Richard clears his throat, looking between my mother and me with worry. “Gemma, my boys tell me you guys weren’t friends in high school, but that’s okay. Maybe that can change now that the stress of high school isn’t in the way?”
“Of course.” I force a smile and grit my teeth together.
I’ll just forget how the entire school tormented me. I’ll just forget how mean they were to me in middle school.
I’ll forget all the bad and pretend it never existed. Sounds like a smart plan. The anger inside me pulses with its own heartbeat, and suddenly I’m dragged back in time.
The teacher gets closer with each student he calls on. My stomach knots to the point of pain. Soon, he’ll call on me, and the whole class will laugh… it’s what always happens.
The skin of my cheeks burn, a flush creeping across my face.
“Gemma. Will you please read the next paragraph?” Mr. Castle asks. The classroom is pin-drop quiet, and I can feel sweat forming against my palms.
My vision blurs as I look over the words, barely finding the spot where we left off.
Even though they’re not fully laughing, I can hear the bubbles of laughter escaping the lips of the students around me. Shielding my face behind my hair, I swallow down the humiliation that will soon follow.
“Gemma.” Mr. Castle’s voice is laced with annoyance.
“T-t-tomor-r-r-row w-w-will…” No matter how much I try and focus on speaking clearly, I just can’t get the words to come out. All I hear is the laughter of the kids behind me.
“Come on, Mr. Castle. Call on someone else. We all know Gemma is s-s-s-l-l-loow.” Noah, one of my bullies, stutters the last word, mocking me.
How I don’t know, but my cheeks burn hotter.
“Yeah… s-s-slo-o-ow so slow-w-w-w…” Odis joins in, and I can feel the tears forming at the back of my eyes.
I will not cry. Not in front of these jerks. They will not get that satisfaction from me.
“Quiet!” Mr. Castle yells, his voice booming over the class. Once the class quietens, he says with a softer tone, “Gemma, please finish.”
I forced myself to finish that day, just like I would today. Neither of them would get the last laugh. I was stronger now. If they planned to bully someone, it wasn’t going to be me.