Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Nate’s POV

Am I ready for today ? I search my reflection in the mirror for answers. Two nervous blue eyes stare at me from the mirror through the curtain created by Chestnut brown locks.

Today is Monday. I have Calculus class with Ethan and his two friends. Will they again follow me to bully me ? Shall I bunk Calculus class? But how long am I gonna hide from them and skip Calculus? I need to go. I would just sit somewhere in the front and not look at them.

I nod looking at myself in the mirror and then turn around walking out of the room and to my first class Biology.

As the bell rings after the first hour, my heart starts to thud extremely fast. What will happen next ? I takes nervous steps towards the Calculus class praying in my mind for the two or maybe all the three of them to bunk Calculus class today or totally forget about me.

I step into the class. Only a few students has arrived. I take a seat in the left corner of second row, anxiously side eying at the doors. The bell rings after a few minutes and the class gets almost filled within the next minute.

' Please don't come today. Stay wherever you guys are right now. Or just bunk class and go to some movie.', I say under my breathe, looking at the doors and right then I see the three of them appearing out of nowhere in the corridor. I quickly look down cursing under my breathe.

I don't look up as they walk into the class. But I could see their confident steps inching forward. They strolls towards the back of the classroom and probably take their usual seats in the back. I don't dare to turn around and look.

Soon the teacher Mr Hibbert arrives and starts taking the attendance. I start thinking about ways to somehow escape them after this class. I decide I'll just run out of the class as soon the bell rings.

Mr Hibbert then looks up at us, closing the register. " Students, we have a subject council happening this hour. So I won't be able to take class. You guys sit and do the exercise 1.2 on page number 18. We will discuss the problems next hour."

Students all nod to him with prominent smirks on their faces. It's obvious that, as soon as Mr Hibbert steps out, all are just gonna walk out.

" You..", Mr Hibbert then points at a girl sitting in the center of first row. " You make sure no one leaves the class until bell rings. And if any one leaves, write their names and give it to me. I'm not simply giving attendance to anyone." The girl nods and a few people let out annoyed sighs.

Mr Hibbert then walks out. I expected people to walk out but no body actually moves from their chairs. No one is ready to waste free attendance. And it's only then I realize I am trapped along with the bullies inside the class. And I start to panic not knowing what to do.

Soon I flinch hard as suddenly a scrunched up ball of paper hit the back of my head. It's probably them. They haven't forgotten about me. But I don’t look back. One more ball hits my head and I hear laughter from people around me. Then paper balls starts to hit my head continuously along with loud laughter. I still don’t look back.

" Hey..turn around. Don't you wanna stare at our buddy today ?", I hear Kevin say. I bite my lip in nervousness as everyone turns their head to the back and looks at them, confused and amused.

"Guys, Y'all wanna know ? He was eye fucking our poor Ethan last week. And not for a minute or two, whole one hour.", Amelia says and laughs. I hear people around me whispering 'is he gay ?' My ears search for Ethan's voice. But I don’t hear him.

" And do you guys know this thing, already ? He can't even say a word without stuttering. Even his own name. ", Kevin croaks. The people around me stare at me, murmuring things between each other.

" Hey..can you please tell us your name once again. We forgot.", Amelia cackle from the back. Still I don’t look back. I feel tears starting to pool in my eyes. My heart hurts at the fact that Ethan isn't doing anything to stop them.

" Oh..poor boy, he can't say his name. Or maybe he forgot ? Last day he really forgot his name. Didn't you ?"

It's followed by a big paper ball hitting the back of my head.

" Hey stutter boy ! Turn around and introduce yourself."

I need to leave. I can't stay one more second here. I need to run away from here. I briskly stand up from the chair and start to rush out of the class.

" Hey ! Are you leaving? Stammer boy, you'll lose attendance.", Kevin yells and laughs afterwards.

" Hey Wait ! What's your name ?", the girl in the front who was asked by Mr Hibbert to write names, shouts at me. I rush to doors, without answering her.

" It's Mi..mi..N..N..Nate.", Amelia tells her before cracking out into loud laughter. The whole class laughs along with her as I stumbles out of the class, tears threatening to slither out of the corner of my eyes.

I go to the library and sit in a corner the whole hour, trying hard not to cry. Then when the bell rings, I walk to my next hour Geography and occupies a chair in the back feeling shame and fear. I'm afraid, some people from Maths class is here and they start murmuring things about me to everyone. And very soon my fear turns real as I happens to hear whispers surrounding me.

Humiliation bore its teeth into me. They are right. Sometimes I can't even say my name without stammering. I am actually a pathetic, stupid, worthless person. A tears slips out of my left eye and I quickly wipe it away before the teacher or someone else notice. Thankfully the teacher was facing her back to us, writing something on the white board.

One hour flies away quickly. As soon as the bell rings, I rush out of the class towards my dorm room and crash down on my bed, breaking out into tears. I don’t have lunch. I lie on my bed until 1:30. Then I take my bag and walk to my next hour.