Chapter 32 Standing up to her bully
Chapter 32: Standing up to her bully
The first day back on campus felt louder than usual.
Students flooded the walkways in clusters, laughing too loudly, complaining too dramatically, and pretending not to be exhausted before the semester even began. Golden walked through the crowd quietly, hugging her books to her chest.
She wasn’t sure whether she was glowing or nervous.
Actually… both.
Would Allan be different,
Would he be the same?
That was a billion dollar question she had no answer to.
Lost in thought and moving towards cafeteria, she heard Alex scream her name, pulling her out of her thoughts.
At least some things remained the same. With a huge grin she saw Alex rush towards her
“Gigi!” she screamed and enveloped her in a bear hug.
Golden was tall, standing at 5"8, but Alex was taller, standing at 6"1. If she decided medicine wasn't for her anymore, she could make it on the runway.
“I missed you girl!” Alex said pulling Golden to their table. They had the first period free and Alex wanted to catch up on the latest gossip.
“I missed you too Alex. Tell me how's Nana?” Golden asked smiling.
“oh don't ask” Alex rolled her eyes dramatically. “that old lady took on a mission to make me fat.
Talking about adding some more meat to my bones so I can attract a good husband”.
Golden couldn't hold in her laughter. Nana Chen was quite the character. She remembered how she tried to matchmake her with her grandson the very first time they met.
“So did you attract any good husband?” Golden asked trying to stiffle her laughter.
“It's not funny, I literally gained 50 pounds” Alex said raising up her skinny arm trying to show Golden she had gained weight.
“Yeah. You are so chubby now.” Golden said sarcastically.
“Wait a minute.” Alex looked at Golden sternly as if checking for something.
Then she stood up and circled her twice.
“Sit down Alex, you are going to give me a concussion from your circling.” Golden held her head with one hand and pulled Alex to sit with the other.
“You are glowing. There's something different about you. Spill! What have you been up to in my absence.” Alex asked one question after another.
Golden couldn't help the blush that creeped up her cheek.“I don't know what your talking about. You are making a scene” she said in hushed tone.
“Golden Stella-Marrie Nixon, is that a blush I see on your face?” Alex asked wide-eyed.
At that very moment, the bell rang and the students filled out of the cafeteria for their next class.
“Saved by the bell. Don't think you are off the hook. We would continue this conversation after class”.
Golden rolled her eyes and pulled Alex towards class.
In class, the students waited for their lecturer.
Alex and Golden sat at the third row, laughing at a private joke.
Then Allan entered. Hoodie up, earbuds in. Hands in his pocket.
Golden saw him and froze for a second. A smile on her lip. But then he passed her. He went to the back and sat down.
Alex noticed Golden's sudden change but she feigned ignorance. Golden immediately retracted her gaze.
Maybe he didn't see her. Maybe he was engrossed in what he was listening to.
Then Linda walked in, swaying her hips like she was on her own private runway.
Her curls looked extra red and shiny. She was wearing an off white Burberry cotton flay dress that stopped right above her knees.
She matched it with a black netty pantyhose and a pair of black boots.
“Hello people look alive, your queen is back.” Linda said in a loud voice as she dropped her handbag on the table with a tud!
She walked up to where Golden sat fiddling with her phone and snapped her finger at her.
“Hey fatty, still not lost any weight? What do you even do during your breaks? Linda spat venom.
This earned quiet laughs around her.
“I see you took my advice and took your fillers out” Alex said to Linda.
“What a shame though, your lips look rather awkward on your face. Maybe you should put them back in, but try a smaller size.” Alex said lazily to Linda.
“I wasn't talking to you Chen. Mind your business.” Linda glared angrily at Alex.
“Oh but Golden is my business. Wh..”
Golden gently touched Alex's arm and gave her a look that said: “I've got this.”
She turned to face Linda and looked at her from head-to-toe.
“Have anything to say fatty?” Linda smirked with her hands akimbo.
“Well now that you asked, I do indeed have something to say to you” Golden began.
“While I may not have lost any weight, you didn't seem to loose your nasty attitude either. I am fat, get over it already.
Instead of focusing on my weight, why not pay attention to your fashion instead.
For someone who claims to be ‘the queen’ you do seem to enjoy wearing knock offs.
First of, your Burberry dress is so last season and it isn't even the original because yours seem to have tiny thread coming out the sides.”
This seemed to earn a wide gasp from everyone who had now turned to watch the drama.
Golden wasn't done yet. “And who wears a netty pantyhose with this kind of dress? It only makes you look tacky and cheap.
You've got great legs, flaunt them”
Golden managed to insult Linda and complement her in the same breathe.
“And as for that handbag, i'm not sure you noticed but it says Guci, instead of Gucci.
Normally I would charge a fee for fashion consultation, but since we are classmates, I just gave you one for free.
You are welcome.”
There was pindrop silence. No one was expecting Golden who had always been bullied by Linda to go off on her like that.
Then came Alex's voice: “smackdown. Mortal Kombat finishing.
Golden —10, Linda—0.
This caused Allan to chuckle while Linda stormed off out of the class in embarrassment.
“Way to go girl!” Alex high-fived Golden. “Remind me never to cross you”.
Class ended and the students filled out of class. Golden hung around, hoping that Allan would at least say something to her.
He ignored her again. Passing by her as if they were strangers. It stinged. She was disappointed. Alex noticed but said nothing.
At the parking lot, Alex climbed into Golden's car.
“By the way Gigi, my dad is going to be in Bejing for the next two months.
Do you mind housing me for two months? I really don't want to stay in Chinatown alone.
I promise I'll try to behave. I would try not to cause too much trouble ”
“No you wouldn't. You can't go a day without causing trouble” Golden said as she strapped her seatbelt and started to drive.
“Yeah you are probably right.”