As fourth-period math rolled around, Liam's heart skipped a beat when he saw that he was seated behind Selena. He couldn't believe his luck. He had been thinking about her nonstop since their third-period biology class.
As Selena got up to hand in her note, Liam was hit with the subtle, sweet scent of her perfume. He felt his pulse quicken as he watched her walk up to the teacher's desk, her shiny black ponytail bouncing with each step.
As she handed in her note, Liam caught a glimpse of her open binder, and he was struck by her neat handwriting. Not everyone can be at this level at age 13. It made him look like a grade 1 student. Her script was elegant and precise, with perfectly formed letters and numbers.
As Selena returned to her seat and class progressed, Liam glanced over at her worksheets and was impressed to see that she had already finished working on the problems she'd missed after four days of not being in class. Some he had made mistakes on, even with the help of the teacher.
It seemed like the advanced placement course was no challenge for her. He was interested now. He had never felt this challenged, he had always been the best in the grade. He went home and spent his whole time studying and working on these problems. He found learning very fun, but he realized he liked being at the top of his grade.
Liam felt a pang of competitiveness as he gazed at Selena's worksheet. He had always been one of the top students in his class, but now it seemed like he had a rival. He didn't know about her other classes, but he had a feeling that she was going to give him a run for his money.
As the teacher began to lecture, Liam found himself stealing glances at Selena, trying to get a better sense of who she was and what she was capable of. He was intrigued by her confidence and her intelligence, and he couldn't help but wonder if she was as amazing as she seemed.
Despite his competitive feelings, Liam couldn't help but feel drawn to Selena. He loved the way she carried herself with confidence and poise, and he was impressed by her intelligence and perhaps a little daunted by it. He found himself feeling competitive.
As the class progressed, Liam found himself feeling more and more at ease around Selena. He began to feel like he could be himself around her, like he didn't have to put on a mask or pretend to be someone he wasn't.
As Selena sat in class, she caught Liam Reinhold staring at her. Again. She felt her goosebumps raise, and her mind started racing.
"Great, just what I need," she thought to herself. "Another G4 member to deal with."
Selena had a history with Liam, Gunn, Jakob, and Michael. In her past life, they had all been her bullies. They had made her life a living hell, and she had thought that by regressing, she could escape the pain and trauma of her past. A. A. chimed. Eyes dilated. The threat is minimal."
But now, as she looked into Liam's eyes briefly, she realized that she couldn't escape her past that easily. Maybe some things were meant to happen. She would just have to use her adult mind to deal with the onslaught of abuse. Perhaps she could press charges if they started harassing her on her way home, or she could also change schools. But she did not want to go to school with the people from her middle school. That would be hell on earth.
"Why me?" she thought, frustration creeping into her mind. "Can't they just leave me alone?" Selena tried to focus on the lesson, but her mind kept wandering back to her bullies. She couldn't believe she was facing the same people all over again. Why had fate made her a punching bag for the rich?
"This is not fair," she thought, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over her. "I don't want to go through this again." As the class progressed, Selena's anxiety grew. She couldn't concentrate on the lesson; her mind was consumed by thoughts of her past and the bullies who had haunted her.
"Stay calm, Selena," she told herself. "You can't let them get to you. Not again. The difference is now you, if you do not react or react the right way to the teasing it will make them look like immature creeps harassing a girl. You could even spin the narrative, and instead of being the Gorgeous 4, they can be the Pervy 4."But it was hard, so hard, when all she wanted to do was run away and hide to be positive about this.
As the class came to a close, Selena gathered her belongings and quickly exited. She didn't want to allow Liam or any of the others to approach her. She also wanted to deal with these feelings before a headache came on, and she was tempted to punch someone in the throat. Her adult mind was full of years of fighting experience, and she would grievously injure any of these low-level teens. The boys here, even the seniors, were probably no match for her now unless they worked together.
"Time to get out of here," she thought, making a beeline for the door. "And hopefully, stay under the radar."
The next day, Selena walked down the hallway, oblivious to the danger lurking ahead. Gunn had arranged for her to get pegged by water balloons, and as she turned a corner, she was suddenly soaked.
Selena stood there, dripping wet, but her expression remained unchanged. She looked almost disappointed and tired. "Motherfucker. I am going to get you back so hard later in life. I will make it my mission," Selena thought, with a neutral expression.
Jakob, who was standing nearby, looked on, amused. "What did she do so bad for you to target her?" he asked Gunn.
Jakob looked as if the girl had just given Gunn the most exasperated look on the planet. She did not run and cry, she just looked exhausted with him. "It is nice on a white shirt, but Gunn is kind of being a prick for no reason. Did she do something outside of school?" Jakob thought, tempted to investigate the student. What was her name?
