Chapter 22: Worlds So Different.

Melissa's POV.

"Lisa, are you okay?" Susan's voice startled me as she called out. She must have noticed that I was paying too much attention to my phone.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied instantly, searching my phone to find the group exit button. Immediately after I found it, I left the group, deleted it and dropped my phone on the table while staring at her face.

"What was that about?" Her voice was gentle yet interrogating.

"It's nothing, Susan," I said, standing up from my chair as I began to dish out our meal while avoiding her gaze.

I was just about to drop the plates before her on the table when she held my hand to it, staring at me so much that I couldn't ignore it anymore.

"What is it, Susan?" I asked this time, turning my gaze to her.

"You should be the one answering that question, Lisa. What is going on? A few seconds ago we were happy and smiling, but after staring at that phone you've been looking sad. What happened?"

Her questions were so direct that I couldn't maintain the gaze; I instantly looked away, giving myself up in the process.

"That's it; you'll tell me exactly what's going on. Did he call you? Did he text you? What is it?" she pressed further, giving me no choice but to sit on the chair right opposite her as I stared at her face with a sad expression on mine.

"The thing is, Susan, most of the time I feel intimidated by the students. I do not mean academically because I know I am good, but they're way above my league, and I don't think I'm ever going to mix with them. I mean, how can I ever be friends with people who have so much more money than my family could ever dream of?"

I wasn't lying, but I wasn't entirely telling her the truth. I couldn't begin to explain how I was being bullied at school and put her in so much worry; it's not like there was anything she could do about it, so why bother her?

"Have I told you that you do not have control over that? I just need to let things go the way they should. You might really think this is not possible, but you are going to make so many friends, and that's going to make you realise that life is not always about wealth and how much we have in our bank accounts."

"Sometimes it is about wealth, Susan. I mean, I've seen these people; they would definitely not want anything to do with me. I already see the signs. It's not like I am so desperate to have a friend; I just feel like I am not going to fit in with them, and it bothers me. I have to study with them in classes; I have to do my practical projects with them. It's just exhausting. "Oh my goodness, Susan, I cannot believe I'm making you have this conversation with me at dinner."

My gaze went to the dishes on the table as I blinked severely, turning back to her.

Slowly she reached out for my hand that was placed on the table and held it, gently squeezing it in a way that wasn't painful and was strangely comforting.

"I would be a liar if I told you I do not understand what you mean, Lisa. I mean, I might not be in a bigger place like your school and have so many people far above my standard, but in my little place of work, I know the difference when you have to mix with people who have much more than you do. It's not always easy; most times it's exhausting, but you know what?" Her expression quickly shifted from emotional to excited as she made that last statement.

I couldn't help but pay attention to her as I quickly nodded my head, curious to hear what would come next.

"You don't have to do anything about it when you cannot fix it. They'll come along; there are several occasions that would prove to them and yourself that money is not everything, and everyone will fall in place. Not everyone of them would want to be close, but those of them who see your value and know your worth would respect you for who you are and not how much you have."

For a second, I felt like I was going to cry, but then the guilt of not telling her the entire truth struck me, and I adjusted myself, looking away from her.

"I can only hope that it will turn out well because I do not want to be in an environment where it constantly feels uneasy."

After that conversation, dinner was easy; I mean, it was supposed to be, but I couldn't take my mind off the last message I saw on that group before I clicked 'exit'.

I kept having wild thoughts, wondering what they were going to do to me.

I barely slept; my eyes kept staring up at the ceiling all night, and I avoided my phone like it was a plague. I closed my eyes for a few minutes, and by the time I finally felt dizzy, my alarm went off.

"God damn it." I hesitated, but there was nothing I could do; I needed to be in school, and I needed to be early.

It was so hard preparing for school that day, and as I walked through the school gate, I realised that no one was going to help me; if I truly was going to be out of this mess, I needed to help myself.

At first it felt like a normal day; everyone kept walking past me, minding their own business, but as I walked into the first floor, I saw a little gathering of mostly female students.

I felt something was off, but I didn't say a word as I tried to work past them up the stairs.

"We are gathered here awaiting someone to arrive. Can you girls please remind me of who it is we are waiting for?"

Her voice was familiar, and just when I turned to get a proper view of who it was, I realised it was her, the Selena girl.