ra's

ing a boulder with every step. I had always been set apart from my other classmates due to my circumstances. I was always the odd one out

the subject; in fact, I usually did pretty well, but somehow, it felt li

the few that I shared with Caleb and his gang, and I watched as they entered the room a coupl

ed, but they simply went on to their seats right at the

e room without so much as a greeting. He silently pulled out a stack of papers and b

sn't the best nor the most motivated when it came to academics, but despite all that, I

type, every part of the ecosystem, every equation. But as I got up to get my pa

stared back at me like a slap across the face. My heart dropped into my stomach. How?

ressed down on me harder than it should have. I tried to shake it off, to ra

ide into the shadows and pretend it hadn't happened. But before I could g

winced as I tried to push myself up. "Ouch!" I yelped, causing everyone to laugh as

trying to quickly get back to my seat, but an

d boyfriend, held the paper between his

lier, he probably decided that it was the best time for paybac

rted to say, but his loud

e you still in this school with grades like this?" That earned him an eruption of laughter from th

t I'm being publicly humiliated. I blinked back the tears that threatened to form. No, I

t it seems that you're also hella stupid. Aren't you on a scholarship? Blue Hill High is wasting

satisfied by this, because he let his guard down slightly and lowered

tug of war that proceeded between us finally made the paper rip down the middle,

d I quickly picked it up from the f

mous gaze turned to me. "Miss. Valentine, you should be ashamed

o protest, but was

! And stay back after class," Mr. Hemmi

g interrupted our little fight, he still put the entir

as the easier target. Shane and his group were the school's elite, whose pa

thing I could do about it. I had no power to go against the rich and f

d?" he pressed, wa

ed my shoulders in defe

seat at the far end of the room, I heard some sniggers fro

hile others get bullied? No one wan

inutes of photosynthesis, the bell fin

om one after the other. I stayed back as Mr. Hemming asked me, sitting qu

out, Mr. Hemming began to clear his table,

he room. And I couldn't help but notice how he had his arm

ning sensation in my chest, like my heart was being squee

alousy? It was ridiculous! I had nothing to be jeal

y chest refuse to die? Why did I feel dra

is sense of foreboding in my gut th