I don't know where I'm going, but I end up in the girls bathroom.

A couple minutes later, I hear two pairs of feet come running in here, so I scurry into a stall and lock it.

"Rhea, I know you're in here," Kate's voice. But who's the other person?

"Are you sure she's in here?" Eli. But, why is he in here?

An exasperated groan, "yes! Where else would she go? Plus this is the closest bathroom."

A sigh, "okay. Rhea, I'm really sorry."

"No, you're not, or else you wouldn't have said it." I say, and step out of the stall I was hiding in. "Where did you even here that name from?"

"What are you talking about? What name?" I look at him, he looks confused. Confused about what? He heard the name somewhere, and I need to know. There's nothing to be confused about.

"The stupid mermaid nickname from my old school. Who told you? And why do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you"

"Then why would you call me that horrid name?"

"I thought it was a cute name that described your hair," he runs a hand through his hair.

Realization runs through me, he never knew, nobody told him. "Oh," is all I can manage to say, as I slowly fall to the bathroom floor and break down in sobs.

"Rhea, what's wrong?" Eli asks, leaning down, he starts rubbing my back.

I sit up, I probably look like a wreck. "I uh.. well, at my old school everybody called me Mermaid Hair, and they meant it offesive, so I thought you somehow figured out." I choke out.

"Why were they bullying you?" He continues rubbing my back.

"They were making fun of me because I'm not as pretty as they are." I sit up straighter and wipe my face.

This got his attention for some reason, "they were making fun of you because you aren't as pretty as them?" I nod. "Rhea, you are the most beautiful girl I've ever met." He says, and looks me in the eye, all I see is sicereity, but I still don't believe that he would believe that. I look away and shake my head.

"Rhea, yes you are. You are extremely gorgeous, and I'm sorry for how everyone treated you at your old school." Kate speaks up, I forgot she was here.

"You don't need to be sorry, it's not your fault." I say to Kate and look back at Eli.

"But we are sorry, and we want you to get another chance here at this school." Eli says, and holds his hand out to me. "Come on, history class, has to be almost over by now. Do you need a ride home?" I nod, and take his hand and let him pull me up.

"Thank you," I say gratefully, and even though it come out quiet, I know he heard me.