Chapter 26

***Claudia’s POV***

~

Yesterday had been challenging and I don't want to reflect on it. 
 It was hard to pretend in front of my family that my ankle had been sprained but still, I did what I could do. Mom had asked more than three times if we needed to see the doctor but I’d only tell her that I'm fine and the hospital was not necessary. One but.

Honestly, I was starting to feel better and then Davis’s words seeped into my thoughts anytime I felt like crying over my ankles. Did he care when he said that he wasn't a fan of a couple of crippled tutors or was it a part of his pranks as always?

Lately, Davis has been a little softer than he should and I'm excited about that kindness. It's better than his delusional humiliations.

Sometimes he adjusts gape at me and spits in my face.

Other times, he'd as well call me disgusting names in front of everyone, either at the cafeteria, the fields or class, or anywhere that he appeared but ever since I risked talking to his parents on how behalf, he didn't call me names that much but the words ‘bitch or bitchy nun or hoe’ didn't flee his lips. I had been doing all I can to please Davis, like adding makeup, cheerleading, playing games or karaoke, just anything that was social and forbidden to me, I did all for him.

It's simple, I just wanted him to see me.

These thoughts of past glories and eminent failures would not let me think freely while in history class.

Lacey and I were seated abreast, she was stunned in the mini pleated skirt and topping cardigan, she wore gothic-like heels, and her hair was tied into pigtails. 
 She was always wearing makeup no matter what. As for me, I only wore baggy jeans and a top and then a jacket over it. I had nothing much except that my hair was a bit wavy and I was wearing no makeup.

I mean, I'm sick and tired of trying the makeover thing.

Earlier, when I arrived at school, I was taunted and called a wannabe simply because I fell off yesterday. Most students think that I was faking my social life meanwhile I was just a church ancestral girl. It did hurt but what else can I do?

Maybe they had a point about the faking it thing, there was no doubt that I had begun to lose my sanity because of Davis...

“Ms. Collins? Ms. Collins, would you like to continue the class?” The teacher asked.

I wouldn't have known that he was talking if Lacey hadn’t tugged my side.

Jeez! What a mess! She asked what was I thinking all through, I read her lips.

“On your feet!”

He demanded as I clumsily rose to my feet, every eye was on me, I could feel it. I've never been in such a situation of being clueless but I was. I interlaced my fingers shyly staring at the teacher. He strolled down to where I was standing and stopped, he crossed his asked.

“Wanna teach the class about Abraham Lincoln? Or George Bush?” He sounded hoarse. It's a pity to fall in this man's hands, he would not let it go.

“I'm sorry sir, I have no idea!”

“But you probably had one when you stared at the window, Ms. Collins,” Now he was freaking sarcastic. Oh God!

“My bad,” I snapped nervously while he chuckled.

“You know what my rules are, and you broke them. Didn't she, class?” He turned around and the class replied positively in unison. He turned to me again with a daunting smirk, I hate it.

“I'll let this go but then you're not partnering with your friend, you'll partner with someone else.”
 He walked back to his desk as I dropped on my seat, at least he didn't mess up my grades. That's an escape if you ask me.

“I have ten America's past President's names in my stockpile, you'll be divided in twosomes...”

“Not threesomes?!”

I heard Davis funnily crack from behind and the entire class was in a total laughing state.

“Silence!” The teacher groaned furiously and there was silence indeed. Davis is in trouble, no doubt. Fun fact, he's not even shaken by the teacher, not a single tinge, and here I was getting overly concerned about him. “...and each group would have a President to document about. As easy as it is, I'll get my work done in our next class and as for Mr. and Ms. I hate to focus, you're better off together.”

The teacher went around handing the papers to each group. He handed my paper to me and reminded me again that I had Davis to partner with. The bell rang and everyone began to pack up as well including the teacher. He walked to the door and stopped turning to the class again.

“Mr. Watkins, to my office. Now!”

“I knew you'd come to that!”

Davis blurted out disrespectfully leaving everyone in shock, the teacher smirked and headed out completely.

The class turned rowdy, Davis and his friends laughed it off but then reminded him that he was in big trouble.

Yes, I know that too.

Lacey turned to me with a questionable stare and she asked.

“Don’t tell me that jerk overruled your thoughts this time?!” She rolled her eyes in slight disappointment when I remained silent.

