Chapter Thirteen (Treize)
With a day before their trip, Dora and her friends were busy scouring the town for whatever it was they thought they'd need "I don't know why you guys even bother, it's a luxury location, everything we'd need would be provided before we even ask for it" James said to the friend group matter of factly; "well some things are just necessary, we need them now and not when we are away trapped on some luxury Korean resort" Ese replied and everybody else chorused their agreement.
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"...Regardless of your bitchy sister and her friends, c'mon you have to admit, you did have a great weekend, I mean what in your life beats that?" Lilian asked with feigned seriousness as she and Debby rattled on about their weekend experiences, "okay yes it's was the best weekend of my life if I'm being honest but it was absolutely distasteful once Dora spoke to me and the other girl that I don't even know, they were mean for absolutely no reason" Debby complained, the bitterness evident in her voice "I told you a hundred times, the girls are simply threatened including that sissy James cause he's not a girl but yeah I'm sure he would like to think of himself as one but like I said they are simply jealous and I'm sure they've always been since you arrived but after that night they aren't just jealous, they are livid and would most likely want to destroy you" her friend Lilian replied to which Debby answered with a scoff "they can't really want to destroy me" she chuckled "I'm sure it's just teenage delinquent behavior, I've experienced bullying to a level where I'm almost one with it, I can handle whatever bullies throw on, to be honest I think they are all just missing something, of course I'll cry every now and then cause it's so hard but I know I'll rise above all of it one day, after high school I hope".
"Okay girl I don't know whoever told you it's okay to let yourself get bullied but I think they did you a great disservice, what do you mean till after high school? So you're basically just cool with people talking you down and saying all sorts of trash that isn't true and hitting you and spreading humiliating photos? Because that's what your sister and her friends are going to do once you become their target and the way I see it you already are, they'll make the whole school hate you that the rest of the school even start to treat you the same way, they may not ever even have to touch you themselves, people just simply do it, that's how much control they have around here, are you honestly up for that life?" Lilian quizzed clearly upset at Debby's resolution "it's not like that's what I want or it's not that I like it, I just don't know how to escape it" came Debby's almost silent reply "don't escape it, just don't take it" her angry friend said "how L? Just how?" To Lilian it really looked like Belmonth must have done a number on her friend, cause this girl here and the girl she actually thought a Chanria sister would be are absolutely different people, heck this girl and the girl from the party cannot even coexist.
"It's almost the end of lunch break, I should get back to the office and finish filing all the paper work" Debby trying to take a quick exit from the now uncomfortable conversation "like hell yes you should" Lilian answered "look Debs I know you're scared but you need to know that I really want to help you, I'm here to help you, I am your friend and I wouldn't leave you simply because the most popular people in school don't like you even if that includes your sister but I wouldn't just stay and get bullied too, we need to put an end to it but I see that you're too scared to even think of how to go about that so, here's what we're gonna do; first things first we need to charge you up with some fighter energy, let's meet after work and talk alright?" Lilian wasn't backing down from this whole bully discussion clearly and agreeing is Debby's only true escape "I know you want to help and I appreciate that but..." Debby started "no buts, just say yes" Lilian interrupted "okay fine, yes" Debby finally agreed "alright that's what I need to here, see you later, I'm going back to my post" Lilian replied.
DEBBY'S POV
What did I even sign up for? L is hell bent on fighting off the whole school and the bullying circle that's about to begin, I can already see it coming and truth is, I'm not even scared; I'm almost numb to bullying now as long as you're not hitting me that's all I need, I'll mind my business, keep my head down, try to appear smaller which is usually the most difficult cause being as big as I am trying to appear small is quite challenging, most times I simply appear bigger when I try to hide myself but L is right.
I didn't come here for a new start, but of course why couldn't I get one?, why do I have to continue living like an underling?, what's so wrong if I don't want my life to continue in the same path?" who would it hurt if I'm not bullied anymore?, why shouldn't I stand up for myself here? I can feel myself getting angry at myself, there's no manual that says I'm the one everybody should hate or despise and for what? Being fat? I've been here a couple of months and nobody has gone out of their way to be especially unpleasant so why does it have to be when school opens? what is it about the school space and students that demands for fat people to be treated as different, now in my head I was getting my really pissed, I needed to have that conversation with Lilian now and not later, I'd rather get that energy charge and finally stand up for something, for myself.
I didn't even realize it but I was already up from my desk and storming my way to the door without looking back or even looking ahead, right as I held the door open and took my first purposeful step out of the door, my head collided not nicely at all with Ezra's, I had actually forgotten about him through the whole weekend and this is how he reminded of his presence with a possible visible bump to my head "owwww, dude why the hell are you going anywhere and not looking?" He said holding his head, I couldn't even reply with the bangs going around in my head "ow, ow, ow" I muttered under my breath, "what the actual fuck Ezra?" I finally said when I could stand properly, all my earlier momentum dashed away "you hit me!" His eyes squeezed into accusing slits and yes I did hit but at least be a gentleman and maybe help me stand upright or something not turn all defensive right, or maybe I'm the only one that thinks that way; "sorry I didn't mean to? Are you fine?" I ask only because I'm a polite and normal human being.
