#sbl03w08

[changingplumbob]

CW: Bullying

The video kept playing.

Audrina: Fashion Faux Pas one, sneakers with jeans. No girl, no. You should know better, that’s a basic mistake. And bell-bottom jeans? *tuts* Honey the seventies called, they want their style back. And a hoodie in a posh place? What are we, uneducated? I think for me it’s the beanie hoodie combo. Like you are not going to pull up your hoodie when you have a beanie on. Is it that hard to find a jacket?

My eyes left the screen and I looked at my hands, trying to process what I was hearing.

Audrina: Oh by the way, this is the chick that’s been ogling me in class. Like I know I’m a ten but babe, I’m not a lesbian. Keep your eyes to yourself, these boobs are for the boys. Oh, I think she’s spotted me. She’s coming over, to be continued!

Guess I could kiss the idea of having any kind of social life with my classmates goodbye.

[changingplumbob]

He sighed and turned away from the printers a little.

Delilah: New strategy?

James: Never know. If I ignore it, maybe it will remember it’s a printer. I’m sorry, I’m normally not such a grouch

Delilah: I get it. Grades are important to you

James: I mean I kind of figured grades are important to everyone at university. I’m James

He turned to face me and his smile wavered before disappearing.

James: Oh, it’s you. Asking the professors for an extension makes sense now

Delilah: *confused* I’m sorry, I don’t follow

James: You’re one of the Delarosa’s. Probably used to having things your way, professors doing what you need in the hopes of a grant for their department. I don’t want any part of that

[changingplumbob]

CW: Bullying

They turned Ren’s laptop toward me and after walking me through how to get it to play I watched as Audrina’s face took over the screen.

Audrina: Hello my subjects! As you know Thursday is the day we leave the kitchen and experience what San Myshuno has to offer. Today I’ve made my way to the art gallery and we’re doing our next installment of Townie Fashion Faux Pas

Delilah: Why am I watching this? I thought it would at least be about baking

Dylan: Apparently she does a variety of posts to boost her social media presence

I looked back at the video and noticed that among the people in the background was a familiar pink sight, me! It must have been before I noticed she was there.

Audrina: If I see one more dude with a “fashionable” eyeball ring, I will implode. Oh, wait, I think I spot someone in the back. *laughs* What luck, someone from my class. So that missy is Delilah Delarosa. I know what you’re thinking, she didn’t appear to inherit her mother’s sense of style

Delilah: *defensively* It’s below freezing outside, I dressed for the elements... fashion isn't worth frostbite

[changingplumbob]

CW: Mentions of bullying

I sat for a while as the others tried talking to me, attempting to process what I had just seen. What the repercussions for me would be.

Dylan: Delilah? Can you speak?

Ren: It’s been a full ten minutes of silence at this point

Rina: She just needs time to process, it's an autism thing I think

Dylan: Delilah, if you don’t give me a sign you can hear me then I'll need to call mama or-

Delilah: *nodding* Can hear

Dylan sighed in relief and I looked up. Rina passed me some tissues as I realised some tears had betrayed me. I dabbed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Delilah: Maybe it’s not that bad? I mean she asked me if she could post something?

Dylan: Delilah, the woman just-

Delilah: *quietly* I know what she did. I guess I was fooled, again. Is this what the world is like? Just trash talking everyone? And posting it? I mean I know that I can’t exactly flirt properly but-

Dylan: Hey. Your difficulty with social situations doesn’t excuse her behaviour okay? I need you to understand that. Sometimes people are just... mean

Delilah: Is there a follow up post?

Ren: No, that’s the only one for tonight

[changingplumbob]

So I sat there and listened as Monroe told us about his upbringing and what had led him to trying to get a degree in culinary arts. It felt like every complaint about the struggles faced by poor people due to rich greed was directed at me. I tried to tell myself it was just my autism panicking but it didn’t help calm me down. That was the first time I cried without making any noise, I didn’t want the focus back on me. Mr Theo noticed though and tried to give me a pep talk once everyone else had left.

The next week I wasn’t the first one at the tutorial, about four students got there before me including Monroe. He sat where I had sat for that first tutorial. I may have been bad at social cues but I could pick up that that meant, don’t sit here or near me. I wished that he had changed tutorials but complaining to Mr Theo would just prove his point. So I sat... and endured... and stayed clear of him when we begun our unit on knife safety.

[changingplumbob]

When it came time for introductions Mr Theo motioned to start with me. I’d asked him to, I wanted to get it over with. I stood up and gathered my courage. Tried not to think about the fact that I was introducing myself to people I could eventually end up working with or for. Deep breaths.

Delilah: Hello everyone. If I had to think of a verb that describes me, I would have to admit it would be dramatic *awkward chuckle* I am dramatic Delilah Samara Delarosa

There was a bit of murmuring which I had expected, I mean Papa and Gran both have walk of fame stars. I guessed the general public would know the name. Still, I’d rather address it right away to let people get past it and see me for me. Unfortunately Monroe, the guy who had sat next to me, seemed to get real fidgety when I said that.

Delilah: I have three sisters, I’m the second oldest, my twin is older then me by a couple of minutes. Some would argue my parents cat is also my brother. Umm, I myself have a pet lobster, Reginald, I rescued him on a camping trip...

I was trying to keep it together and get through the thing but I had noticed Monroe sighing and covering his ears. To say it was off-putting was an understatement.

[changingplumbob]

Apollo began to unpack and I searched for something to talk about. Small talk wasn’t easy for me. Then I properly noticed his hearing aids.

Delilah: *smiles* Your hearing aids are pink!

Apollo: *grins* I mean is there any better colour?

Delilah: Not to me! I love pink, if you couldn’t tell. Two of my cousins are hard of hearing and their hearing aids are rather neutral colours

Apollo: I figure they’re like w-wearing earrings, may as... well suit the rest of my outfit

Delilah: Oh these are my favourite pair of earrings, I feel like I’m cheating on them if I put another set in. Have you always needed hearing aids or is it recent?

Apollo: Always been hard of hearing, my twin to. It’s why I have a stutter now and then. I find... W... L and... Q a bit tricky

Delilah: Don’t worry, I’m not going to challenge you to a tongue twister competition. But that’s mainly because I’m terrible at them

[changingplumbob]

I was down in the basement of the school library, I liked to study there. It was normally the quietest place, but not that day. I heard someone struggling with the printers and thought I should go see if they needed help. As I got close to them I noticed their balled fists. Dylan had taught me that normally meant the person was mad so I didn’t get too close before clearing my throat.

Delilah: Umm, do you need some help?

James: Depends, are you any good at printer exorcisms?

Delilah: Printer exorcisms?

James: Yeah. These ones have it out for me. All three of them. None of them want to work

Delilah: What are you trying to do?

James: Print my essay. The hard copy is due in half an hour and all the technology here seems to be wanting me to fail

James Cabello-Smit created by @ethicaltreatmentofcowplants