Get some help

Taylor sneers at you. "What are you smiling about?"

"Uh, nothing. It's just that-"

"Whatever." The head cheerleader waves off your excuse. "We're going to be back at school soon and you haven't even finished half the girls' homework yet. You're going to have to do it tonight. That's so obnoxious, making us all track you down tomorrow morning to get our homework before class. Why do you have to waste our time like that?"

It doesn't make sense for Taylor to blame you, but she does it so forcefully that you sit back down like a wounded puppy. She's always been a powerhouse, able to intimidate everyone without even raising her voice. You're sure there is at least one cheerleader on the team who doesn't want to pile the on you like the rest, but Taylor has them all so intimidated that they never speak against her.

You wish that one of those girls would get the courage to stand up to Taylor.

"Hey!" calls out a voice from the front of the bus. "Leave him alone!"