Chapter 8: Shadows and Statement

I barely had time to process my embarrassment before I felt her icy gaze sweeping over me, scrutinizing every inch. Nancy Flood stood there, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. “Well, well, if it isn’t the little sister of the nudist,” she drawled, her tone dripping with condescension. “I see your new sister is a nudist. Shouldn’t you be?”

Every word felt like a dagger, piercing through my fragile self-esteem. Nancy had been a thorn in my side throughout junior high, always ready with a jab or a sneer. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice amid the roaring embarrassment that threatened to engulf me. Her words seemed to amplify all my insecurities about being linked to Elaina, pulling back a curtain on my vulnerabilities and forcing everyone to witness my inadequacies.

“I, um...” I stammered my throat dry as I searched for something to say that wouldn’t make me sound even more pathetic. The laughter of students around us echoed in my ears, and the weight of their gazes felt heavier than ever.

“Shouldn’t you be more like her?” Nancy continued, her voice mocking, laced with smug satisfaction. “I mean, look at you.” She gestured dismissively, her eyes narrowing as she took in my patterned dress and the way I tugged at its hem as if trying to hide from her gaze. “How does it feel to be the plain one, the one who has to cover up?”

My cheeks burned hotter than ever. I could feel the laughter ripple through the group, each chuckle like a stab to my heart. I wanted to shrink away, to disappear into the crowd, but something inside me flared with indignation.

“I’m comfortable with who I am,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper, but the words felt weak even as I said them.

“Comfortable? Honey, you look like you’re about to burst into flames!” Nancy laughed, her friends joining in, their giggles sharp and biting. “And your sister She’s a walking statement. What do you have to show for yourself? This?” She gestured again to my dress, her expression one of mockery. “What’s the point of all those layers if you’re just going to be a shadow?”

At that moment, I felt an overwhelming urge to defend myself, to push back against the tide of ridicule washing over me. But every time I opened my mouth, the words caught in my throat, lost in the panic swirling inside me. Instead, I looked down, my eyes darting away from her penetrating stare.

As if sensing my vulnerability, Nancy stepped closer, invading my space. “You know, you could stand to take a few notes from your sister. Confidence is everything,” she sneered, her eyes glinting with malicious delight. “But then again, maybe some people just can’t pull it off.”

I felt a surge of tears welling up, but I blinked them away, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry. What I wanted was to yell, to make her understand how much her words hurt. Did she even realize the power she held over people, how easily she could cut someone down with just a few careless remarks?

But before I could respond, a voice broke through the tension. “Leave her alone, Nancy.”

It was Riley, stepping up beside me with a fierceness I hadn’t expected. “Sophia’s fine just the way she is, and she doesn’t need your judgment to define her.”

Nancy turned, momentarily caught off guard by Riley’s interruption. “Oh, look, it’s the little cheerleader coming to the rescue,” she scoffed. “What a cliché. Why don’t you stick to flipping your hair and leave the real talk to the grown-ups?”

Riley’s jaw tightened, but she stood her ground. “You don’t get to bully people just because you think you’re better than everyone else, Nancy. It’s pathetic.”

Nancy rolled her eyes, her expression one of feigned annoyance. “Whatever. I was just trying to help her. Some people need it more than others.” With that, she turned away, leaving a trail of whispers in her wake, her friends trailing behind her like a pack of hyenas.

As the laughter faded, I turned to Riley, my heart still racing. “Thank you,” I managed to say, though I felt the weight of Nancy’s words still heavy on my chest.

“You don’t have to listen to her,” Riley said, her voice firm. “She’s just a bully looking for attention. You’re stronger than that, Sophia. Don’t let her get to you.”

I wanted to believe her, wanted to shake off the sting of Nancy’s words like water off a duck’s back, but they clung to me, embedding them in my mind. I was left with a swirl of confusion and frustration, feeling both grateful for Riley’s support and still raw from the encounter.

As we walked toward my new homeroom, Room 101 in the English wing, I heard the first of two warning bells that I had learned about during orientation. I couldn’t help but glance back at Nancy and her friends. They were still laughing, and a part of me wished I could have the same confidence that Elaina had, the same audacity to face the world unflinchingly. But right now, I felt like I was crumbling under the weight of it all.

The hallway buzzed with a mixture of excitement and nervous energy as students shuffled about, chatting with one another. I felt a strange mix of embarrassment and curiosity as I entered Mr. Patel’s classroom. My gaze flicked over the students, and I was acutely aware of how out of place I felt. The loud chatter was a reminder of the whirlwind of emotions I’d experienced earlier, especially after my encounter with Nancy, who had been a thorn in my side throughout junior high.

As I took my seat, I overheard snippets of conversation from nearby groups, their laughter punctuating the air like sharp knives. “Did you see that new girl?” one student said, his voice dripping with disdain. “I can’t believe she thinks she can just walk around naked. Who does she think she is?”

Another student chimed in, “Right? It’s like she’s trying to prove something. What a total attention seeker. I don’t get how anyone can think that’s okay.”

My heart sank further with each unkind comment. I wanted to shout that she was my exchange sister, but the words stuck in my throat. I was overwhelmed by a mix of insecurity and protectiveness, would they say those same things if they knew?

“Honestly, it’s just embarrassing,” a girl said, rolling her eyes. “How can she expect anyone to take her seriously like that?”