Short Story: Lidden Middle School
On a chilly autumn day, Calyssa Rynden stepped out of her fourth period of Lidden Middle School. The school had brick walls, and concrete pavements. It was the typical middle school. She glanced around, anxiously watching for Morgan Lyne and Felicity Walker. Morgan always jumped at every chance to insult Calyssa and make her life miserable. Felicity always smirked at her and gave Morgan more power. Calyssa peered around a corner, but there was no Morgan. She quickly walked toward the cafeteria. Maybe today she could get a seat inside. The building came into sight, and she walked faster. If she got in before Morgan and Felicity, she had a fair chance of getting a spot, even if she had to sit with other weirdos. Calyssa clutched her backpack
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as she approached the cafeteria. “What are you doing here?” sneered Morgan from behind her. “Don’t you know--you aren’t allowed in the cafeteria.” Behind her, Felicity laughed and pushed her, but not hard. Strangely, her eyes seemed to implore Calyssa to leave quickly. “It’s cold outside,” replied Calyssa quietly. “I thought maybe I could get a seat inside…” Morgan stared at her, disgusted. “I told you, you aren’t allowed in the cafeteria. What, you thought you could just ignore us?”
Felicity nudged Morgan. “Come on,” she muttered, so quietly that Calyssa could barely hear her. “She’s learned her lesson. Let’s just leave.” She looked reluctant to continue to conversation. Calyssa wondered why. Felicity had always been Morgan’s best friend, and always participated in making fun of Calyssa. Now she seemed to just want to leave.
Morgan ignored her, and shoved Calyssa, laughing.
Calyssa cringed, wishing only to disappear forever. Morgan turned to Felicity. “What? You’re too scared of Calyssa?” When Felicity said nothing, Morgan turned back to Calyssa. “In fact, you’re not allowed to sit near the cafeteria anymore.”
Calyssa stared at her. “What? Where else am I supposed to sit? Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Calyssa hurriedly blinked back tears that sprang to her eyes. This could not be true. She would get in so much trouble sitting anywhere else. Maybe that would be better than Morgan, though.
“She’s right,” added Felicity quietly. She added, in a more demanding voice, “Let’s go!”
Morgan whipped around and glared at Felicity. “You’re just as bad as her! What’s wrong with you? Are you too scared? You know what, Felicity? I’m starting to hate this cowardly version of you!”
Felicity stepped back, looking shocked. Calyssa watched this exchange, scared. She had seen in the earlier days that their friendship was farther apart than usual, but she had never realized that Morgan would ever speak to her best friend that way. She made to walk away quickly, when Felicity spoke up.
“Calyssa, …show more content…
stop.”
Calyssa’s heart sank. Maybe the way they spoke and reacted to each other was normal now. But Felicity was looking at her kindly, and when she turned to Morgan, Felicity’s eyes seemed to smolder with anger.
“You have never spoken to me that way!” Felicity snapped at Morgan. “I’m sick and tired of this. For so long now, it seems like you’re just using me to get you more power. I’m done with it. And you’ve been bullying Calyssa worse than ever now. What’s she ever done to you?”
Calyssa was shocked. All she could manage to say was, “Felicity?” She tried to say more, but before she could, Felicity grabbed her arm and led her into the cafeteria. When she found a partly empty table, they sat down. People gave Calyssa disgusted stares, but Felicity stared back boldly. The people quickly looked away.
Calyssa could hardly believe it. She did not know if this was a dream. “Felicity?”
Felicity seemed ashamed of herself. “I’m sorry for everything, Calyssa. I just wanted power, I guess. Morgan was perfect to get that. But she started to get mad at me so often and I’m so sick of it and sick of watching her get mad at you for no reason.” She paused, and wiped her eyes. “I promise you can have a seat everyday in the cafeteria. You won’t be alone anymore.”
“I don’t know what to say,” whispered Calyssa.
“I don’t know if I can forgive you.”
Felicity nodded. “I understand. But I hope you can someday.” She looked into Calyssa’s glistening eyes. “And I also want you to know that I’m sorry.”
Calyssa sat the rest of the lunch eating silently, contemplating on whether to forgive Felicity. Felicity had never really bullied her, but she had always stuck by Morgan and gave her power.
At the end of lunch, they walked together to the cafeteria doors. Morgan stood there, and opened her mouth to speak. Felicity stopped abruptly and faced her.
“I’m sorry, Felicity,” began Morgan, but she stopped when she saw Calyssa. “What are you doing hanging out with this loser?”
