“No, no, nothing like that,” I was trying to be evasive but he wasn’t having it.
“So it’s a Cheryl thing, then,” he stated without any question.
I stopped in my tracks and turned to him.
“Yes. It’s a Cheryl thing,” I admitted.
“Catherine! Tell me about it! I can help you! I know better than anyone what she’s like! What happened?” he demanded.
“Chad, please!” I implored him. “It’s actually quite embarrassing and I’m not a complete innocent in the situation, so I probably got what I deserved. Anyway, it’s over now.”
He studied me for a beat.
“Alright,” he sighed. “But you know you can talk to me, right?”
“Thank you,” I said, “Now I really have to go, my next class is in another building!”
Chad just stood there and watched me go as I fled to Social Studies class, where I hoped Margie would be in attendance. She didn’t necessarily come to class on a regular basis, so I never knew if I was going to see her there or not.
Much to my relief, on this day she decided to attend.
“Hey is everything alright?” she grabbed me by the elbow just as I was about to enter the room.
“I don’t know. I guess for now it is. But I’d love to hear your opinion on something,” I sighed.
“The Ugly Stepsisters?” she smiled mischievously.
“Why, how on earth did you guess that?” I said in mock surprise.
“Just a hunch,” she smirked.
After class I briefed Margie on what had happened that morning in English as we walked back to our room.
“Oh my god, that chick’s a total psycho,” was Margie’s assessment.
“So what do I do?” I asked in despair. “I don’t want to get revenge on her – that’ll only provoke her to get revenge on me and it’ll just turn into a vicious circle.”
“I don’t know,” she said thoughtfully. Then she looked at me and said, “What exactly is the deal with you and Chad?”
“We’re just friends. Honestly. Ironic to think that the whole reason we met and became friends was because of Cheryl’s antics,” I observed.
“Are you sure it’s just that?” she narrowed her eyes at me.
“Yes! I write a column for the paper that he’s the editor of and we are in the same language class and we practice our homework together! It’s hardly a romantic relationship! He’s never so much as laid a finger on me!” I insisted.
“Alright, alright! Keep your hair on!” Margie said. “He may never have laid a finger on you, but does he waaaaaaaant to?” She was teasing me now and I really wasn’t up for it.
“Margie, do you have any advice or insight on how to handle Cheryl or what? I really don’t need this other bullshit,” I snapped at her.
“Well no need to get so de-fen-sive!” she sang. “Unless there is?”
“No there isn’t,” I sighed with exasperation. “I’m sorry. I’ve had a bit of a day, you know? And I could really use some practical advice. I don’t know what to do. I’ve never been sabotaged or bullied like this and I haven’t the faintest idea how to handle it.”
“Well, let’s think of why Cheryl is so furiously pissed at you. Because she’s jealous. Because she wants Chad and right now you have him.”
“But we’re just – “
“Yes, I know you’re just friends,” she cut me off impatiently. “But even just in your capacity as friends you still have a lot more of him than Cheryl ever did. Know what I mean?”
“But I’m not keeping him from her. If I never came to this school, if Chad never met me, he still wouldn’t go back to Cheryl. He can’t stand her, he’s told me so on several occasions,” I explained.
“Yeah, but put yourself in Cheryl’s position. She either admits that Chad just doesn’t want her because of her, because he sees some defect in her, or she pretends to herself that some slutty new girl came along and got between the two of them. Which do you choose if you’re Cheryl and ever since the day you were born you were raised to believe that the sun shone out of your ass and that all the planets in the sky revolved around you?” Margie reasoned.
“Okay, I get it. So what do I do?” I kept coming back to the crux of my problem.
“Well for the time being you don’t do anything. It’s over and done now. Ms. Tyrol knows you’re a smart girl who wrote a great paper – she kind of vindicated you in a way. I mean, sucks that you get no marks for the work, but she totally let you off.”
“Is it over and done now? Or is she going to keep it up? That’s what I’m worried about,” I said.
“Cross that bridge when you come to it. But in the mean time just leave it be.”
I decided that Margie was right. There was nothing that I could do that wouldn’t have just created more trouble, so I resolved to ignore Cheryl as best I could and just get on with my life.
As dusk approached, I slipped out of the dorm to go and meet Stefano in the rose garden as we had planned. Regardless of what was going on at school, I knew I could rely on Stefano and trust him wholeheartedly. He provided a refuge for me from the real world; a refuge that my tossed and turned psyche desperately needed.
It was becoming quite chilly now at night, and I pulled my cardigan tightly around me as I sat down on the little stone bench and waited. I was grateful that there was no one else here to spoil my rendez-vous and I prayed that no one else would come.
He arrived shortly after I did. His green eyes glinted in the fading light. They were so beautiful, especially set as they were against the contrast of his jetty hair and pale skin.
“I think you are the most beautiful man I have ever seen,” I said softly as he sat down next to me.
He chuckled, “Ah, but I’m not really a man. So perhaps I have an advantage.”
“Well,” I said smiling, “You also dress better than anybody in this century.”
