We enter our classroom and sit in the far-right back corner, so Martha and her friends can’t throw things at us from behind.
‘Brad really likes you,’ Janie smiles.
‘I thought we already came to that realisation long ago?’ I reply.
‘Yeah, but he is super keen to see you tonight. He even wants to have lunch with us to spend more time with you. Don’t you think it’s adorable?’ Janie asks me.
‘Oh, he’s so delightful,’ I reply in my usual sarcastic tone.
Janie frowns at me.
‘Okay, I get it, he’s good to look at, but that’s not what will win me over. I just feel something is missing. Yes, he’s very attractive, but do I feel that spark, that connection where I could see and feel myself falling in love with him? No, I don’t,’ I say to Janie.
‘Maybe because you haven’t given yourself a chance actually to get to know him. You have your walls up around him. I can see that without even using my ability of sight. Tonight, is the perfect chance to lower those walls, learn about him, and get to know him on a different level. Maybe then you will ignite that spark you’re seeking,’ Janie says.
I smile at her. She’s right. I have my guard up around all guys in general. I don’t want to fall for the wrong guy, and I definitely don’t want to sacrifice my time with Janie over a guy who doesn’t have my best interests at heart. I don’t feel the urge to have a boyfriend, but I also don’t want to miss my opportunity of losing Mr. Right. My current problem is lowering my guard around Brad because I have fluffy wolf ears and a tail to hide.
Martha and her gang sit to the left of us in the same row.
‘Great,’ Janie mumbles.
Janie and I sink into our chairs and try to focus on the teacher as we take notes.
I instinctively take my pencil and start chewing it like a bone. ‘Rose,’ Janie whispers. ‘Stop chewing the pencil,’ she says.
‘I can’t help it,’ I tell her, placing the mangled pencil on the table.
Martha turns her head to face Tori, ‘I bet I’ll have that hunk, Brad, asking me out any day now,’ she says, looking at her freshly manicured nails.
‘I’m surprised he hasn’t asked you already,’ Tori tells her.
‘I’ve seen the way he stares at you,’ Sandra says, brushing her dark blonde hair from her face. Sandra always has a piercing gaze that's intimidating and is fiercely loyal to Martha.
Imogen laughs. Her red hair bounces past her shoulders. She stands out as the least harsh of the bunch. She's a follower rather than a leader in the group and doesn't tend to join in on the bullying unless she is peer pressured.
‘I think my beauty makes him nervous. That’s why he hasn’t asked me yet,’ Martha giggles and then looks at us, ‘Hey, Janie, how’s your thrift store wardrobe holding up?’ Martha sneers.
Janie tries to ignore her, but Martha persists. ‘Did your mum pick that outfit out for you?’
‘Leave me alone, Martha,’ Janie says, her voice shaking.
Martha and her friends burst out laughing, and I feel a ball of anger form in my stomach. I let out a low deep growl. The teacher and the class turn in my direction, startled by the sound they just heard.
‘Woah, someone call the pound. There seems to be a dog on the loose,’ Martha says.
The class bursts into laughter.
I clench my fists, stand and march over to the table they sit at. I slam my hands on the table, ‘I want you to stop bullying Janie,’ I say to Martha, staring directly into her eyes.
‘Or what?’ she smirks, crossing her arms.
My fingers scrape against the table, creating the sound it would on a chalkboard. I step back and admire the claw marks indented into the table.
Martha, Tori, Sandra and Imogen sit with mouths gaped open as they stare at the claw marks, then stare up at me.
‘Or you will have to deal with me.’ I tilt my head and smile at Martha, ‘For the record, you might want to stop obsessing over Brad because he and I are dating,’ I confess and march back to my seat.
‘What! You’re lying,’ she says, abruptly standing.
‘Do I need to send you all to see the headmistress?’ the teacher growls.
I peer at Martha, ‘I’ll be sure to send you a wave whilst he and I have lunch together in the cafeteria today,’ I smirk.
Martha’s glare deepens.
‘The next person who speaks and interrupts my class will be sent to the office,’ the teacher shouts.
Martha sits back down in her chair, her face red with anger. She whispers something to her group, and they all snicker quietly to themselves. I try to concentrate on the notes, but I can feel their stares burning holes in me.
Janie discreetly nudges me and smiles, ‘Watch this,’ she says and whispers, ‘Lifto Levitatious,’ suddenly Martha shrieks as she tries to grab her paperwork that flings up everywhere in the air and floats around in different directions, scattering across the room.
‘Martha!’ the teacher growls, ‘Pick all of this up at once and go to the head mistress’s office for your misconduct in class!’ she shouts.
‘But Miss Higglepots. It wasn’t me. I swear,’ she says.
‘Well, which of your friends decided to throw your work around then?’ she asks, but they all shrug and appear dumbfounded.
‘It wasn’t any of us. It flew up in the air all by itself like it had been ripped out from under my hands,’ Martha tells her.
Janie and I giggle as Muss Higglepots shakes her head at Martha, ‘Out of my classroom now,’ she says, pointing out the door.
Martha storms out of the room in anger.
The bell for lunch finally rings. As we leave the room, Janie accidentally bumps into Imogen. Janie suddenly has a look of horror across her face as she stares at Imogen in a trance and watches something no one else can see.
Janie then breathes heavily and blinks a few times before grabbing Imogen’s arms, ‘Whatever you do, don’t get in the blue car tonight,’ Janie tells her.
Tori and the gang burst into laughter and flail their fingers in Janie’s face, taunting her.
‘Ooh, Janie, let me guess,’ Tori says, ‘Imogen’s going to break a fingernail as she buckles her belt,’ she says.
They burst into laughter.