"I'll need two days off work to get over this, what's in your head? Coconut or gravels?" He asks like I'm actually supposed to answer, giving him the stink eye I stalked back to my seat to gather recovery energy cause that hit actually made me swoon and not in a nice way "sorry too" he finally said after noting my silence and lack of response to his stupid question "are you okay?" He asks and then comes up to me as if to check if I'm okay, moving away from his hand I reply "I'll be fine thank you" seeing that I've lost any semblance to a chatty energy, he goes over to his side of the office.
"That was a really hard hit though, next time try to watch your front especially considering the weight of your loaded head, only God knows what's inside" Ezra says after a whole while of painful groaning and silence passes us; I really thought he dropped it but really why is he about my head, was it even my head or his head? "how are we sure it isn't your head with the loaded stuff?" I retorted "you want to try?" He questions "maybe, stage the whole thing and this time we'd be concentrating on whose head feels heavier" he asks actually looking at me like he would try it "I've always know you were crazy" I reply and he chuckles, his laughter lights up the room and actually eases all the tension "where were you even going anyway?, cause storming out like that must have been a mighty important destination" he questioned "well that, is something I have to get back to" I say finally feeling like I can walk without stumbling after sitting for a while.
I stand up and make my way for the door before he breaks in "Debby?" "Yes" I answer "want to hang out this weekend?" He asks and a puzzled me wants to understand what he means by hangout "hangout?" I ask and take a step away from the door back inside to listen to him "well yes, um a couple of people are going to have a beach party, just something small nothing like the past weekend, just casual stuff and I thought you should come, also since this is the last week of working at waterway, it's the best way to celebrate the job break, you know maybe spend all that money finally on something" he explains. I don't know if it's my ears or something but he sounds a tad bit shy and nervous but of course that can't be right because Ezra is the hot guy, he's never tongue tied and is the waterway's Prince Charming, no way he's nervous talking to me or something else is wrong, yeah that should be it something's wrong.
"Debby? Debby?" startled hearing my name, I actually focus and realize I zoned out thinking about a nervous Ezra who's looking at me now like I've grown a horn "did you really just zone out right now?" He asks "I was just thinking about something" I blush knowing I was thinking about him "what did you say?" I quizzed "hangout, Friday, here, at the beach, would you come?" Slightly embarrassed I nod my head quickly as I rush out not before replying "yes I'll be there, I gotta go now".
Yeesh, that was awkward, Ezra is the only guy around, first guy ever that I don't feel awkwardly tensed around, he's so fine I'm willing to ditch scared and bullied for him or maybe his energy is just so comforting, I don't know what it is about him but doesn't change the fact that I can also becoming a zoning out, stuttering, head hitting, embarrassed human in 2 seconds as well. "L!!" I scream from a small distance but one that requires me to shout anyways just so L could notice me coming, she waves at me from where she is, taking of her reflector jacket and dropping the speaker on the chair.
"Why does it seem like you're getting off work? Didn't we just get here?" I ask "oh yeah but apparently I covered for Damon last week and it's time for him to return the favor" she replies with a smug look on her face "lucky human, so you've got the whole day off?" I ask "yup!" she replies making sure to pop the p "perfect I'm ready" I say to her and for a moment she's confused "ready for what?" "I want to get charged up, I'm ready to refuse being bullied" I make my statement clearer and Lilian automatically lights up, her smile radiates and she visibly buzzed with new energy "perfect! I knew you'd come around, God I knew there was a reason why I like you" I laugh at her enthusiasm "okay let's go now, this sun is killing me" she adds and I agree "we should go into one of the stores and actually talk, explain what you have in mind to me" I gulp at my statement, being ready doesn't mean not be I afraid.
"Hello, welcome to waterway_slushies, what can I get you?" a waiter comes to our table as soon as we sit, she looks to be just around our age, most likely working just like we work at the beach main office. "Hey Mazelee, how's work going?" Lilian greets her so yes I guessed right "the usual boredom nothing new" Mazelee answers "what are you guys having and who's your friend?" biting on the tip of her pen as she waits for a reply, she is clearly eyeing me and I can see when the recognition hits her "wait is this bitchy Dora's twin" I wince at the term used to describe my not so beloved twin, bitchy, is she that mean?.
With a small laugh, Lilian says "yes" and I introduce myself "Hi, I'm Debby, Debby Chanria and yes that makes me Dora's twin" I say with a nervous laugh, I was even sweating on my palms, I'm meeting too many people than normal in this town already. "You're welcome to waterway, sorry I called your sister bitchy, she's just the realest bitch I've ever seen" she says a little shyly and then as if another lightbulb goes off in her head again, I can see her eyes widen the moment it does "wait are you the girl from the party? Who like stole the whole show? Everybody's talking about that, you're so cool" she's all smiles now and looks way more excited than when we entered and I'm facing second hand shyness cause of course that was not sober me.
