Blind Rumors

Only the second day of school and Gabriela managed to get bullied. A group of upperclassmen girls, surrounded her in the girls' restroom, right before lunch.

GIRL 1: "You are the little stuck-up newbie, huh?"

GIRL 2: "You think you are all that just because you came from the city?"

GIRL 3: "Who do you think you are to hurt Philip?" (who in fact actually wasn't hurt) "He was just being nice to you and you go and throw him to the ground."

GIRL 4: "You are lucky you are a girl or he would have beaten you up." (He actually wouldn't have.)

GIRL 3: "We don't know why you would even try to get close to him, walking to school with him after what you did to him yesterday. We are here to show you your place...your place away from Philip!!"

Closing in on Gabriela, who was remaining quiet, waiting for them to finish insulting her before leaving.

GIRL 1: "Why so quiet, scared? You should be...girls."

As Girl 3, goes in to push Gabriela, she just dodges, glaring at the others, "LEAVE. ME. ALONE." A bit scared at the sudden change in Gabriela as she now looked and sounded like someone not to be messed with, a couple of girls backed off, while Girl 1 steps forward ready to fight, which didn't happen. Gabriela just tripped her and pushed the other girls out of her way and escaped the bathroom. Escaping the fight not because she was surrounded, but because she didn't want to cause her Grandmother Amy any trouble.

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It didn't take long for Philip's question to be answered, since shortly after entering the school, he heard people talking down on Gabriela and saying they should ignore her. 'She was expecting me to do the same, but why would I? I know best that she isn't as dangerous as people are making her out to be. I was the one she threw, I know she only did that to protect herself.' A revelation... or you could say another question arose in Philips's mind, 'Wouldn't a girl just smack the guy's hand away if she didn't want him to touch her and tell him not to? What has she gone through to make her react so defensively, even when we first met? I didn't think she would actually fight me if I were to have gotten any closer to her in the storage room; but after experiencing her wrath in the cafeteria, I know now that she would of and with her strength, I might have actually gotten scratched by this 'little kitten'.'

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Philip was looking around frantically until he saw Gabriela and waved her to sit next to him. Seeing her surprised reaction as he waved to her to sit next to him, confirmed his answer. He was glad to see her, despite always being on guard and not smiling, he thought she was not only cute but interesting as well, even more so with his newfound question of 'What has she been through to cause her to be like she is.' She sat down across from him and greeted him. He did the same and asked if she is ok. She looked at him a bit puzzled. He explained that he had heard the rumors and that he told everyone they were misunderstanding the whole thing. Gabriela nodded, a faint smile appeared on her face as she said thanked before eating her lunch. He said no problem, trying to keep calm as his heart and mind were happy to see her beautiful smile, even if it was just for a brief moment, before also eating his food. Their bliss ended rather quickly as they got interrupted by the same group of girls from the restroom. Irritation growing more apparent on their faces when they walked into the cafeteria and saw Gabriela and Philip eating together, despite them warning her to stay away from him.

"Hi, Phillip." One of the girls says. Another girl asks, completely ignoring Gabriela, if they could sit with him. Seeing how Gabriela tensed at the sound of their voices and was about to stand and leave, before finishing her lunch, Philip looked up at her and quickly asked or more like pleaded with her to stay and finish eating before looking to the girls explaining that he was currently having lunch with Gabriela. Anyone in their right mind would know that these girls were bullying Gabriela by ignoring her. Philip also had a strong feeling they were bullying her before lunch, seeing how she had changed in an instant from relaxed to defensive at the sound of their voices, even though they are completely ignoring her now. Gabriela looked at him as he asked her to sit and obeyed, but didn't start back eating yet. Not having it, one of the girls spoke loudly for all to hear, "Why are you sitting with her after she hurt you yesterday? We know you are a good fighter, but still, she is dangerous." Looking at the girls in disbelief, he stood up, speaking equally as loud, frustration, and anger apparent in his voice, "First off, look at me, I am perfectly fine. Secondly, who are you to say she is dangerous? Do you even know her? Have you ever talked with her? No? (not allowing the girls to answer.) Well, I have and I know that Gabriela is well mannered and strong. We had a misunderstanding yesterday, that is all." Then he started turning to see everyone inside the cafeteria and said, "I do not know who or why rumors are going around school about Gabriela. From what I have heard and seen with my own eyes, not one of you tried to find out what had happened yesterday, turning a small misunderstanding between GABRIELA AND ME into some horrid beat down." He emphasized Gabriela and himself, so others will get the hint to stay out of THEIR business. The girls who had bullied Gabriela looked at her then at Philip who was still standing as if daring for someone to say another bad thing about Gabriela, before lowering their heads, turning to Gabriela and apologizing, feeling completely guilty for what they did to her. They had to admit, that they were blinded by false rumors, seeing for themselves first hand, Gabriela doesn't want to fight anyone, just to be left alone. The girls even grew respect for Gabriela since not only did she turn away from fighting them, but also didn't say anything to Philip about it.

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Gabriela tensed when she heard the girls from the bathroom. She looked up, only to meet with Philip staring straight at her. Not knowing what to do as he looked at her, she quickly got her things together about to leave before she froze at the sound of Philip asking her in a gentle pleading voice to stay and continue eating. She slowly sat back down only listening and watching the scene unfold before her. Hearing Philip's usual playful voice turned into anger and frustration as he stood up in her defense hypnotized her. She couldn't break away from staring at him until she heard him say "...turning a small misunderstanding between GABRIELA AND ME into some horrid beat down." Gabriela thought to herself that she was thankful for him standing up for her, yet curious to his train of thought as he called what happened between them a small understanding. In which it was a misunderstanding, but he still never questioned her about it. Before Gabriela could say or do anything, the girls lowered their heads to her and apologized. Gabriela, couldn't help to glance over at Philip during their lunch while thinking that he was some rich kid or the school chairman's son, since the girls bullying her, immediately apologized without being asked to, even the murmurs in the cafeteria had stopped. She just couldn't understand why, how some boy she met just yesterday, who she threw down, would want to hang out with her, let alone stand up for her.