The Aloof Observer

Sheldon didn't seem to get how bad this was. He laughed and waved at the group. "Ms. Tyson, check out everyone's tattoos. Aren't they awesome?"

The classmates eagerly lifted their arms, showing off the dark ink sprawled across their skin.

Ms. Tyson stumbled back, pointing at them. "You idiots! Do you even know what you've done? No decent college is ever going to take you now!"

The students froze for a moment, staring at one another in shock.

Sensing that something was wrong, Winnie hurriedly whispered to them, "Ms. Tyson is just trying to scare us. I bet Cassandra ran to complain again."

Everyone suddenly had that look that said, "Now I get it."

"If it wasn't her, then who? She probably blew everything way out of proportion to Ms. Tyson. That's why we're getting yelled at. Everyone knows Cassandra is her class rep."

"Ms. Tyson is just super conservative. It's all Cassandra twisting things, saying that having a tattoo will keep us out of the top majors."

In an instant, they exchanged knowing looks with one another.

Winnie sauntered up and hooked her arm around Ms. Tyson's. "Ms. Tyson, don't worry. These aren't real tattoos—they're just stickers."

Ms. Tyson hesitated. "Is that so?"

"Of course. We are all good kids. How could we possibly get real tattoos?"

"Yep, Ms. Tyson. Don't stress. Half the class scored 1350. You'll hear soon enough when we all get into top colleges."

With everyone speaking up like that, Ms. Tyson no longer had a single worry.

When she walked away to take a phone call, the classmates immediately turned their resentful gazes on me.

I instinctively took two steps back, but Sheldon grabbed a fistful of my hair and snarled, "Cassandra, was it you who snitched? Did you exaggerate everything to Ms. Tyson and almost get all of us scolded?"

I clutched at his hand, begging him to let go, but Sheldon shoved me hard to the ground. "Cassandra, you are just too jealous of everyone else."

I shook my head and struggled, trying to make them understand I hadn't told Ms. Tyson anything.

They refused to believe me. A classmate's muddy shoe pressed down on my hand, and pain shot up my arm. I winced and tried to pull away, but it only made them press harder.

"Cassandra would never admit she snitched!" someone spat. "She deserves a lesson."

"She's been asking for it for ages. She's always picking on Winnie."

Their crooked smiles made my heart sink.

Just as things were getting out of hand, Ms. Tyson ran back, shouting, "Class, stop messing around! You can all head home now."

Only then did they back off and walk away. Tears fell silently to the floor as I slumped into the corner. I brushed them away, digging my nails into my skin as I reminded myself to hold on. Soon, they wouldn't be able to laugh anymore.

Winnie came back, holding her wrist up in front of my face. Sheldon's name was freshly tattooed there.

She grinned smugly. "Cassandra, you look like such a loser right now. Sheldon's mine. Don't even dream of taking him. I'm sticking with him for life. He even tattooed my name on his wrist. We are meant for each other."

I kept my head bowed, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

Sheldon was from a blended family. His stepfather, William Foster, had promised that if Sheldon didn't get into college this year, he wouldn't fund a repeat year. He would have to start working in a factory.

Winnie had no idea. She didn't know that Sheldon had spent three days and nights begging at his stepfather's door just to earn this chance. After seeing his SAT scores, he had arrogantly applied to only Astraeus University.

If he ever realized that following her lead and getting a tattoo had cost him his chance, I wondered what he would do.

I looked up at Winnie as she walked away. She still had no idea what was coming for her.