Chapter 61 Laura Will Stop at Nothing to Bully Me

Elena Garcia POV:

My scalp was on fire. I could actually hear my hair being yanked out, and I couldn't help but groan. "Let go, you idiot!"

At the party, I messed up and got embarrassed, but now, no way was I letting Laura push me around again!

When Laura wouldn't let go, I grabbed her hair right back!

'Fine, if she wants to play this game, I'm all in!' I thought.

Laura screamed. "How dare you! You're done for, you hear me? Done!"

"Quit whining! You started this! It's our bad luck to run into you today. And you're just bluffing, Laura!" I shot back. "With your brain, it's no wonder you can't see the real problem. You can't even see through Sofia's lies!"

I was kind of scolding myself too. If Sofia hadn't slipped up, I'd still be clueless about her true colors. I might've ended up just like Laura.

But right now, I was in a showdown with Laura, and I had to stay strong. No way was I backing down!

"You're a liar, and so is that guy over there! You think your words will shake me? Lies don't become truth just because you say them!" Laura yelled.

Laura's crew, who had been frozen in shock, finally snapped out of it and tried to break us up.

We let go of each other.

My hair was a mess, but I tried to look cool as I stared Laura down. Sophia rushed over to check if I was okay.

"Oh my God, Elena, that was so reckless!" Sophia gasped.

"This isn't reckless; it's self-defense," I whispered back. She frowned, looking confused.

I turned back to Laura. Her followers were helping her up, her perfect hair now as messy as mine.

She was yelling at everyone around her, clamouring for the reason why they took so long to help.

Some of her followers looked annoyed but didn't dare say anything, just shooting me dirty looks.

I glared right back.

"It's all Elena's fault, that bitch! We should teach her a lesson!" one of them spat.

"Really? You're blaming me for standing up to your bullying?" I crossed my arms and leaned back a bit.

"If you want to teach me a lesson, go ahead! Just like you humiliated me at the party! But don't think I'll let you push me around anymore!" I said defiantly.

I looked straight at Laura. "If you try to treat me like you did Sophia, be ready for me to fight back and mess up your pretty faces!"

Laura and her crew turned red with anger, but they didn't dare come closer. Instead, they took a step back.

Sophia looked at me, shocked. "Why would you do this? Aren't you scared they'll come after you even worse?"

"Sweetie, you need to get this. Most people think if they don't fight back, the bullies will get bored and stop. But that's not true. It just makes the bullies bolder, and their attacks get worse. Giving in only encourages them," I explained.

I noticed Sophia trembling. She must've been scared during my showdown with Laura.

But I knew standing up was the right move. If I let Laura bully me, who knew what would happen to Sophia and me today.

"Oh, come on, Elena. Scratch our faces? If you've got the guts, go ahead and try!" Laura was still yelling, but she didn't seem so scary anymore.

"Sophia, I thought you betrayed me because you were confused, but now you're hanging out with this bitch. Makes me think you were just like her all along, two peas in a pod!" Laura shouted.

Laura sneered, realizing she couldn't win against me, so she turned her venom towards Sophia. "I heard that after you ditched me and before you hooked up with Elena, you couldn't even find someone to have lunch with? How pathetic!"

Who made Sophia friendless? Laura had no right to say that about her!

I wanted to snap back, but Sophia grabbed my hand, shaking her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

I got it immediately. Those private photos were still in these jerks' hands!

"Why so quiet? Do you still not regret what you did?" Laura pressed on.

Laura found her target and kept going, "You even switched to the medical program. Is it because it's on another campus and you think no one will know your true colors there?"

"Just drop out. Stay home and pretend no one knows what you did." one of Laura's followers clucked her tongue in disapproval.

I felt anger boiling inside me, but I was stuck.

I tried to pull Sophia away, but these girls blocked us. When they saw we wanted to leave, they cornered us against the wall.

Laura seemed to regain her sense of victory, looking down at us arrogantly.

I saw one of her followers whisper something in Laura's ear after giving us a quick once-over.

Laura's eyes lit up like she just heard the best news ever.

"That's a great idea," Laura nodded.

After praising her follower, Laura looked at us with a malicious smile. "Sophia, I just got a good suggestion. Maybe it can help you prove your repentance and make up for the harm you did to me. Wanna hear it?"

"Don't listen to her, Sophia!" I said urgently.

Laura ignored me, focusing on Sophia. "I'm really sad I lost you. Remember? You were my only friend once; you could have always been."

I felt Sophia wavering, her body leaning forward.

"I've always wanted a chance to mend our broken friendship," Laura added.

Laura bringing up their past friendship wasn't a good sign. I didn't know why she mentioned reconciling, but I was sure she didn't genuinely want to make up with Sophia.

"But I don't know what I did wrong. How can I repent, Laura?" Sophia's voice was filled with sadness.

I saw a look of disgust flash across Laura's face. She didn't trust Sophia, thinking anything she said was an excuse.

Laura didn't scold her but took a few deep breaths, which made me feel even more uneasy about her sudden gentle attitude.

Sure enough, Laura's next words sent a chill down my spine.

"Of course, you can repent, as long as you're smart enough. Sophia, you were my friend once. I don't want you to end up with a despicable, crude, selfish jerk who betrays her own sister. That would make your life even worse. I can give you a chance. If you leave Elena and stand with us, then no one will laugh at you anymore," Laura smiled.

'Damn it! Laura is an evil, despicable jerk!' I cursed in my heart.

She was telling Sophia that if she joined them in bullying, she wouldn't have to continue her miserable school life!

She was forcing Sophia to make a choice!

I instinctively looked at Sophia, who was equally shocked, unable to believe what Laura had said.

"I will never join you. I can't betray my friend! And I certainly won't stand with you to bully her!" Sophia insisted.

"Don't be ridiculous, Sophia. If you're really not a traitor to your friends, then you should choose the advice I'm offering. You and Elena aren't real friends. Your friend is Sofia Garcia, right?" Laura suggested.

"If you choose to continue standing with Elena, then everyone will think you are really a traitor to your friends!" Laura sneered, "Don't pretend your friendship is so deep now. I'll give you time to think, Sophia. I hope you make the right choice."