CHARLOTTE

If uncomfortable was a person, it was definitely me. I'd managed to become the topic on every student's lips. My invisibility was shattered and I'm not quite sure I'd be getting it back. 

Anna was proud to be the best friend of today's popular kid. So far, I haven't seen Bianca, so I guess I'm safe for some minutes and then Reggie.

The way he looked at me made me feel dirty and inferior, I wanted to creep into one of the lockers and hide myself.

One of the guys walked up to me, and I saw Reggie leaving. I badly wanted to go after him but no.. He never came for me. He left me all alone. 

Anna flashed Aiden a naughty smile and he gave an answering one in return, I almost puked seeing the looks on their faces. She wasn't at all shy. 

"Hi" the guy smiled and I forced one back at him. My heart just left and I feel like going after it. 

"I'm Gregory, my friends call me Greg" he gave another toothy smile. His smile was becoming annoying. I suddenly became the girl every guy wants to friend all because I changed my outfit. 

I won't deny the fact that the attention felt good but mostly uncomfortable.

"We've classes to get to" Anna butted in and I inwardly thanked her in my mind. I wasn't ready to make new friends that would leave.

They weren't interested in me before and they can never be now. 

Glances were thrown our way —I mean my way as we walked to our class. Quite unfortunate that I had a class without Anna in it and another reminder that Reggie was my seatmate. 

"We part here baby, meet me at the cafeteria after your last classes" she said sent flying kisses and left me —speechless. 

I don't visit the cafeteria and she knows that fully well, just trying my patience.

I walked into the classroom nervously. 

I shouldn't be this nervous but hello, I was feeding on Anna's positive energy and now that she's gone, I can't help but feel all fucking alone. 

Just as i imagined, the students whistled, their gazes falling on me, I almost tripped. I clutched at the handle of my bag, so tightly I was sure my knuckles had gone white. 

Reggie had his back to the entrance and was speaking to some girl who smiled shyly. I gulped down nothing. Praying my legs takes me to my seat faster.

Reggie turned around, his eyes falling on me and then my hands, I let go of my bag almost immediately.

A smirk formed on his beautiful lips but it wasn't just a smirk, it was a dangerous one. 

"Look who's changed?" he announced loudly and some students snorted. God, no, please.

"How do you feel in that huh?" he eyed my pants. I took a deep breath, I wasn't gonna say anything.

Bianca walked into the classroom just at that moment. Are you kidding me? 

She glared at me looking me up down before giggling.

I sat on my seat in quite a rush. My legs wouldn't be able to hold me, I just know it. 

"Your ass looks fat darling, you need to lose some weight" low blow. She chuckled before going to her seat glaring at the girl who was trying to get Reggie's attention.

I bowed my head absorbing the hurt trying to channel it into something useful, like my imagination. 

But still the word 'fat' echoed in my head. Mum had said I was fat, I'd lost some more weight. I didn't eat like I used to not sleep like I do —not that I could anyway.

I'm quite bigger than some of my mates and at 17, I had zero self esteem. I hated myself.

Tears prickled the back of my eyes but I refuse to show defeat, I refuse to show I was hurt. 

I raised my eyes slowly, from my peripheral vision, I could see Reggie staring at me not with the hate he'd usually direct my way but something else —maybe concern.

I scolded myself for thinking Reggie was still concerned about me, he was way much different from the boy I knew six years ago. He's changed. The earlier I remember that, the better for me. 

**

The cafeteria was bustling with students chattering and laughing. I could count the number of times I'd stepped into the cafeteria ever since I came to Summerfield.

I bumped into someone and the person shrieked, luckily had no tray in hand. 

"Sorry, I'm sor—" my words died on my lips as I stared at my —sister. 

She looked shocked, I could guess the reason for her reaction. Barely everyone knew we were siblings since we were so different and she doesn't want to be associated with me. She was three years younger than me.

Mum had her just before she divorced dad, and since then, it's cool to say Jessica had been her baby. 

"Charlie?" my name was barely a whisper coming from her lips. She looked around, a few eyes were on us. She straightened her spine, her face blanking out every emotion.

"Get out of my way.. Loser" she said before snickering and sauntering past me. 

I was used to the cold shoulder from Jessica but I knew my little sister who used to love me was in there somewhere. Mummy just made her blind to it all, seeing I looked like none of them.

