“You’re pathetic,” Eva continued, politely, as if she was tutoring a younger student, and she was taking the time, calmly and patiently, to explain every single step in a complicated process.
“You better watch it,” Katrina hissed, but Eva interrupted her.
“There is nothing to watch,” Eva shook her head, with a mild smile on her face, “you are nothing. You are smaller than nothing. You build your own sense of self-worth by shaming and hurting others.”
“Why you…” Katrina started, but Eva wouldn’t allow her to finish any of her sentences.
“Your reign of terror is over,” Eva nodded, “do you understand?”
Ruby and Nora were standing behind Katrina, and they looked like they had no idea where they were or what was going on. They seemed embarrassed, and eyed for a way out. Katrina was still looking at Eva, trying to regain her power.
“You need to realize that you aren’t special, by no means. You are painfully ordinary, simple and when you act like this, you are ugly. You are horrible. You are an embarrassment to yourself, and to your friends, who somehow, still stand by your side, even though you are being a bitch even to them.”
She wanted to make it all nice, but she couldn’t resist calling Katrina a bitch at least once. It brought her so much pleasure. The more Eva talked, explaining to Katrina all the things she was doing wrong, the smaller Katrina looked. It was as if she was actually shrinking under the weight of the words aimed at her.
“I don’t want to fight you even,” Eva looked disgusted. “I don’t want to touch you. You cracked my lip? Well done. Bravo. Do you feel good about that? Did you feel good when you broke that girl’s arm?”
Eva gestured with her finger at a girl sitting at a table next to them. Eva knew Katrina pushed her down the stairs, but everyone was afraid to say anything. And, she did it just because the girl refused to do Katrina’s homework any longer.
“Did you feel good when you called all of us stupid, retards, idiots, useless, freaks, sluts, morons?”
She didn’t notice it, but Eva’s voice was slightly raising, and as she did so, more and more people started listening in. They were gathering around them, paying close attention to what was going on.
Katrina was clenching her teeth. She had no idea what to say, but Eva could guess she was fuming on the inside. It didn’t matter. This was not her moment anymore. This was not her school. These were not her victims any longer.
“We are done being pushed around,” Eva continued. “I’m done.”
She was finished. She had finally said what she wanted to say. Whatever Katrina chose to do, Eva would react accordingly, even if that meant kicking her ass. If she could kick Hellhound ass, then one mortal Katrina was a piece of cake.
“I’m also done,” Dorian suddenly added.
He stood up quickly, as if someone catapulted him from his seat. All eyes were on him.
“What?” Katrina eyed him suspiciously.
“I’ve been trying to tell you nicely to leave me alone,” Dorian continued, “but it obviously doesn’t work. It’s not getting to you. Leave me alone. There is nothing between us. This is the girl I am with now and you won’t come between us.”
He spread his arms wide, gesturing at everyone around them.
“I’m telling you this in front of everyone,” he spoke to her, as kindly as Eva did, “go away and leave us alone. I’m done.”
The look on Katrina’s face was one of disbelief, like she couldn’t believe this was happening. Neither could Eva. But, the look on her face was one of victory.
“I’m done, too.”
A voice was heard from somewhere in the back of the cafeteria. Everyone was silent, turning around to see who it was. The voice belonged to a shy girl, but the look on her face told them that she was done being silent.
“And me!” another voice shouted.
“Me, too!”
“I’m done!”
“I’m done, too!”
It seemed that thousands of voices had joined in, falling like steaming hot raindrops onto Katrina, who slumped down under the weight of the words that were attacking her now. Ruby and Nora ran away without a word, disappearing when Katrina turned around to look for their support. The words kept coming at her, like daggers, cutting deep and shallow, leaving invisible scars, until Katrina could take it no l
onger.