Mia.
My day had been going fairly well until this moment. I had even been excited to see Andrew after school, eager to share with him the news of my upcoming ballet dance. As I waited for him outside the cafeteria, my stomach grumbled impatiently, reminding me of the snacks that Mrs. Cali had packed for me. But I didn't want to eat without Andrew. So, I stood there, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger, my eyes scanning the crowded hallway for any sign of him.
Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind, and before I could even react, I felt a sharp push that sent me tumbling forward. My carefully packed lunch spilled onto the ground, scattering my sandwich, fruit, and chips in every direction. I stumbled to regain my balance, only to come face to face with the smirking girl who had attacked me. It was a girl I had never even noticed before, and I had a sinking feeling that things were about to get much worse.
I had been so focused on waiting for Andrew that I had not even noticed the group of girls behind her. So, when one of them grabbed me from behind, I had been caught completely off guard. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as the other girls started to snicker and laugh.
"I didn't know babies still brought their lunch from home," the girl who had pushed me sneered. Her eyes bore into mine and me as the younger and smaller girl of us both was sure I could feel the heat of her gaze. "Don't you have enough money to buy something from the cafeteria like a normal person?"
I felt my stomach clench with anger and humiliation. I looked around, hoping that Andrew would appear any second now to help me out, but there was no sign of him. I felt a pang of disappointment and wondered if I should have just gone ahead and eaten without him.
I knew the dangers of buying food from the school. My dad had warned us countless times about the Amato pack and their desire to harm our family. It was one of the few things I never fought with him over. I dusted myself off, my anger slowly boiling as the girls laughed and began to push me, trying to instigate a fight. I tried to ignore them, taking deep breaths to calm myself down. I knew that if I fought back, it would only make things worse. But they wouldn't let up, their taunts and insults fueling my frustration.
I wished Andrew would hurry up and get there already. I could feel my blood pressure rising with every passing moment. I was afraid I might lose control if he didn't come soon.
"I don't see what's wrong with bringing my own lunch," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "It's cheaper and healthier than the crap they serve in the cafeteria."
The other girls rolled their eyes, clearly not impressed with my response. I could feel their eyes boring into me and I knew that I needed to come up with something better if I wanted to avoid further humiliation.
The girl snorted, clearly unimpressed. "Whatever. You're just a baby who can't take care of herself. No wonder Andrew has to look out for you all the time."
I bristled at the mention of Andrew's name. I didn't need anyone to look out for me, least of all him. My heart was racing as I stood there, ready to fight back against the girls who had pushed me down. But before I could even make a move, the twins appeared out of nowhere and stood protectively by my side.
I couldn't believe it - the same twins who had tormented me before were now coming to me defense?
The new girl whose name I got to know was Candice since the twins called her name didn't back down though. She challenged the twins, telling them that they weren't the boss of her. I could feel my palms getting sweaty as the tension escalated, but the twins remained calm and collected.
Then, without warning, the girls charged at me, Candice leading the way. But the twins were quick to react and soon the three of us were fighting off the bullies together. I felt a sense of camaraderie with the twins, a strange feeling considering their history. But in this moment, we were on the same side, fighting for each other.
When the fight was over and the girls had run off leaving just Candice, the twins helped me pick up my scattered belongings. I was relieved that none of my food got ruined, as I had been looking forward to Mrs. Cali’s cooking all morning. My heart swelled with gratitude, I was surprised that they came to my aid, after all the times they had bullied me before. But right now, I was grateful for their help. "Thanks, guys," I said as we chased off the bullies.
"I don't know why they keep picking on me," I said to them. "I'm not bothering anyone."
The twins exchanged a look but said nothing. I could not help but wonder what was going through their heads. Were they embarrassed to admit why they bullied her before? I decided not to press the issue and instead thank them again for their help.
"We're not doing it for you," said one of the twins. "We just don't like it when other people try to take our territory."
I nodded, understanding that they were talking about their position in the school's social hierarchy. I did not care about that stuff but it was clear that it meant a lot to them. "Well, I appreciate it anyway," I said.
The twins started to walk away, but I called after them. "Wait, why did you guys bully me before? Was it because I brought my lunch from home?"
The twins stopped in their tracks but did not turn around. "We don't have to explain ourselves to you," said the other twin.
I was disappointed but not surprised. I knew that getting an explanation from them would be like pulling teeth. "Okay, well, thanks again for your help," I said, hoping that they'll at least spread the word that I was off-limits like they said.
As they walked away, I felt a mixture of relief and shame. I picked up what's left of my lunch, trying to ignore the pit in my stomach. I had always known that high school would be tough, but I never imagined it would be this bad. I wondered if I would ever be able to make more friends, or if I was doomed to be an outcast forever.
I soon saw Andrew approaching. "Hey, sorry I'm late," he said as he came up to me. "What happened?"
I filled him in on what just happened and how the twins helped me. Andrew looked impressed. "Looks like you've got some new allies," he said with a smile.