"Over here" I heard Anna's voice and I turned around to see her waving at me. A smile crept up my face as I made my way towards her pretending not to hear the murmurs that filled the room.

She already had a table for us and had gotten my favorite food. I smiled at her, my eyes fixed on the plate of Avocado chicken salad. 

My smile fell from my face as I slipped into the seat. I couldn't eat, I was on a diet so I wouldn't grow 'fat'.

"What is it?" Anna asked and I shook my head.

"It's nothing" I forced a smile on my face and as usual, she didn't buy it. 

"Charlotte, what is the problem?" she asked looking serious, I couldn't hide it from her. 

"Bianca said I have a fat ass and I think I need to stop—" I twinged my fingers.

"Are you kidding me?" Anna frowned, her eyes didn't hold the smile it usually had, they were infact clouded.

"It's time I have a chit chat with Bianca" she muttered rising from her seat. I was fast enough to pull her down.

"No! I mean, it's nothing, she's just being —"

"Jealous. Yeah, jealous of you" Anna completed and I sat back mute. There was nothing else I could say. 

She had a disappointed look on her face.

"Charlie—"

"Yo, finally found you" a voice said and we both looked up. Anna smiled and i was surprised to see a blonde sipping a lemonade juice. 

The girl turned her eyes to me and she smiled widely. 

"You're Charlotte I guess" she asked stretching her hand towards me for a handshake, I accepted it hesitantly.

Anna stared at me.

"Charlie, meet Lisa, Lisa meet Charlie, my bestfriend" Anna introduced and Lisa slipped in next to me. 

"It's a honor to meet you" Lisa said and I smiled. I couldn't bring myself to say a word. 

She seem friendly but I just —aargh. 

"I'm in the same class with Anna and she talks about you alot. I must admit you're pretty" she chuckled and my gaze met with Anna's. 

"Thank you" I murmured and Anna sighed.

"She isn't quite comfortable in the presence of strangers and she doesn't like compliments" 

Lisa made an oh sound, her face fell lightly before brightening up. She's beautiful with blue eyes that reminded me so much of Reggie's. 

My body kicked into alert mode, all the hairs at the nape of my neck stood. I knew the feeling. I was being watched. Someone was watching me. 

Lisa was saying something but I'd zoned out. Anna had her calculative eyes on me or no, behind me. 

"Shit" she cursed and both Lisa and I stared at her curiously. Her gaze met mine and I raised a brow feeling quite funny. I don't like this feeling.

"Reggie is coming your way" she muttered and I froze while Lisa turned to stare behind her and a sneer passed her face. 

She turned back looking from me to Anna, she had questions.

Suddenly cold liquid rush down my arm, sticking to my tank top. I gasped just as Anna did. 

What the fuck. It wasn't just water it was whitish —milk. 

I turned around and Reggie had a smirk on his face. All eyes were definitely on us now. The cafeteria was suddenly quiet.

My heartbeat fastened out of anger. 

"Oops, sorry that spilled on you. It wasn't at all intentional" he spat the word intentional and I knew he did it deliberately. 

"You spilled that on her deliberately" Anna said, her voice high pitched. She stood up, her both hands on the table glaring at Reggie.

Reggie's eyes fixed on her, hardening. 

I sat in shock, my hair felt sticky. My anger igniting consuming my whole being. 

I stayed out of his way but he's going as far as picking on me. Mutterings began. 

Once again, I was in the spotlight but I was done being the girl who's quiet.

I grabbed Lisa's unfinished drink and stood up, the chair scraping the floor roughly.

I spilled the drink on Reggie's white tee that I was sure could buy my house.

I smiled bitterly.

"Oops, sorry I didn't see you" I said and someone snorted before the cafeteria turned loud again. Some were howling, some laughing and some saying mean things.

I looked at the group of students spotting Jessica almost immediately, she was staring at me and i was sure I saw a flicker of pride in her eyes before she looked away. 

Anna was smiling widely and Lisa couldn't hide hers. A jaw ticked in Reggie's jaw and I looked away. I'm not gonna feel guilty, even though I felt quite bad. 

"I would buy you another drink" I whispered to Lisa who waved me off. I turned around walking out of the cafeteria, he successfully ruined my dress. 

Too much for the day going well.