“Now you have HIM to partner with, oh wow!”

“That's sarcastic,”

“I know right? So what else happened that I'm not aware of, it seems to me that Davis is hitting on you or maybe he probably wants to fuck and get going! Shamelessly!” She said

“That's awful, Lacey!”

“I know. Davis is up to no good. He just broke up with Sherry yesterday, and it was an argument. I think you're involved-”
 “What?” My brows furrowed
 “Yes dear, Davis is hitting on you this time. Run!”

“I have no business with him or Sherry-”

“But you had oral sex once...”

“Bring it down, blabbermouth!” I said gritting my teeth and he demonstrated zipping her mouth. “You’re making it seem plain, I mean...” I paused and scoffed “I thought it was the language you preferred pretty Shakespeare...” She taunted and laughed while I maintained a frown. 
 “It's not funny!”

“Okay fine!” she pouted. “You gave him head... a blow job!”

“That's even the worse way to describe it-”

Iwas embarrassed, my hand laying flat on my forehead while she laughed her life out.

I hate Lacey right now, she's not even helping.

“Have you ever done it?”

“Claude-”

“Have you ever?” I asked firmly and she rolled her eyes and replied calmly. “Yes, I have. It's a different way of connecting with your partner...”

“Stop sugarcoating it Lacey, it's a sin!”

“But you sinned, didn't you?”

“Yes, I know, and don't remind me. I-It’s not gonna happen again! That's a promise!”

“No Claudia, don't make promises that you won't keep!”

“What's that supposed to mean?” My face squeezed a bit and she shuddered, she started packing her books leaving me hanging.

Giving a thought, she may be right or not but 95% right though.

I loved the feeling behind it, I loved everything about it.

“Claudia, your parents are here. Principal’s office!” My classmate broke the news as soon as she stepped in, causing a few students to look at me.

“Why are they here?” Lacey seemed worried and I told her that I had no idea. 
 I would never call my parents to school like that was the darndest idea to try out.

Ihastily packed my books as Mason and Johnson approached, they too, were slightly concerned over the abrupt meeting.

“Why are they-”

“I have no idea, I'm gonna have to find out!” I snapped taking my leave. Lacey offered to come along but I told her not to worry.

I caught a glimpse of Davis staring at me, his eyes told me that he wanted to know everything and why.

****

Iwalked up to them after I had sighted them standing and talking to the principal in front of the office. 
 Brace up, I told myself walking up to them.

“Mum! Dad!” I hollered forcing a smile on my face but their faces didn't motion at all. The principal moved away from it. 
 “Is this what your studying habit is all about?”

“Mom?!”

“You lied about your sprained ankle and even the activities you participated in...”

“I didn't want you to be worried about it ankle-”

“And the cheer whatsoever?” Dad asked

“Dad it's-it's not what you think...”

“Who said that you could be a part of it? Does it fit our doctrines? Tell me!” Dad asked.

“How could you disgrace us in such a manner? You broke our rules, Claudia, I'm disappointed.” Mum started angrily. At this point, I wanted to get buried under the ground, how did they know and who told them?

“We'll see you at home, you're in so much trouble!” Dad said as they both walked away while I returned to the hallway dragging my heart on the floor, it had long fallen. Some females and a few males began to scream in my face, holding out their phones.

“Wannabe! Wannabe! Loser! Loser!”

My eyes had welled to the brim, and the grip on my backpack was tight. My face was locked to the ground, suddenly, I was forced to stop which I did. 
 It was Sherry and her jocks, including Gina. I should have known better.

“How does it feel to NOT fit? Awesome yeah or pathetic... did you think that we would not find out, that your family is not but of conventional people... Lame and full of pretense? Are you sure that you weren't born in the 1800s, I wanna know?” She turned to her girls and asked. “Don’t we?”

“We sure do!”

He answered in unison, and then they laughed again. She held out her phone to my face to see the video.

It was me quite alright but it wasn't just that, it was from the first time that Davis embarrassed me on that karaoke night, to the time that he splattered coffee on with horrible jokes and then the time I fell at the court and to this moment where I was called names. She has the videos edited and merged as a meme, very disturbing. I just couldn't believe my eyes and then the ridicule that followed behind.

She took off the phone and continued.

“Just one tap and I'll ruin your entire life!”

She stated with a mischievous chuckle, I watched her tap before I could react.

