Ava hadn't wanted to go to the party. Every part of her had screamed against it. But after enough pressure from Leah and Sandy—complete with teasing, rolling eyes, and false promises—she gave in. The pool party was already buzzing when she arrived, packed with flashing lights, loud music, and clusters of people laughing, flirting, and drinking soda from red cups. Everyone looked like they belonged.
Except her.
Ava stood awkwardly by the pool, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she sat alone on a lounge chair. The bikini Leah had insisted she wear made her feel exposed and out of place. She had never felt more uncomfortable in her life. Her friends had all but disappeared the moment they arrived, swept away by the thrill of the party and the attention of older boys.
Ava looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of either Leah or Sandy, but they were nowhere to be seen. She sighed and tried to disappear into herself, hugging her knees and staring at the glowing blue water.
That's when she heard the voice.
"Well, well, what are you doing here, nerd?" a mocking tone sneered from behind her.
Ava turned slightly to see a tall, striking blonde girl in a shimmering swimsuit. Bena. One of the most popular—and meanest—girls in school.
Ava didn't respond, trying to look away and hoping she'd go.
"I said," Bena's voice rose, "What are you doing here, bitch?"
Heads turned. Conversations paused. The air seemed to shift as eyes settled on the scene by the pool.
Ava's voice shook as she responded quietly, "I just want to be alone."
"How dare you talk to me like that?" Bena snapped, stepping closer with a twisted grin.
"I don't have time for this," Ava muttered, standing up, her heart pounding.
But before she could walk away, Bena's hand shot out and yanked her by the hair, pulling her back.
"Where do you think you're going? I wasn't done talking to you!" Bena hissed, her eyes flashing with rage.
Ava winced, trying to pull away. Then suddenly, the grip on her hair loosened—someone had caught Bena's wrist.
"Hey!" a calm, firm voice said. "What do you think you're doing?"
Ava looked up through her tears and found herself staring at Tom Harris—the school's star athlete, top student, and most admired guy. He was holding Bena's arm firmly, his expression unreadable.
"I-I wasn't doing anything," Bena stammered, caught off guard. "Just playing around with her, right… bitch?"
Tom's jaw tightened. "Why would you call her that?" he said, his voice sharper now.
He turned to Ava and gently helped her to her feet. "You okay?"
Ava nodded slightly, stunned by the sudden change in events.
"You should really stay away from this loser, Tom," Bena snapped, trying to regain her dignity. "She's just a pathetic outcast."
Tom raised an eyebrow, his voice steady but cold. "You know what's pathetic? The fact that you think bullying makes you interesting. Why don't you do everyone a favor—stop writing me letters, stop following me around, and stop leaving flowers on my desk like some desperate stalker."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Laughter followed. Bena's face turned crimson with humiliation. Her mouth opened as if to protest, but no words came out. She spun around and stormed off, pushing through the crowd as people whispered behind her.
Ava was left speechless.
"Why did you help me?" she finally asked.
Tom shrugged gently, offering her a soft smile. "Because no one deserves to be treated like that. Ever."
Ava looked down, unsure of what to say. "Thanks… but you've just thrown me into the lions' den."
"I'm not afraid of lions," Tom said, slipping a piece of paper into her hand. "Call me if they ever come after you again. I mean it."
Ava looked at the number in her hand, feeling something strange—relief, gratitude, and something warmer she couldn't quite name.
"Okay," she said softly.
She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her once more.
"Wait—I didn't get your name."
She looked back over her shoulder and smiled. "Ava."
"I'm Tom."
She gave a small nod, then disappeared into the crowd.
---
Confronting Her Friends
Ava found Leah and Sandy near the back of the house, giggling with two older boys. As she approached, her stomach turned with a mix of anger and hurt.
"There you are," Ava said, her voice sharper than usual.
"Oh, hey!" Sandy chirped. "You're still here? We thought you left."
"I almost did," Ava snapped. "Bena just humiliated me in front of everyone. She dragged me by the hair and called me names, and you two weren't anywhere."
Leah frowned. "What? That's awful—"
"You made me come here," Ava interrupted, her voice trembling. "You made me wear this, made me feel like I had to pretend I belonged here. And then you just left me. Alone."
Sandy looked guilty but didn't say a word. Leah crossed her arms. "Ava, we didn't know she'd come after you—"
"That's not the point," Ava said, eyes shining with unshed tears. "I needed you. And you weren't there."
There was a pause. The boys slowly walked away, sensing the tension.
"Tom stood up for me," Ava said softly. "Tom Harris. He saw what happened and stopped her. Gave me his number and told me to call if anything like that happened again. He didn't have to. But he did."
Sandy and Leah looked at each other, speechless.
"I'm done pretending," Ava added. "I'm going home. Enjoy the rest of your night."
With that, she turned and walked away, her back straight, her heart still pounding—but with a spark of strength inside her that hadn't been there before.