I laugh and say thank you with a smile "Mazelee, your job is to take orders! Do it!" A loud voice striking with authority says and Mazelee loses all that glee and assumes composure almost immediately "what can I offer you?" She asks loud enough for the person whom I assume is her boss to hear, "I'll have a double chickwizz burger and an Oreo milkshake, extra large size" I give her my order and Lilian does same, "coming right up" she says as she finishes scribbling our orders.
"Okay here's what I think, you just need to be strong enough to ignore these people and not just to simply ignore them but to give them equal energy as they give you, reject the oppression, oppress them back, throw shades back, reject the bullying and bully them back" Lilian begins as soon as our milkshakes come, "b-bully them back" I stutter "yes Debby, how do you ever think they'll live you alone? If you're calm, they'll take you for some weakling but if you show them up at their only game which is bullying you'll definitely get rid of them, every bully hates being bullied" she explains. I like the idea of standing up for my self but becoming a bully is not me and I'll never stoop low because Dora and her friends want to play that way.
Lilian notices that I'm in my head and says "okay maybe becoming a bully is a little over the top but trust me I'm not just speaking for you, Dora and her friends have been big terrorists long before the junior year so when I say stuff like this, it's from a place of hurt too but of course I'm not trying to make you a bully, at least not physically, here's how I think you can get them, you have to level up" she brings my attention back to her by this one "level up how?" I ask "level up as in go ten steps higher in everything, glam, style, boys, school work, social life, literally every single thing there is" I like this suggestion way better "once you level up, high enough the whole school can see it just like everyone saw you at the party, trust me you'll intimidate them" "so how do we go about this?" I ask dragging a sip from my milkshake.
Mazelee finally comes to our table again, took the burger and fries a little longer to get to us but it finally does and we talk over our lunch "just leave the 'how' to me my dear friend" L says smiling sinisterly and I laugh at her theatrics "...anyhoo, the major idea is first for you to be comfortable in your skin, to absolutely love yourself and feel powerful in your skin cause you're not going to have another body and we can't let them get to you through the one you have now" Lilian dives in to her idea of level up and I listen "we need to make these last weeks of summer the best time of your life, you need to experience everything it means to love yourself and be very confident about your self, once you've got that down you can take on every single belittling bitch in that high school and you'll become while at it" she adds chuckling at the last sentence, this is definitely going to be one hell of a final senior year.
"So, we start tomorrow, after work let's meet at my place or yours, I don't know, we don't want to work around the enemy so mine is probably better" Lilian says with all seriousness and I laugh absolutely glad she's on my side because she is so serious about all this, it would be wrong to have her on the opposite side "I think my house is fine, Dora and her friends should've left the country already, something about a luxury holiday" I tell L and she groans "rich kid problems" she mutters like she isn't a rich kid.
I just laugh as we walk back to the office "I have to go through all the files and be sure I'm done with them, I'll catch you tomorrow yeah?" "Surely, you'll see me, I'll bring the gang too" she says and I visibly disapprove with a slight frown, "I'm not sure I want them in on this" I tell her, with an awkward cough she replies "I know you don't feel really comfortable around them just yet but that's why I want them to come along, so you'll get to know them, I promise not to tell them about our plans, I just think it would be great to make friends with them, you know I got you" I obviously trust Lilian enough so I say "okay it's cool just don't tell them, no matter what" "ayy ayy captain" she says with a mock salute and waves me off towards the office as she heads for the parking lot, "bye girl" "bye L" I wave her off and turn to finish all that filling.
I definitely don't want to disappoint uncle Rob and let Ezra do all the work, speaking of Ez? "woahhh, you startled me, where the hell do you always appear from?" I quiz as he is standing right in front of me "you really should get the hang of watching around when you're moving, it'll save you from a potential heart attack" he muses with a smirk on his face at my still startled expression, my hands over my rapidly beating heart and a small frown on my forehead, rolling my eyes I push past him and walk further into the building "so much work to do, definitely don't want to be you right now!" He yells after me basically reminding me of the fact that I left him for a while to do all the work "fuck off" I yell back "not for long, don't worry I'll be back, I'm just going on a short break" he calls from the distance and I close out any other sounds as I close our shared office door. These last weeks better be worth it.
A/N:
I know this took forever to get here, I had rough weeks of writer's block after I lost some chapters I had worked on, put my panty's in a twist and I really couldn't get creative for a while but I'm here now.
L seems to have gotten some spunk out of her new friend Debby, what an interesting two weeks it just might be for the girls, meanwhile; Dora and her friends are off to Korea to have a swell time.....Loving me for me is the book you want to read lol, trust me #LMFM
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