Monster

“Don’t be nervous, no one’s follows volleyball they only follow football and basketball” Ronnie was trying to convince the young teen that it wasn’t her fault that they tied with La Serna. It was everyone on the team that underestimated the team and thought they were the same team as last year.

Shiori didn’t listen to her blond haired friend as she pushed back her brown locks as her fragile heart was racing in anxiety. “It’s not the school that I’m worried about” she muttered under her breath. She already got crap from the people in school but now the volleyball team have something against her.

She wouldn’t be invisible anymore, not to them anyways. “If they want to say anything to you then they have to get past me first” Ronnie frowned as she grasped her shoulder in reassurance “I always think you forget that we have three great friends that will protect you from the downfalls of bullying”

Shiori blinked not knowing what she was talking about until she heard someone yell her name “Ori!” she let out a yelp as large tan arms wrapped themselves around her middle and swung her around, blood rushed to her pale face not use to the contact.

“J-Jake?” he set her down as he beamed at her

“You did great your first game”

“You didn’t spike the ball like everyone was anticipated though” Embry cut in and Jacob elbowed him in the stomach. Embry sheepishly smiled at the Chinese girl who had her head down in shame, she knew that everyone was looking forward to her dominating the court.

But her fear got in the way, she never really performed with a gym filled with people; the only performances she was used to was sitting down playing the violin with a huge crowd that was silent not having banners with her name on it an cheering her on loudly.

Shiori just wished that she wouldn’t let her fear get in the way, biting her lip hard she didn’t see that Jacob, Embry and Ronnie were looking at her worriedly. “Ori?” Ronnie shook her gently not wanting to scare the poor girl like Jacob did.

“I’m fine” were the words that automatically came out of her mouth, it was a reflex whenever she was with someone and spaced out. Shiori would always want to reassure people that she was fine in reality she was freaking out.

As the first bell rang, Jacob escorted Shiori to her first class since his was on the way of his, hugging him goodbye she walked into class and was relieved that Sherri wasn’t there yet. Even though Sherri looked nice she was lethal; her bronze skin and playful brown eyes were only a disguise. Having the black haired girl in her classes were going to be rough.

Sitting down Shiori kept glancing at the seat next to her, most of her classes the seats were assigned and Sherri sat next to her. Gulping her heart raced as she prayed that Sherri was absent today but right before class started the teen walked in with an air about her.

Her brown eyes were fixated on Shiori like prey as she narrowed her eyes at her in disgust because of what Manna said the other day she kept her mouth shut. Taking her seat she couldn’t help but feel the burning gaze of Sherri.

It was painful and embarrassing all at the same time as when Shiori would answer questions Sherri would mock her Chinese accent. She pursed her lips trying not to cry in class, she was fragile at heart so even the slightest mockery would send her crying and she was trying so hard not to be a crybaby.

Focusing on the task at hand she kept a tight lip after the fifth time Sherri has mocked her and little snickers would erupt from the class. The teacher would try to silence them and would succeed for a little while until she opened her mouth again.

It was like this for most of her classes except when she had class with Ronnie, Sherri wouldn’t do or say anything that would get the blond pissed. Ronnie was the type not afraid to stick up for her best friend even if they were in class; she got sent to the principal’s office too many times.

That was the only break Shiori got all day and she had two more classes before school was over. When she walked to her last class where Paul was, she couldn’t help but feel horrible; what if he said something to her she wouldn’t be able to take it.

Licking her lips she walked in early today so she wouldn’t be embarrassed; as class commenced Paul kept making snide remarks about her game last night. Saying that she was a fluke and she was just a rumor that the volleyball team was spreading around; she wasn’t a good player just some petty little girl that was only on the team because of her friend Ronnie.

Shiori hugged herself as each remark tore down her walls even more, “Hello?” he was waving at her since she was not responding to any of his remarks. She decided she wasn’t going to talk to him today but when she heard him mutter ‘pathetic’ she couldn’t take it anymore and erupted got out of her seat which turned heads.

“Is there something the matter Ms. Song?” the teacher asked with a quirk eyebrow.

Shiori didn’t say anything as she continued to pack her things and walked out of the classroom without a word. She didn’t care if she was kicked out or got into trouble, she didn’t want to stay in that classroom anymore; she felt suffocated.

Going to the nurse’s office she lied about not feeling well, she got a pass to go home as they contacted her mother that she was sent home. Shiori quickly text Ronnie that she was leaving and to tell the coach she was sorry but she wanted to quit the team.

She rather be invisible, she thought. It was so much easier to deal with, Shiori rather deal with the little teasing she had now than having this humiliation that she would have to deal with for the rest of her high school career.

Wiping away the tears that were clouding her vision, she saw the text Ronnie replied ‘Fuck no! I am not doing that! We are going to talk after practice is over’

Shiori sighed knowing that Ronnie would never let her quit for something as stupid as teasing but she couldn’t help it. She rather not have anything change at the moment, so many things were going on and since she had time she thought she could drive to Port Angeles to practice her violin with her instructor.

That might make her feel better.