“Oh shut up Tate.” Mel laughed heading to her class. He wasn’t wrong though, there were certainly several heads thatturned in her direction as she walked with her usual calm to class. She didn’t care if they stared; she was used to it, and she could deal with it faster than anyone could flip a switch.
“What do we have here,” Stephanie cooed as she walked into the room. “Don’t tell me, mommy gave you her rolodex of old johns?”
The entire room fell silent at the comment and Mel wavered between pulling back her fist and punching the girl or simply walking away. The first would jeopardize everything while the second…well, the second simply didn’t feel right.
“Ignore her Mel, come on let’s go sit,” Tate whispered taking her arm.
“Aw isn’t that sweet…little Tater protecting the big bad slut,” Stephanie mocked raising her anger higher.
“Mel, let…it…go,” Tate said slowly to her. “You know you don’t want to do this.”
“You’re right, I don’t,” she agreed glad he was with her to keep her from losing her temper. “She’s simply another insecure jerk who thinks putting me down will help her.”
“Exactly so come on Mel…sit,” Tate grinned at her.
“Aw look everyone, the bitch knows how to sit,” Stephanie said with a nasty laugh.
The room fell deathly silent as Tate held her shoulders to keep her in her seat. The door shut and Ms. Simmons looked around the room curiously.
“Mr. Tatum, do we have a problem with our seat?”
“Not at all Ms. Simmons…not at all,” he answered sending her a supportive look before heading to sit down.
With the Jeep, she didn’t have to leave as early, and she figured she’d spend a little extra time with Tate before heading into the city. She’d timed the drive yesterday and knew that even with traffic it would only take her half an hour, forty-five minutes at the most to reach the office.
“I have never seen you so mad,” Tate said as he cast sideways glances towards Stephanie and her gang. “You’ve got to let it go Mel.”
“She’s telling everyone I’m a hooker Tate. How am I supposed to let that go?”
“I don’t know but if you do go after her make sure it’s where no one can see and when she can’t tell it’s you. She goes to the administration, and they’ll call your mom, so will the cops.”
“I know Tate. I just can’t. Would you be able to let it go if the person who owns the school is calling you a hooker and insinuating that you follow orders, likely demeaning, humiliating, and disgusting ones they way she was?”
“No, I’d deck her the first instant I could but I’m not in your shoes. If the truth comes out you’re the one who’ll be in hot water not Stephanie, especially if the cops or social services get involved. Look I love you, Mel, and I can’t get through high school without you. The part of the day when you’re not here it sucks and no way do I want to have to do it all day every day if you get expelled.”
“Alright, I’ll let it go.” Mel sighed before finding a fry stuck in front of her face and tickling her lips. “Be careful or I’ll bite,” she teased as he let her have it.
“Really Indy…this is a public place we don’t need your kind and their sleaziness spreading disease all over the seating area,” Stephanie stated leaning down on the opposite side of the table from her.
“Shut up Steph. God, why can’t you go hang with your own friends and leave me alone? Is your life really that pathetic that you have to amuse yourself by saying things that do more to draw attention toyoursexual habits than mine?” she stated standing up as well. Hers was to leave, get away from her before she did something incredibly stupid rather than to go toe to toe with her though.
“Like I would ever take money for sex unlike you and your mother. You know I haven’t seen her in a while, is she in rehab again? I’ve heard sex addiction is a real bitch.”
“I wouldn’t know Steph, unlike some I don’t sleep with the entire football, baseball, soccer, and swim teams. Not to mentionI’mnot currently making my way through the basketball team either.”
“Mel, just ignore her and sit down,” Tate cautioned.
“I’d do what he says, after all isn’t that what slaves do? Listen to their masters? I wonder just how far you let them push you? I mean Tate’s obviously not that big or strong, so what does it take to really get you off Indy? Whips…chains…a wad of cash stuffed down your pants so you can buy those breasts?”
“Sorry to disappoint you but these are one hundred percent real and so is everything else about me, unlike you and your nose job. It’s really sad they couldn’t fix it. I mean it’s turned up so far you can see there’s nothing inside that thick skull of yours,” she threw at her, fury radiating through her body. “Then again that’s pretty obvious since you’ve been standing here the entire time with half your breasts on display where your blouse isn’t buttoned. So who were you with just before lunch I wonder? Oh wait that’s right, you were in the supply closet with Gary. Yeah,thatGary, only problem was he didn’t wantyou, did he?”
“Shut up, you filthy bitch,” Stephanie stated reaching out to slap her, but she ducked backwards away from her. “Just because your mother had all the guys panting after her doesn’t mean you do.”
“I’d suggest you put your hand down Miss Augustan,” the principal stated as she raised it again as he reached them. “Is there a problem Miss Taube?”
“I don’t have any those seem to be all on her,” she said flashing him a smile. “I should be going though; don’t want to be late for my internship.”
“Of course, Miss Augustan perhaps you’d like to join me in my office?” he said pointing towards the building.
