Beneath the Surface
I would like to honor the following people, who gave their care and support and love to me every single day, and those who inspired my sprit into beginning on this book. First off, I would like to give my thanks to my mother, my most loyal supporter and who
Beneath the Surface
As weeks passed, things continued to change. With Teresa now standing with us, even if in a quiet way, we seemed to gain more respect from the other students. Our group had grown, and the school’s atmosphere was shifting, slowly but surely. The whispers were no longer cruel. Instead,
Beneath the Surface
The days following Samantha’s intervention felt different. It was like the school itself had shifted, as though the atmosphere around me had been lifted by the mere presence of someone standing up for me. There was a sense of balance, a feeling that I was no longer trapped in
Beneath the Surface
One sunny noon, the sky was painted a beautiful blue, tinted with white clouds. Sun lights beat down on our faces, warm but not overly hot. Flowers showed off their bright reds and light yellows and soft pinks and pure whites and strong purples even more than before, as if
Beneath the Surface
Even though we had managed to get out of the water, nothing was quite the same as the time everyone liked me. Most of the people were still afraid of the bullies. Those people who sided with us did it really secretively, passing notes under the table or exchanging whispers
Beneath the Surface
I’m not sure if we did the right thing through the whole night. However the next day, everything felt different. Felicia, Ivy, Rachel and Teresa stood in front of the class, forced to read their apology letters out loud. Their voices were strained, their words flat and hollow, but
Beneath the Surface
Mrs. Hall’s office felt cold, sterile. The soft hum of the fluorescent lights did little to calm the growing nerves in my stomach. Elodie had already started explaining the situation before I could even say a word, and she pulled the video up on her phone. “We have evidence,
Beneath the Surface
The next day seemed to be like the old times, full of meaning. My confidence has returned, and instead of wishing that I can go back to sleep I forced myself up and got ready. My heart beated in steady slow rhythm, thump, thump, thump, the waves of quiet longing
Beneath the Surface
The next few days I refused Elodie’s company at breaktime. I told her that I didn’t need her help. I began to talk more to Felicia’s gang, as if trying to fit in, even when they responded with more bullying. Elodie looked at me with confusion and
Beneath the Surface
The next few days passed in a haze of humiliation and exhaustion. I did everything they asked without a word of protest. Every time Rachel, Teresa, and Felicia came at me with their demands—whether it was fetching snacks from across the street or handing over my lunch money—I
Beneath the Surface
The next day, when Felicia, Rachel and Teresa stood in front of my desk, I can’t help flinching. The smell of glue still lingered in my hair, making me even more frightened. “Well, Serena, Teresa has a little trouble going on,” Felicia began, her voice almost a purr. “You’
Beneath the Surface
Telling the teacher would be of no use. Firstly, the teacher won’t believe that they did this just because I befriended someone. Secondly, they would think I’m a tattletale. If you don’t know how bad that is, you should see what happened to Nancy. She was forced