“But what about you?” he asked playfully, “You look positively beatific this evening. I’m glad to see it; you were so distressed earlier.”
“I think this morning I had a bit of a catharsis. It took everything out of me emotionally and left me empty. Now I’m sitting here with you surrounded by the last of the summer roses and there is a beautiful crescent moon and a soft breeze and because I was empty when I came here, the only thing in me is the experience of how beautiful this night is. Does that make any sense?” I smiled.
“Yes. This morning you emptied your cup of all the bitter and the anger and the frustration and now only good things have been allowed to fill it again,” he paraphrased perfectly.
“Exactly!” I nestled my head into his shoulder.
We sat in silence for some time, enjoying the stillness and the quiet of the night air.
Finally it was completely dark and I was quite cold, despite the gentle warmth that Stefano radiated. I realized with a heavy heart that I needed to get back to the dorm and complete a few homework assignments for the next day.
“I hate to say this, but I should get back,” I whispered.
“I know you should. The cold is getting to you. I can feel you shivering,” he said almost sadly. “I would offer you my coat, but alas…”
“I know, it’s fine. But kiss me and that will give me warmth enough for the walk back,” I flirted.
“Very well. I can do that,” he said obligingly.
We broke apart and bid each other good night and I began to walk through the school buildings and back to the dorm.
I had almost made it back when someone stepped out of the shadows and nearly frightened the life out of me.
“Where are you coming from?”
A male voice surprised me from behind.
I whipped around in terror to find Trevor standing there looking surly.
“I saw you walking. What were you doing behind that building?” he asked me and his tone was both threatening and suggestive at the same time.
“Trevor!” I exclaimed.
I was par
tly relieved that it was only him and not some masked serial killer, and partly aggravated that he was sticking his nose into my business. Then as the shock of his sudden appearance in the dark wore off, I remembered what had happened the last time I saw him and anxiety filled me as I wondered what he wanted now.
“Huh? Where were you? What were you doing?” he demanded.
“It’s really none of your business,” I answered bluntly.
“Up to no good?” he sneered. “You know, you really embarrassed me at the dance.”
“Well you shouldn’t have been drunkenly slobbering all over me. I think you embarrassed yourself,” I snapped.
The adrenaline was shooting through me now and I had no interest in pandering to his male ego. If he were anyone else, I might have tried to apologize and smooth things over with him. I might even be able to forgive him; after all, he had been drunk and probably wasn’t even really aware of what he had done. But I couldn’t forgive him for what he had done to Lisa. He didn’t even care how his mis-use of her had damaged her, and he probably wouldn’t have cared if he had known the full extent of it. I don’t know why I was so indignant on Lisa’s behalf – it was apparent she couldn’t give a fig about my wellbeing, but it was the principle of the thing.
“You know what?” he leaned in close to me so that his face was only an inch from mine. “You’re a real mouthy bitch. You should learn to keep that hole in your face shut, or someone might come along and shut it for you one day,” he said ominously through gritted teeth.
His threat chilled me to the bone and I was stunned so badly I was actually paralyzed and remained rooted to the spot I stood in as he turned and began to walk away.
“What’s wrong, bitch? Cat got your tongue now!” he laughed sadistically and turned to give me a vicious smile before he disappeared into the darkness.
“Catherine! Move! Get yourself inside where it’s safe!” I heard Stefano’s disembodied voice urge me.
I could hear him, but he was nowhere to be seen. It was like his voice was emanating from somewhere in the back of my own head.
“Come on! Snap out of it! Get to your building and get inside!”
I jerked my head up from its stupefied position and commanded my feet to move. My legs were wobbly and unstable for the first few steps, but then I came back to myself and I began to run the last few meters to the dorm.
I was fumbling badly with my bag, trying to fish my key out. Why oh why did my key always sink to the bottom and get buried underneath all the other junk!? Finally I found it and with trembling hand frantically tried to get it into the keyhole. I’m sure in reality it was a matter of seconds, but it seemed like it took me fifteen minutes to get it in and get the door open.
Finally I was inside and I slammed the glass door shut and made sure it clicked. Now he couldn’t get in unless someone came down and let him in, and what were the chances that that someone would stand by and watch him assault me? I stood there for a few moments while I tried to catch my breath. I didn’t want to wait for the elevators in case he came back and could see me through the glass standing there in the well lit lobby. And I had a lot of adrenaline to work off, so I decided to run up the stairs.
When I finally made it to the top I was huffing and puffing and red-faced and sweaty. I came tumbling into my room and Margie looked at me like I had two heads.
“Where have you been? What the hell?”
“Oh my god – Margie! I thought Cheryl was bad!” I collapsed onto my bed still gasping for air. “Cheryl is nothing! Trevor just threatened me!” I exclaimed.
“Trevor Murray?” she made a face like a sucked lemon. “That guy’s a weasel. What did he do to you?”
She sat and listened in disgust as I told her what had just happened.
“He said that to you? He actually said those words?” Margie’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “Well I’d say you have two options: either let the principal know and call the police, or have somebody go a little old school on him,” she snarled.
“Old school? What does that mean?” I was puzzled.
