Chapter 3

The crowd of information-hungry students fell silent as they awaited Ashton's statement of affirmation.

To be honest, a tiny part of me hoped he would acknowledge it. Then, everyone would know that I was not undesirable—that I was even worthy of Ashton Hall's attention and bed.

But, wishes weren't horses...

"I hate pointless rumours. It's appalling. Let me make this clear right here and right now that I would never in my right senses hook up with this... thing. I deserve better!" He snapped, his gaze pointedly staring at the crowd like a king addressing his subjects. "And you—" he turned to me. "Stop spreading such disgusting rumours."

With that, he walked away with the crowd parting from him.

Just like that, my heart shattered into a million pieces. Ashton Hall would never love me back. All I was and all I would ever be was the nerdy, ugly duckling that was never meant to be noticed or amount to anything.

Mocking giggles erupted from the crowd as he left.

"So she was the one spreading rumours."

"She really loves to dream."

"But did she really think that he would sleep with her? I mean... He IS Ashton Hall."

Erica's laughter was the loudest as she shoved me to the ground.

"Aww.. Ugly duckling, do you really want to be accepted that bad? Maybe... End your life. Everyone wants that. You'll be accepted that way."

Tears spilled down my eyes as they hurled even more hurtful words at me and headed to their various classes.

All I ever wanted was to be on my own but they never let me be. I would wish I was never born but what good would come out of that.

Anyway, I couldn't keep crying forever. I needed to head to my own class as well and learn so I would rise above the current challenges that plagued me.

*

It had been two weeks since the incident and I was keeping my head down, avoiding everyone even though every day, I heard at least ten snarky comments.

I had even started exercising to lose a bit of weight and I had taken up extra jobs to be able to afford a contact lens so I never ended up in a situation where I couldn't see again.

As I stepped into the hallway I so much dreaded, that terrible feeling of all eyes being on me again arose and this time, I just wanted to then and run away but I couldn't.

Not when we had a test today.

I kept my head down as usual and headed to my locker but the loud whispers of the students in the hallway got to me.

"So she really did sleep with Ashton!"

"What a whore."

"I bet she got him drunk and then seduced him."

"Yes. That's the only possible way."

My heart raced like a marathon runner as I saw everyone staring at me with disgusted looks. They all had their phones out, staring at it and staring back at me.

What brought up this issue again?

I was very tired of it at this point. I picked my books even faster and tried to rush off when my path was blocked again and this time, it was by some guys who were Ashton's friends alongside Erica and her minions.

"So... What was it like sleeping with Ashton?"

"Your fat was almost suffocating my guy."

"I never knew you were that full up there though... I guess your sweater does hide a LOT."

Their comments made my knees buckle beneath me so badly that I held into a locker for balance. Was this what I thought it was?

God, I hoped and prayed it wasn't.

"I mean... Everyone's seen the video by now." Erica chipped in, laughing hysterically. "Why did you sound like a dying elephant?"

She flashed her phone in my face and there it was, the video of my humiliation. Shame washed over me like a wave as I suddenly felt the urge to throw up.

Tears rolled down my cheeks in gallons by now. "How could you?" I snapped for the first time, my anger and anguish reaching the top. "How could you do this to me?!"

Her laughter was even more maniacal now. "What are you going to do about it? Are you going to cry? Are you going to tell your mummy? Does she even care about you? I'm sure she regrets giving birth to a loser like you."

I caught sight of Ashton in the corner licking a lollipop. He had a cheeky grin on his face as he winked at me before walking away. He shared the tape. That fine-faced bastard!

I was sick of everything at this point. The bullying, the insults, the humiliations and downgrading, everything.

"I'm tired of you being such a perfect angel to mum and dad all the time, Erica!" I snapped angrily.

There was a loud gasp across the hallway. A wave of satisfaction washed over me as Erica recoiled in disgust and embarrassment.

"What are you talking about? I don't even know this fool!"

I smiled maniacally through my unending tears. "Really? Erica Johnson Geraldine! You want me to call mom and dad here to prove that?!" I screamed. "Because I have no problem doing that at all. I'm sick and tired of being treated like dirt. I don't care that you wish I wasn't born so that you can be the only child. Deal with it."

She stormed in my direction, her face flaming with anger that I had never seen before. "You little witch! I'll teach you to not tell stupid lies!"

And there we went. She clawed at my face, slapping and scratching me but my anger was equally as hot. I went for her hair, tanking at it and punching her too.

Enough was enough. No more would I let her walk all over me. It wasn't like she could beat me in a fight anyway.

"What is all this? CUT IT OUT!" Our principal, Mrs. Morris, screamed in horror. "Sofia. Erica. To my office now!"

We were pulled away from each other and headed to Mrs. Morris's office.

Now, our parents would be called. I couldn't give a damn that they would support Erica and not me. All I knew was that I had the satisfaction of humiliating Erica, even if it was a fraction of the humiliation I had endured from her.