Nefarious

Chapter Two - The Epitome of Clumsy

It was what made them special.

I'd never wanted to stand out. I'd wanted to blend with the rest, being special on my own, never outshining others. My shyness was a prevention. I would always prefer to stay aside, stick to a corner— but shove me into a situation that makes me awkward and watch me begin to babble your ears off because of my nervousness.

There was one thing I wouldn't shy away from, though;  bullying. When bullied, I couldn't shut my trap. Which was why, when I saw Charlie O'Brian bullying a girl in the corridor of Lake Shore High the next morning, my feet dragged me straight there.

"No," the girl stuttered, grabbing my attention. Charlie was having a laugh at how easily she intimidated her, cornered her up against the wall. Though her blue-grey eyes were wide as she stared at Charlie who was almost twice her size, she didn't exactly appear afraid.

"You think you're so pretty don't you? But you know what I think? I think you need to buy yourself a new mirror."  Charlie snarled, while Zhi nodded in agreement, yet there was a look of conflict in her eyes. "You're just a trashy, poor girl who—"

The girl pressed the back of her hand to her mouth as though she were battling to hold back laughter, but she lost it, chuckles tumbling from her lips; fuelling Charlie's anger and cutting her off abruptly.

"Charlie." I said firmly. She turned to face me and I stilled.

Holy flying noodles!

What now?

"Look who it is." She greeted me with her usual greeting.

Yes, it is I.

"Stop bullying her." I kept my voice steady, balling my fists at my sides. I sounded a lot more confident than I felt, "You have no right."

"Who's going to stop me? You?" She stepped forward. I swallowed hard and stepped back. Zhi snickered, raising her brows mockingly at me. "You think you're so strong, huh?"

"I think," I decided to correct her, "that you should stop being a bully, and I think that you should stop thinking that you know what other people think."

Omigod, omigod.

Her forehead creased in confusion and she regarded me for a moment before her arms whipped out. She grasped my shoulders and slammed my back against the wall, aside the other girl. "Ouch," I mumbled, pursing my lips in pain.

"You think you're smart?" She hissed, "You get on my nerves!" She shoved me back, my head knocking the wall.

"No," I replied, wrinkling my nose in pain, "I don't think I'm smart, Charlie. I know I am, in fact, I'm really smart, its the reason why you call me a nerd, remember?" I frowned. "How many times do I need to tell you that?"

My words were the final straw for Charlie and she lost it, balling her hand into a fist and letting it fly. I doubled over when it collided with my stomach, but quickly, I grabbed hold of the previous victims hand and ran, dragging her along.

We came to a stop in front of the cafeteria, breathing erratically. "Woaah," I shook my head, "That's enough exercise for today."

"Crap," she muttered, eyes flickering to my stomach where I held my palm pressed against, before flickering to my face and staring with slightly raised brows as she took in my appearance. I self consciously lowered my gaze, knowing why she was staring. "Uh, thanks for that. Are you okay?"

I shrugged, feeling uncomfortable as she stared at me, "Yeah, I'm good and it was uh... really nothing."

"Okay... cool." I had never seen someone look so awkward in my life. "I'm Karina."