a coming car. She turned to see it was a blue Camaro. Ava and Sammie can be heard from the front and back passenger side reaching out for her. Driving the car is Sammie's close friend, Miguel.

"You always need us." Sammie said.

"I don't." Zillah said.

"But we're here anyway." Ava responded.

Zillah may not like it, but she at least glad she don't see Miles anywhere with them. She then spotted Ava and Sammie exited out of the car. They both approached the Bus Stop.

"It wasn't your fault." Ava said.

"Liz is. She used me..."

"And Miles." Ava replied.

"Ava's right, Zi, Miles maybe faulted for letting that blonde hippo from using his phone. But I really doubt he would allow that prank to happen."

"I agree wholeheartedly."Ava continued. "Miles wouldn't side with Liz to mock you."

"It doesn't matter anymore. It happened!" Zillah started to whimper. She can't handle this. She hastily wiped her tears, yet it was obvious she was still hurt. "I don't care. I just want to go home."

"Well come on, let's bring you." Ava said.

"Yeah, Miguel wouldn't mind." Sammie turned to Miguel as he bowed his head.

"It will be an honor, senorita." He said so passionately.

Zillah appreciated that. She sniffed her nose, but continued to shed few more tears. She eventually joined her friends back in the camaro. Zillah sat alongside Ava in the back, while Sammie, sat back in the front passenger seat. Ava hugged Zillah like a teddy bear, wanted to give her that support only a B.F.F would do. Sammie signaled Miguel it was time.

And it was.

~~~

It has been a tough day at school. Zillah did her best to focus on her schoolwork, but those pesky rumors have quickly rattled her from within.

Even a good lunch, she can't enjoy. She sat alone on the cafeteria table. Her body slumped. She barely finished her food. Mostly everyone around school has been staring at her.

This day she hoped could've helped quell down the nightmare she faced last night, but today only intensified the nightmare. All she needed now was Freddy Kruger to come and get her. However, she tried to put up that brave face, taken on the verbal abuse...continued to hear the wormgirl chants and as well the other chants, Zillah the Bookworm.

Sometimes she heard it from classes, and recently during lunch. She can't wait for this year to end, she don't have to face them ever again.

Feeling depressed, she quickly exited the cafeteria and headed to the library hoping to get peace and quiet. She found a private spot nearby a shaded corner between two large bookshelves. She sat down and tried to stop the tears from falling down her rosy cheeks. Attempting to continue her studying for an upcoming history exam in the next few days, she can't even concentrate. The party continued to get to her.

And it got worst when Miles make his way to her.

"What do you want?" She said depressed, but with a striking tone.

"I have been trying to find you."

"Can you leave me alone?"

"Can I talk?"

"No!" She didn't want to scream because of their surroundings.

"Please, Zillah!"

She finally relented.

"Just listen to my side." He continued. "I didn't know what Liz had planned."

"But you gave her your phone?"

"I didn..." He tried to reason with her, sat down next to her. "I didn't. She took my phone."

"How you know?"

"A guy told me. He saw Liz took my phone without me knowing."

"How?!"

Miles stayed silent.

"Miles, how would she get your phone. You didn't feel it from getting taking from your pocket."

"It was actually on a table."

Zillah guessed that would happen. "So why you didn't see her."

"I...I was distracted."

"Distracted?"

Miles can't hold it from much longer. He finally confessed. "I was kissing another girl."

He looked to her thinking she would be brokenhearted or even pissed, yet she continued to show off her melancholic expression.

"You're not upset?!"

"For you kissing another girl. No. Remember we're not together."

Even though she said that, there has to be some bits of jealousy within her. However, if there was jealousy inside. She hid it pretty well. Her main emotional output is more disheartening. She admitted it to Miles.

"I was really upset you told her about my thing. I thought I told you it was between us. I didn't even tell this to Ava or Sammie."

"I'm sorry."

"You told her and she used it as a tool for her amusement."

"Yeah, but I'm really sorry." He pleaded with her. "I hate what Liz and Jackson did to you. You didn't deserve it. And what I said yesterday as well, everything that happened I'm truly sorry."

She heard him, and as a glimmer of hope. She reached out, touched his hand. "Thank you."

Miles smiled. Attempted to redeem himself, he offered her his services to carry her stuff for the rest of the day. Zillah didn't mind. They both exited the library.

"I heard from Ava you was going to take Dream the scholarship." He mentioned.

"Well, it wasn't my original plan, but I felt it couldn't hurt." She explained.

Zillah realized the opportunity that Ava gave her. She tried to fight it, but saw this as a huge chance to get to LSU. She finally understood the value winning the Dream scholarship will have on her collegiate endeavors.

After a few more periods, the school day ends. Zillah and Miles—still carrying her books—tried to leave the building together. However, they halted when they noticed Jackson and his pack of jock friends hanging out by the gym entrance. Most of them laughed about something. And then Jackson turned to see Zillah.

Zillah appeared puzzled and shocked. Jackson approached her way, but Miles prevented him halfway.

"Back away, Jackson!" Miles stated.

"Hey, I just want to talk to her." Jackson said.

"Not now!"

Jackson shook his head; he looked toward Zillah. "You may be mad at me, but I didn't have anything to do what Liz planned. I was horrified she used my party for some mean trick on you."

"What you're a victim?" Miles questioned suspiciously.

"Yeah, me and my party."

Miles had to laugh at that moronic statement. "Trying to be a victim."

"Don't make me an enemy."

"And what, you're going to sic your bulldogs on me."

Jackson angered, yet he quickly dismissed it. He turned back, didn't care about them and headed back toward his friends.

Zillah kept quiet. She felt repose and adamant, not hearing any apologizes from Jackson. For what he did in his part; tried to hook up with her, as if she has any feelings for such a jerk. She disliked being a gullible female like countless others falling for Jackson's tricks. She adored what Miles did as they walked out to the parking lot.

"Thanks for being by her side."

"Always."

He wanted to drop her off home, continued his redeeming role. She headed to his car, a 2010 silver BMW 320d. For a half hour, they remained silent. Once they got down Robin Street and a mile away from her house, Miles wanted to say something but didn't say anything. When they finally got to her residence, she thanked him for the drive.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

And then without notice, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. Zillah smiled quickly and grabbed her stuff from the back seat. She exited and walked to her front door. She stopped immeadtely when she received a letter from Senator Talibeaux's office. Before she opened it, Miles yelled back at her. She turned around to listen.

"I was going to the café downtown. Would you want to come with me?"

Zillah held the letter close to her chest. She respectfully declined, "I would've loved to go, but I've got a lot of studying to do for the history exam. Sorry."

Miles understood. He started to leave once she entered inside the house. She would've liked to have a friendly date with Miles, but can't remember how long ago the last one was. She then glanced back at the letter. She got to her room—with a look of pure simplicity. She dropped her stuff on the carpet and sat near the edge of her bed. She opened it, and seemed surprised to what was read.

***************************************************************************************************

Dear Ms. Cord,

Congratulations! You have been selected as one of the finalists for this year's Dream Scholarship. I commend you for your success so far, but if you are truly ready for the next step. I implore you meet me personally. I really want to see if you have what it takes to be the lucky recipient of this elite award. I'm looking forward in seeing you. Good luck in the next phase.

Sincerely,

Senator Preston Talibeaux

***************************************************************************************************  

She glanced at the time and day she has to meet the senator; sighed anxiously as she lay down on her cover.

Is she ready for the next phase?

She hoped so, whatever that will be. She faced difficult tests and adversity before. Is the next phase a test or will it be something else.