Sombra walked toward two glass double doors at the front entrance of the school. From a distance she could see flyers posted everywhere covering up the glass. As she got closer something in her stomach began to gnaw at her. Everyone was looking at her and pointing, but more than usual. Was it something she was wearing? She looked down at her legs. Pants check, shirt check. Not naked that's a good sign.
She could hear muffed giggling around her. What the hell was going on? And then she saw it. Right in front of her face plastered in every school window and bulletin board was a picture that appeared to be her head photoshopped over a naked woman on the front of a porn cover. Across written in red letters read 'Slut'. Sombra ripped the poster off the door feeling hot with embarrassment she knew that wasn't her body, and so did everybody else but something about it was so humiliating. It angered Sombra that this even bothered her.
Not wanting to look weak she continued into school trying to process why this was happening, fellow students threw balled up posters at her as they sung her new nickname at her.
"Hey Slut." A boy winked at her before slapping her ass.
"Fuck off!" Her nostrils flared with anger.
"What it's not like you're not used to it? Don't worry I don't want to fuck your dirty cunt." He added before running off to meet up with his friends.
Sombra wanted to leave she wanted to run out of school and never come back, but she didn't want to give up. She knew it was Jane's fault and she wasn't going to take it lying down.
"Hey!" A hand grabbed her shoulder.
"Would you guys fuck off!" Sombra whipped around to be face to face with Mei.
The two of them sat in the courtyard instead of the cafeteria figuring it was best to stay away from Jane for the time being.
"I'm sorry I was late today and couldn't be there when you saw all of that, I can't believe her." Mei shook her head.
"Yeah, well I'm kinda used to it just not on this scale." Sombra admitted.
"That sucks." Mei offered.
"You learn how to handle yourself after shit like this happens." Sombra paused looking at the sky. "But somehow it never fails to surprise me."
"I used to be best friends with Jane, after she decided I was worthless she told the whole school I had sex with a homeless man and how I have herpes." Mei rolled her eyes. "I've never had a boy look at me twice but somehow the whole school believed her."
"Dude, thy seriously fucked up."
"Yeah she is."
"Oh no! I forgot I have to go to an appointment with my Dad." Mei cried looking at her phone.
"What's going on?" Sombra asked curiously.
"He has to go to the hospital for his lungs, they have to do a biopsy or something so I have to drive him."
"Sounds serious... I didn't know you drove I thought you took the bus?"
"Sometimes I drive but I mostly take the bus to save on gas." Mei paused. "Will you be okay? Do you want to come with me?"
"Although I'm tempted I think I'll stay, I don't wanna miss computer lab." Sombra admitted.
"Okay, well here's my cell number in case you wanna text or talk." Mei handed Sombra a piece of lined paper she had obviously prepared for Sombra earlier.
"Thanks." Sombra smiled. "Hope everything goes okay with your Dad."
"Thanks! See you tomorrow!" Mei called back as she jogged to the back of the school.
After Mei left Sombra felt a sense of vulnerability. Had she become that dependent on Mei already?
"Hey it's the Slut all alone." A boy shouted. Sombra turned her head to see the boy from before as well as two of his friends.
Sombra turned her head away deciding ignoring him might be the best course of action since her last attempt at confrontation left her speechless.
"Aw don't be like that we're only playing."
His friend teased. "After all don't you specialize in role play?"
Sombra stood up to leave but felt a hand grab her wrist. "I'm not done with you." The boy growled. "You should be happy in giving you the time of day you dirty-" Sombra kicked him in the shin causing him to grab her wrist harder. Not her intended response. "Fuck off." She growled digging her nails into his arm trying desperately to pry his hand off her. The boy yelped in pain but didn't give in, instead her grabbed her other wrist, he forced her against the wall of the school. Sombra writhed her body angrily trying to kick him away frantically his friends just stood there watching her helplessly struggle. She felt angry tears form in her eyes. She dropped to her knees trying to roll underneath him. "Keith grab her legs!" He shouted. Keith did as asked holding her ankles between his armpits.
"Let me go!" Sombra spat.
Suddenly she felt the weight of the boy being lifted off her his hands releasing her arms. Her feet were dropped as well giving her the chance to scramble back up to her feet. The boy was lying in the grass moaning in pain. A different man stood above him. He looked about her age but the way he carried himself made her believe he was older.
"You best be getting outta here." He kicked the boy. " I mean it, I don't want to ever see you near this girl again." The boy nodded his face contorted in pain as his friends helped him up.
The man turned to Sombra.
"Are ya okay?" He asked his features expressed concern she had never seen before.
"I can handle my self." Sombra replied dusting off her pants.
"You have a funny way of showing it." He observed.
Sombra noticed he was wearing a letterman jacket with the football teams name on it.
"You're just another jock!" She pointed at his jacket accusingly. "How do I not know that this isn't part of one of their fucked up games."
"Scuse me, don't lump me in with those meatheads, just cause I play football doesn't make me a bad person." His browns eyes narrowed into a scowl.
Heat flooded Sombra's cheeks she bit her lip hesitating to say anything more.
"I'm not going to hurt you okay?" His voice calmer now.
"I'm Jesse, who are you?
"Haven't you seen the posters around school? I'm famous!"
"Well I really doubt your parents named you 'Slut' and if they did they really need Dr Phil."
Sombra laughed letting her guard down a little bit.
"I'm Sombra, thanks for helping me out I guess."
"Don't worry about it, those guys are tools. I'm sorry they did that to you I really am do you want me to get the principal?"
"No it's okay, authorities never seem to believe me when I tell them anything." Sombra shrugged.
"Well, I can vouch for ya." He offered brushing his brown hair back.
"That's okay I have a better idea." She smiled slyly.