I heard them scream effortlessly and then I turned to her and shoved the phone out of her hand until it landed on the floor.

Shocked and feral, that's how she remained. I ran off battling with the tears in my eyes, it didn't stop them from yelling and laughing mockingly at me.
 Soon, the hallway way became a wreck. As I walked, they pointed at me and laughed.

Still running, I bumped into someone’s chest. Davis. I don't want to see him or talk to him either and so I attempted to run off but he caught my arm without a word. He pulled me in as we walked to the class we intend for our tutorial.

Everyone was looking, some laughing and recording while others were stunned and staring. As soon as we entered the class, tears rolled down my cheeks, nonstop.

I dropped onto the chair burying my face in my palms. He was still silent and that's how it should be after all 
 I couldn't help but cry out my heart, I just wanted to have a normal life, and I tried to console myself. He walked up to me, I caught a glimpse through the spaces in my fingers, he was now in front of me as he dragged a chair and sat on it.

His eyes plunging my skin, I'm expecting his ridicule too. He's nice to kill, my head reminds me. Well, I agree.

“What did your parents say?”

I didn't expect that question or perhaps anything like that, I rubbed off my temples and looked at him.

“No-Nothing, I’ll have to find out once I get home!” I said, there was no point explaining the whole world to him. 
 “About the video” He started again and interrupted.

“Can we not all about it? It's not necessary and it was all my fault,” I almost lost my cool in the approach.

“Why not?” He looked interested and less quirky. I swallowed up and continued.

“Please, can we proceed with the tutorial? This is the third day and we've done nothing...”

“And so we both act like you weren't attacked most frivolously?!” He began to raise his voice at me, sometimes I think that Davis is psychotic, with the way he acts and his mood swings.

“Yes, Yes, it's not your problem!” I snapped
 “And who said that you could make mine yours? Did I-”
 “That was nothing like this-”
 “Shut the fuck up girl, just shut it!” He yelled but at least the ‘bitch’ word was canceled out this time. I turned away and sniffled lightly. 
 We were both silent for future be seconds. 
 “Whatever you did to her that makes her super mad at me, could you please undo it?” I calmly inquired of him, he got pissed tossing his books to the floor. I was a bit startled but I'm not new to his irresponsible acts anyway.

“You know nothing,” He walked from where I was sitting and leaned on his desk ahead.

“Why did you break up with her?”

“It's NOT your problem, it's my life and my decisions to make!” He snorted

“Undo it so that she can let me be”

“Are you fucking high on being dogmatic?”

Wow, that's an insult to me. I attempted to speak but my lips were too tight to open.

“It's your life and your decision and since it, but it has affected mine,”

I started, one thing I've learned about Davis is to stand up to him and not tremble all the time. 
 He scoffed and that was the beginning of his ridicule, I knew that he wouldn't be that sweet after all. Thanks to the heavens I didn't expect too much...

“Yours? Do you have a life? Have you ever had one?” He laughed at me. “All you tried to do is to be someone else, you CRAVE to be someone else. You can never be likable, the church is where you fucking belong and not anywhere here!”

I'm hurt by his words.

I took my backpack and wrapped it around it, I began to walk, and he placed his arm in the way.

“Don’t ever try to impress me, nun, I will never like impressed. I was only being nice because you forcefully interfered. But, it's over now, I'm don't trying to be nice. Go, fuck yourself!” He said and then I finally got the chance to walk out freely.

Without turning back, I headed to Ms. Winslet’s office with tears stuck somewhere around my eyes. She raised her head to look at me.

“Ms. Winslet, I can't tutor Davis Watkins anymore. He's very unbearable. He... He is not interested, I mean, I can't do it because I'm usually nervous and—”

“Claudia dear, you just said that he was unbearable. Has he been treating you unfairly? Tell me, Claudia, don't cover up for him, my dear!”

“Yes... Uhm... No Ms. Winslet, I just can't do it anymore. Please understand, thank you for your... Gestures. Yes. I should leave now!”

Isaid and turned around, walking out of her office almost clumsily.

I ran out of the building since every eye was practically staring and talking about me.

I folded my legs sitting on the grass, I was scribbling all sorts of words into an empty that I used for pure jargon like drawing stick men and women, flowers, and all that stuff. The more I scribbled, the more my tears lost track of their home, tears dropped nonstop.