"So, Eliana, I heard that you confessed to Iza." A wave of mint hits my eyes as Lavanya chews her gum loudly in front of me. Lavanya is one of Iza's friends along with Harper, Abigail, and Cora

Lavanya acts like she knows it all and is extremely rude when around anyone. She treats herself as if she is superior to everyone else and would say everything and anything she wants. It's been rumoured to be that her dad is extremely rich but wanted his daughter to have real friends, so she was put in a state school instead of a fancy private school. She also found entertainment in making fun of me for the past 3 years and still continues to.

However, Harper, Abigail, and Cora are just girls who want to take on shopping trips paid for by Lavanya and would do anything to be on her good side. When I say anything, I mean anything from siding with her when there is a brawl to doing the dirty work for her, like spreading rumours.

But for me and Zayn we call them the gum gang as they are always seen chewing on gum and are always the source of trouble.

I feared all of them and would try to avoid them at all costs. Iza never knew because when I was with her, no one came to me for a free bullying session.

"So, is it true?" Lavanya and her friends stare at me as if they are disgusted.

I sink into my jacket and lean further away as the fresh mint and menthol make my eyes tear up.

"Awwww, look, you're crying. Did I hurt your feelings?" she said in a mocking tone. Ending it with a laugh, which results in all the other girls laughing.

I felt ashamed and wanted someone to take them away. At this moment, I was crying tears of fear and sadness.

"Hey, leave her alone it doesn't matter what happened as it's none of your business," a voice from nearby shouted out it was Zayn who left his group of friends to help me out.

The girls walked away but left me with fear.

Zayn runs up to me and sits next to me. "Hey, it's alright. I'm here for you."

His words made me burst into tears of joy, fear, and sadness.