“Your apologies mean nothing,” growled Felicity. “You and I will never be friends again. You will never be able to insult Calyssa again.” Felicity stared at her coldly. “Good-bye, Morgan.”
Calyssa walked with her to the end of the path. When they were about to split up to go to classes, Calyssa made her decision. “Felicity?” She paused as Felicity turned. “I forgive
you.”
as she approached the cafeteria. “What are you doing here?” sneered Morgan from behind her. “Don’t you know--you aren’t allowed in the cafeteria.” Behind her, Felicity laughed and pushed her, but not hard. Strangely, her eyes seemed to implore Calyssa to leave quickly. “It’s cold outside,” replied Calyssa quietly. “I thought maybe I could get a seat inside…” Morgan stared at her, disgusted. “I told you, you aren’t allowed in the cafeteria. What, you thought you could just ignore us?”
Felicity nudged Morgan. “Come on,” she muttered, so quietly that Calyssa could barely hear her. “She’s learned her lesson. Let’s just leave.” She looked reluctant to continue to conversation. Calyssa wondered why. Felicity had always been Morgan’s best friend, and always participated in making fun of Calyssa. Now she seemed to just want to leave.
Morgan ignored her, and shoved Calyssa, laughing.
Calyssa cringed, wishing only to disappear forever. Morgan turned to Felicity. “What? You’re too scared of Calyssa?” When Felicity said nothing, Morgan turned back to Calyssa. “In fact, you’re not allowed to sit near the cafeteria anymore.”
Calyssa stared at her. “What? Where else am I supposed to sit? Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Calyssa hurriedly blinked back tears that sprang to her eyes. This could not be true. She would get in so much trouble sitting anywhere else. Maybe that would be better than Morgan, though.
“She’s right,” added Felicity quietly. She added, in a more demanding voice, “Let’s go!”
Morgan whipped around and glared at Felicity. “You’re just as bad as her! What’s wrong with you? Are you too scared? You know what, Felicity? I’m starting to hate this cowardly version of you!”
Felicity stepped back, looking shocked. Calyssa watched this exchange, scared. She had seen in the earlier days that their friendship was farther apart than usual, but she had never realized that Morgan would ever speak to her best friend that way. She made to walk away quickly, when Felicity spoke up.
“Calyssa, …show more content…
stop.”
Calyssa’s heart sank. Maybe the way they spoke and reacted to each other was normal now. But Felicity was looking at her kindly, and when she turned to Morgan, Felicity’s eyes seemed to smolder with anger.
“You have never spoken to me that way!” Felicity snapped at Morgan. “I’m sick and tired of this. For so long now, it seems like you’re just using me to get you more power. I’m done with it. And you’ve been bullying Calyssa worse than ever now. What’s she ever done to you?”
Calyssa was shocked. All she could manage to say was, “Felicity?” She tried to say more, but before she could, Felicity grabbed her arm and led her into the cafeteria. When she found a partly empty table, they sat down. People gave Calyssa disgusted stares, but Felicity stared back boldly. The people quickly looked away.
Calyssa could hardly believe it. She did not know if this was a dream. “Felicity?”
Felicity seemed ashamed of herself. “I’m sorry for everything, Calyssa. I just wanted power, I guess. Morgan was perfect to get that. But she started to get mad at me so often and I’m so sick of it and sick of watching her get mad at you for no reason.” She paused, and wiped her eyes. “I promise you can have a seat everyday in the cafeteria. You won’t be alone anymore.”
“I don’t know what to say,” whispered Calyssa.
“I don’t know if I can forgive you.”
Felicity nodded. “I understand. But I hope you can someday.” She looked into Calyssa’s glistening eyes. “And I also want you to know that I’m sorry.”
Calyssa sat the rest of the lunch eating silently, contemplating on whether to forgive Felicity. Felicity had never really bullied her, but she had always stuck by Morgan and gave her power.
At the end of lunch, they walked together to the cafeteria doors. Morgan stood there, and opened her mouth to speak. Felicity stopped abruptly and faced her.
“I’m sorry, Felicity,” began Morgan, but she stopped when she saw Calyssa. “What are you doing hanging out with this loser?”
“Your apologies mean nothing,” growled Felicity. “You and I will never be friends again. You will never be able to insult Calyssa again.” Felicity stared at her coldly. “Good-bye, Morgan.”
Calyssa walked with her to the end of the path. When they were about to split up to go to classes, Calyssa made her decision. “Felicity?” She paused as Felicity turned. “I forgive
you.”