Sophia

~Later

Summer pulls me along. 

I groan. "Where are we going? Class just ended!"

She grins. "I know, finally. We're going to our dorm and I'm gonna help you brace yourself for them."

I frown. That doesn't sound like something I want to do.

She notices. "Sophia, you have to stand up for yourself! You can't let them ruin college for you!" she complains. I give a little shrug. "Maybe they're seniors and gone next year?"

Her eyes narrow. "They're juniors. Shut up and follow me."

Sighing, I do. Maybe she's right. Maybe I do have some standing up to do.

We quickly walk over campus and thank God, we don't cross them. I realize I really do fear them, and can't go on with my life like this.

Summer's right. They can't ruin college for me.

When she unlocks the door, relief fills me. No encounters with the Jerk Four means no stress.

I let myself fall on my bed while she does the same on hers. Speaking up to the ceiling she says, "First of all, me and Jake being family doesn't mean I like him."

I giggle. "I figured that."

She sighs. "It kinda has a good thing with it, though. I go to their house pretty often, so his friends know me. I think they're afraid of me. So maybe if we stay together, they'll back off."

I doubt that. They didn't hesitate to sit with me in Whitlock's class, even though Summer was with me. To her record, she did shoo them away.

She jups up, clapping her hands once. I groan silently. Summer is full of energy, this doesn't promise too good things.

"Lesson one. I noticed you duck away from them. Don't. If you hide, that'll give them the feeling they have more power. That's what we're trying to avoid. When they talk to you, keep your shoulders upright and don't look down. Straight in the eye."

My eyes widen. that doesn't sound like a good plan.

"Sophia," she scolds. "I know them. Trust me, this'll back them off."

Still doubting, I nod. "What else?"

She grins. "Well, you could, you know, wear something more open. More leverage. That way you're bullying them."

I gulp. "No. That's just challenging them to come back to get me."

She shrugs. "You could try it. Maybe you should do it in Whitlock's class. Whitlock kinda has an eye on you."

Panic takes me over. "Eye on me? What do you mean? As in hitting on me? Oh my God, no! I don't want to do that to Daisy and I-"

She gently pulls my shoulders. "Not that way! I mean that he has supervision on the freshmen this year, and he knows what happened with you. So he looks out for you. You're also one of the few that actually pay attention in business class, so I think he might like you. Like a teacher."

I breathe out. Thank God.

"So if I do it in Whitlock's class, they won't come after me?"

She shakes her head. "Whitlock keeps them in the front row, so they won't even be near you. But I'm sure their eyes will be."

A shiver runs over my spine and I groan. "How did I get here? I didn't want this!"

She gives me an apologetic smile and a hug. "We'll scare them away. If this doesn't work, I'll put flour in their beers."

I laugh. "They're jerks, do it now."

She grins. "Alright."

****

Summer's top doesn't feel right on my skin.

I feel like I'm exposed to everyone, almost as if walking around naked. It's not like I am, because her crop top isn't that see-through, but still.

I saw a couple of guys look at me like I'm their next hook-up, but I ignored them. I'm only doing this to get rid of the Jerk Four, and that's why I'm here.

Summer and I decided I'm not sitting anywhere closer to the front row, because I can't handle that. So I'm in the top row again, anxiously shifting in my chair.

Summer sees it. "Don't be nervous. Class starts in two minutes, they won't get past sir Whitlock."

I nod. She's right.

My eyes skim over the podium, where sir Whitlock is patiently waiting until everyone is sitting down. 

Just when he opens his mouth to start, the door creeks open. He rolls his eyes and with an annoyed look, he pins Adam down on the spot.

I frown. Adam looks different. He's actually brought his papers and backpack, and he's wearing glasses.

I must say, I'm impressed.

Sir Whitlock cocks an eyebrow. "Right on time, mister O'Conner. Take a seat and behave in my class. Any idea where your friends are?"

Adam shakes his head and looking down, he climbs the stairs. I start to panic. He's getting closer to us with every step.

Summer grimaces. "Thanks a lot, professor," she mumbles under her breath.

Adam is now walking to us, gaze down. Sir Whitlock is starting his class about sex again, but I'm too busy panicking and watching Adam to pay attention.

He looks up when he's at our seats. Coughs. Winces.

"Hello, Sophia. Summer," he says with a nod, acknowledging her. Her eyebrows raise with surprise, but he's already looking back at me. His eyes soften.

"Don't panic, please. I'm not here to scare you or do something again. I'd like to apologize for what happened on Monday."

Shock fills me. Wow. 

He hesitates before adding, "And I like your top."

Now I'm blushing crimson. "T-thank you."

"Can I sit with you? If not, I totally understand. I just want to make up for... you know." I watch him with big eyes and sharing a glance with Summer, I eventually say he can.

He sends me a thankful smile and quickly sits down next to me, but leaves a sat in between. That somehow calms me.

His three friends make their entrance, but before they can run upstairs, Whitlock calls them back. "Front row, you three."

They turn to him, and I can smell the drama coming our way. Jake scoffs. "Chill. We're just sitting with Adam."

Sir Whitlock lets out an unamused laugh. "As long as you're in my class, no you're not. Frozen four sits in front row," he sneers.

I feel shame cover me again. Sir Whitlock clearly hasn't had any problems with them before, and I'm the reason he does now.

Leo scoffs. "Dude! You're babysitting the freshmen, not us!"

I see tons of people frowning at that, and I recognize most of them as others in my year. Great. Now I'm the cause of a big argument.

Jake rolls his eyes at them. "Oh, fuck off. You ain't doing anything about it, you can ignore us as well."

Mason seems bored and looks around, his hands in his pockets. Then, his eyes fall on me. They widen.

He nudges Jake and nods at me. "Bro, what—" Jake's cut off by himself, eyes widening.

I cringe and quickly hide myself under a sweater I brought. But every one of them has seen it now. 

They run up the stairs, towards me. Fear grips my throat and I know I shouldn't show it, but it's obvious I'm scared.

"Frozen Four!" sir Whitlock's voice booms through the room. They ignore him.

They're in our row now, eyes narrowed at me. Mason grins at Adam, almost as if being... proud?

As they come closer, I almost expect Adam to do something about it. I thought him apologizing meant he was on my side, but he just focuses on his papers and lets his friends through.

"Well, look who it is," Leo smirks. I feel Summer tense besides me. "Go away. All of you," she adds, wrinkling her nose at Adam too.

"Larson, Bianchi, Barlowe, down fucking now, or I'm calling the security!" Whitlock yells, looking really furious.

Adam flinches, gets up and leaves to go down the stairs. Mister Whitlock pinches the bridge of his nose. "Not you, Adam, you can stay there if you fucking behave yourself."

Nope. All four of them sit down on the front row, three with rolling their eyes and one with his eyes down.