Gunn sneered. "She's an uppity snob."
Liam, who was standing nearby, thought it was priceless coming from Gunn. "Coming from the king of snobs himself, to the paperbag princess," he thought, trying to stifle a smile.
But instead of speaking up, Liam just opened his locker and fiddled around, feeling uncomfortable. "I don't want to get involved in this," he thought. She was not giving Gunn the response he wanted. It was an interesting tactic that would probably drive him insane.
Gunn wanted the reaction, but he was like a dog with a bone either way. Either he would get obsessed with her negatively or positively. Gunn did not deal well with the silent treatment. If she ignored it, he would escalate until he got a reaction. Or if she did not flinch, he would roll over on his belly. With Gunn, you had to show him you would not put up with it, like with wolves. She probably had it in her. Maybe.
Selena, meanwhile, just shook her head and walked away, leaving Gunn and Jakob looking on in confusion. It was a shirt, it would dry by the end of the day at the very latest. It woke her up more, at least.
"Wow, that was a total fail," Jakob said, chuckling. Jakob thought, "It does not seem that she gives a shit about you."
Gunn scowled. "Shut up, Jakob. It's not over yet." He was fuming on the inside. It had been days, and she had not reacted. He swore she recognized him. She just thought she was better than him.
Liam closed his locker and watched as Selena disappeared around the corner. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration and pity for her. She had handled the situation with class, and had come out looking like the better person.
"Maybe I should try to get to know her better," he thought, feeling a spark of curiosity. But as he thought about it, his shyness kicked in.
"No way, I could never do that," he thought, feeling his face grow hot. "I'd just make a fool of myself. Besides, the family would be very wary about me talking to another girl."
Liam sighed and shook his head, feeling a pang of disappointment. He knew he would never have the courage to approach Selena, no matter how much he wanted to.
On the fifth day, Liam decided he had had enough of Gunn's antics. As they stood by their lockers, surrounded by a group of giggling girls, Liam turned to Gunn and said, "Hey, can you please just leave her alone?"
Gunn raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "What's it to you, Liam?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Liam shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I just don't think it's cool to pick on someone like that. She's not bothering anyone. What are you, McKenna now or something?"
Gunn snorted. "You're just intimidated because she's smarter than you," he said, grinning at the surrounding girls.
The girls giggled and playfully rolled their eyes, but Liam could tell they were all just trying to get Gunn's attention. And it was no wonder why - Gunn was cute and loaded. He had a charming smile and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through you. And he knew exactly how to use his charm to get what he wanted. Whether it was them or girls. He was the smallest and did not have the best home life, so they were kind of protective of the little guy to a fault sometimes.
Liam turned to his locker and groaned, hitting his head on his locker door with some frustration. "So what if she is? That does not bother me, Gunn. I am not some sort of caveman. Maybe you should look inside yourself and see why this is bothering you."
As the surrounding girls continued to fawn over him, Gunn ignored his friend. He turned to one of the girls, a blonde girl named Tiffany, and said, "Hey, Tiff, can you do me a favor?" Gunn threw on a smile.
Tiffany's eyes lit up. "Anything, GunnBunn!" she exclaimed.
Gunn grinned. "I need you to help me take down that snobby chick. She thinks she's so much better than everyone else."
Tiffany's face twisted into a scowl. "Ugh, I don't like her, bet you she's wild in her hood, the prissy ones are always sluts." she said. I'll help you take her down. Should be fun." She knew better than him that this was probably some sort of weird crush he probably had on her, but she could probably become his girlfriend before he realized his feelings and locked down the cute little money bag.
Gunn turned to another girl, a brunette named Rachel. "Hey, Rach, you in?" He turned on his charm and gave her a big grin, he knew had these girls in the palm of his hand. He used his cute but handsome looks to get his way with his parent's staff all the time and had it down to an art form.
Rachel nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I'm so in. She's a snobby cunt."
As the surrounding girls continued to agree to help him bully Selena, Gunn pointed down the hallway, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"Ah, speak of the devil," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Here she comes." The surrounding girls turned to look, their eyes fixed on Selena as she walked down the hallway, oblivious to the danger lurking ahead.
"Let's get her," Tiffany said, a grin forming on her face. Her voice was full of malicious excitement.
Gunn grinned. This girl, Tiff, was a perfect minion. "Not yet," he said. "Let's just see how she reacts to a little bit of pressure first." Slowly. You have gym with her in the 2nd period, right?" Gunn grinned and continued, "Chuck, kick or hit stuff at her first. Slowly, let the harassment build up; it will be so much better if it is grueling torture."