Bully2

Tears welled up in Emma’s eyes before she could stop them, hot and humiliating.

“Let me be,” she whispered, her voice shaking so badly the words almost broke.

“I know I’m ugly. I know I’m not good enough for Alex. I’m not even trying. I don’t even like him. Can’t you just leave me alone?”

Rebecca leaned back on her heels, satisfaction settling over her face.

“Good. At least you know your place now.”

“I need peace!”

The voice sliced through the room like a blade, sharp and final.

All three of them turned.

Jessica stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her expression unreadable in the dim light.

“Rebecca. Miriam. Emma. Whatever you call yourselves. I’m trying to sleep. You’re not the only ones in this room.”

She didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t need to. She walked past them without breaking stride and climbed into her bunk, yanking the curtain shut behind her with a definitive snap. “Keep it down.”

And just like that, Rebecca fell silent.

Emma blinked from under her hoodie, stunned. Rebecca never shut up. Not in high school. Not in the four years since. But one sentence from Jessica, and the room went quiet.

Emma shifted on her bed, pulling the blanket closer around her shoulders. Maybe Jessica wasn’t so bad. If Rebecca was scared of her, then maybe Jessica could be her shield. The way Clara had been back in high school when the other kids got too loud, too cruel.

Rebecca threw one last venomous glare at Emma before turning away, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“This isn’t over, Emma,” she said softly, almost a promise..

Then she and Miriam left, the door slamming shut behind them with a finality that made the walls trembled

The room fell silent.

Emma let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her chest ached from how tightly she’d been holding it in. She didn’t look toward Jessica’s bunk. She just lay back down, hoodie still on, and stared at the ceiling, at the faint water stain in the corner that looked like a bird with broken wings.

she spulled the hoodie higher over her head and closed her eyes, wishing she could fall asleep before Rebecca comes back She was just drifting off when

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Her phone lit up on the mattress beside her.

Emma cracked one eye open and squinted at the screen. Unknown number.

Unknown:Hey pretty one. Care to step out for a bit? I’m bored.

Emma frowned and rubbed her eyes. Who could this be? She thought..

She dropped the phone face-down on the bed and tried to forget about it.

Two seconds later it vibrated again.

Unknown: Come on. Give me a reply. Don’t snub me.

Emma sighed and picked it up, curiosity outweighing caution.

Emma: Please, who is this? And how did you get my number?

Unknown: boring. Come on, it’s the digital age. Anyone can get anyone’s number. Are you going out or not?

Emma: who is this?

Unknown: Alright, fine. It’s Romeo. I was thinking of grabbing something and heading to my quiet place. Wanna come?

Emma’s heart skipped. Romeo?

Emma: No thanks.

The reply came almost instantly.

Unknown: Come on. Just unwind for a bit. You’re always cooped up in there.

Emma hesitated, staring at the ceiling. The room was stifling, the heat from outside creeping in through the cracked window. She hadn’t stepped out for anything except lectures since she arrived. Maybe… maybe a little air wouldn’t hurt.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she typed Yes. I’ll be out in a few seconds.

She grabbed a clean t-shirt and her hoodie, the biggest one she owned, to cover herself up. The night air outside would be hot, but the hoodie made her feel safer. Smaller. Invisible.

She stood in front of the small mirror by the wall, adjusting the hoodie over her frame.

“You shouldn’t wear that,” a voice said behind her.