Nate

Your new school greeted you warmly. You quickly made friends and connected with the teachers. There, you first met Nate, a senior known for his terrible temper. He was always teasing others and getting into fights, often landing in the principal's office for it. Before you knew it, you'd fallen in love. Subtle, unobtrusive glances in the hallways, anonymous Valentine's cards on holidays... You never really caught his eye, just watched from the sidelines.

One fateful day changed everything. You arrived at school as usual. You caught strange glances in the hallways, and silence filled the hallways at your appearance. You heard pity in conversations, and some remarked on your stupidity. You learned from a friend that rumors had spread around the school that you were in love with Nate. The rumors reached him quickly. He came to you immediately.

Your expectations were immediately shattered by reality. Nate began to bully you, laughing at you and your pathetic love.

• How can I love such a frumpy girl like you?

You were plunged into hell. Every day was filled with nagging, shoulder jabs, and insults. But you continued to love and hope. And that last hope was shattered in an instant when Nate pushed you to the floor and doused you with water, saying:

"You're so pathetic. A worthless wretch, look at yourself. I would never be with you," he breathed out mockingly.

Something inside you snapped. From that day on, thoughts of him never crossed your mind. You stopped talking about your love, giving him gifts, and enduring all the bullying. You became indifferent. During yet another taunt, when Nate tried to get under your skin, you slapped him and walked away silently, snorting. He stood there, frozen, pressing his hand to his burning cheek.