Lozza learns the rumour

I spent most of the day with what I guess you could call my new friend group. I keep asking myself why I am allowing myself to be involved with them. These people are far below me, but it was difficult after my father lost the family fortune and moved here.

I felt distant from my old life and friends. It wasn't the same just having the odd text with my old friends, and I now lived a much poorer lifestyle, while they went on skiing holidays.

But I think the fear of getting on the wrong side of Becky and the gang led me to listen to them. One example of why I was fearful came when I settled into my seat in the only class I had without Aimes, Dani, and Becky.

As the teacher launched into their lecture, I tried to focus on the material at hand. One girl seated near me talked to me in a hushed whisper, "Hey Lozza, how did you get into Becky's gang so easily? You are so lucky. She was basically the boss at school and now college," Yes that horrible nickname had spread very quickly,

Earlier in the day when i was with the gang, you could see how it would be easy for them to spread the word, if it weren't Jess flirting with a bunch of guys, it would be Aimes gossiping with a bunch of girls somewhere else or Dani chatting with basically everyone, Becky usually stayed with me quizzing me about my family, she actually said she thinks my geeky brother Ben looks cute, guessing she must of spotted him from living next door, that made me worried, I didn't want Ben near her, she would eat him alive, anyway I've gone completely off topic, back to this girl she continued "don't piss them off though, last girl who tried fucking with them, her house got bricked and her family basically had to run away" my blood ran cold at news, what have a got myself into, i kept telling myself that i was better than Becky and the others and that would ensure I'd be fine but I'd play it safe for now and not annoy them

Shortly into the class, a guy who was sat in front of me, turning around with a small smirk on his face. "Hey, Lozza," he said, theirs that nickname again. His tone hesitant, he continued, "I heard a rumour about you. Is it true?"

My heart skipped a beat at his words, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of my stomach.

"What rumour?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising tide of panic threatening to overwhelm me. This is definitely the rumour Becky mentioned earlier, I thought to myself.

The guy grinned and looked suggestively at me. "I heard you got caught sucking a teacher off at your fancy school, and that's one of the reasons you found yourself coming to this crappy college."

A wave of nausea washed over me. Why on earth would Becky spread this clear lie as part of some stupid initiation into a group I didn't want to be in?

"Erm, that's not..." I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. I tried to deny this fake rumour, but the fear kicked in. I was kicking myself almost instantly for not being braver. "Just don't tell anyone else", I told him.

The guy nodded and said, "Sure, you can trust me, Lozza; my name's Mark; I've got your back," and with a little wink, he added, "or your front," I couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over me. In that moment, I thought about some of the suggestive looks I got from guys earlier in the day, I had at the time put it down to myself being self conscious with the outfit adjustment, but now I think about how many people had heard this fake rumour.

The teacher then suddenly singled me out and asked me where my tie was, this happened earlier in the day in another class I had with the girls but Becky had spoke up before I could answer and made an excuse which teacher accepted, but now instead of Becky it was the voice of some girl from the middle row "Lozza's probably got a guy tied to her bed with it" which got a big laugh, I just put my head down now determined to confront Becky, after college.

The girls we're stood by the exit doors at the end of the day, I marched over but Becky stopped me in my tracks, she beamed as I got to them and gave me a massive bear hug while giving me a wide smile "Lozza welcome to the group, a little initiation is needed to be in our great friendship group, and I'm happy i heard you went along with it, don't worry about what some losers say, you are one of us and we'll look after ya".

My brain instantly went back to what the girl in class said to me about Becky's power earlier, I decided I really needed to think things through, getting angry now would foolish until I really thought through everything, just then my phone rang, my mother was telling me, her and my father was going out tonight, i was happy for them, After all the money troubles they still both seemed to power forward, although i cant imagine anywhere they were going will be what they are use too.

I finished my call and Dani spoke up "hey the plan was to go to mine for a study session but we should go Lozza's if her parents are out the way" they all agreed but I tried to dissuade them by telling them my brother Ben would be home, Becky was delighted by this 'oh yes i get to chat with Benny", seeing no way out of it, I thought of the positives, I can show all of these while studying how much smarter than them I am and gain their respect, why do I even care what these girls think of me, i ask myself.

Becky then pulled out my tie and handed me it, Jess pointed to her own tie and told me to wear it like they did, loose and like they didn't give a fuck, Aimes told me to make sure I wear makeup similar to them tomorrow (it's like this group have uniform rules themselves, I'd always had more of a less is more makeup style, looking at Jess even compared to the others, her style was heavily layer it on), Becky gave me a quick swot on my behind as we walked out of college, telling me I looked much better with my legs free from tights, Dani jumped in too "yeah girl, you'll have the guys queuing up, now let's go get some drinks for our study session".