“Give him a little taste of his own medicine. It can be arranged,” she said angrily.
“Oh no – I don’t want to be involved in anything like that,” I protested.
“You don’t have to be,” she said. “Now are you alright? Can I get you anything?” she went into mother hen mode.
“Margie – he followed me in the dark and I didn’t even know!” My stomach was filled with sick, cold dread at the realization.
“Where did he follow you from?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I was at that little rose garden just to chill out and relax by myself, you know? I like it there – it’s very peaceful,” I felt I needed to justify why I had been there at this time of night by myself. “He asked me where I had been, so I guess he didn’t see me there. I don’t know where he saw me or when he started to follow me.”
“Okay. Well that’s good. That means he bumped into you by coincidence and decided to follow – he didn’t plan it in advance,” Margie reasoned. “So he saw an opportunity to freak you out a bit and took it. I mean, that’s creepy too, but at least it was a spur of the moment thing and it’s not like he’s been plotting away.”
I nodded. She was right. He must have seen me and decided it was his chance to confront me about the dance. He hadn’t been stalking me. Still.
“I think you should report him, though, just to be on the safe side,” she counseled me.
“And say what?” I fretted.
“That he threatened you. Go to the guidance counselor tomorrow,” Margie urged me. “If he gets a talking to, he’ll think twice about doing or saying anything again. Better safe than sorry.”
I decided that Margie was right, so at lunch the next day I went to the administration building and asked to speak to a guidance counselor. I was told that I needed an appointment and that one wouldn’t be available until Friday morning. I felt a tiny bit defeated, but decided to take the appointment and in the meantime I would come straight back to the dorm every day after school and stay inside every evening.
The only place I went besides class and the dining hall was the stables where I continued to ride every morning with Andrea. I was now able to go for a full gallop on Athena’s back and it was exhilarating! Those mornings spent outside in the crisp, fresh air on horseback brought me immeasurable joy. My only disappointment was that I had been unable to break the ice with Andrea. She was a very nice girl, but very quiet and she always had a daydreamy look in her eyes. We never talked about personal matters, in fact we didn’t talk very much at all. There was a pleasant cordiality that existed between us, but we never really bonded. She didn’t have any close friends as far as I could tell, only her acquaintances at the stables, but because she was actually very nice in her quiet, unassuming little way, I could only conclude that she was a real, true loner. It struck me as funny that Margie had deemed her to be stuck up and prissy. She was in fact, quite the opposite.
I had written my second column for the newspaper about my introduction to horses and riding. If there were any differences between public and private school life, this was definitely the biggest one! Because I had mentioned Andrea in my column I decided to show it to her for her approval before I submitted it to Chad.
“Oh! You make it sound so lovely! Even your description of the smell of the stables!” she laughed. “I love it! But let’s hope that it doesn’t inspire everyone to come riding in the morning before school! We won’t have any peace and quiet anymore if they do!” she beamed and I could tell she was really pleased with what I had written.
I took the hard copy to Chad’s office at lunch that day. I hadn’t expected him to be there – I was simply going to leave it on his desk. To my surprise, I found him there with Michael and they looked rather consternated about something.
“Hey! I have column number two ready to go already! I thought I’d beat your deadline!” I announced as I breezed through the door.<
br />
They both looked up at me.
“Catherine. Well. That’s great,” Chad said as he came around his desk to take the paper from my hand.
“Did you tell her?” Michael asked him.
“No – not yet. Uh, Catherine. This isn’t easy to have to tell you this,” Chad said to me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked confused. I couldn’t imagine what on earth might have happened that was causing such concern.
“Well, you know we have an online version of the paper? Well, readers can leave their comments in real time underneath articles. It’s a way of promoting discussion,” he explained.
I looked at him quizzically, still not understanding what this had to do with me.
“Well, your column has been receiving some really nasty comments. Personal comments. They’re coming from several different anonymous sources, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who’s behind it.” He looked embarrassed and apologetic as he told me this.
“Ha. Cheryl?” I asked, although there was really no question.
“Probably. Or her friends. Anyway, we’ve been deleting them as they come in, but then another one just comes as soon as we delete the first one, so we’ve blocked commenting on your column.”
“Oh,” I said as I let myself digest what he was telling me.
“So what sort of things was she writing about me?” I asked, unsure if I even wanted to know.
“Well, it’s all been deleted now, so it doesn’t matter…” he tried to mitigate.
“No, it does matter. Please tell me,” I pressed him.
There was an awkward silence and then Michael cleared his throat and said, “I have some screen captures on my computer. I saved them just in case.”
I reluctantly walked around his desk to have a look. He brought them up on screen.
How come she doesn’t mention how she hauled off and decked a guy at the dance?!?!?!? was the first remark. Not so bad, although I cringed a tiny bit with embarrassment at the thought of the whole school reading that. But then they got worse:
She doesn’t talk about her hobby of stealing every girl at Brandenhurst’s boyfriend. That’s the REAL story.
How does a complete WHORE get a column in the Brandenhurst Gazette? Oh yah – she’s banging the editor!
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