My Bully’s Harem (Part 1)

I hate school. I mean, I really hate school. It’s not the classes. I like learning, I don’t mind doing homework, and I never get into any trouble. It’s not even the teachers, though, if they do talk to me, it is usually about my genius older sister. Annoying, but nothing I’m not used to. What makes me dread going to school, what keeps me up at night desperately trying to think of a way to avoid going, is just one other student. Mark.

He isn’t your typical thug football player bully. He is a science geek. He wasn’t even that popular. He doesn’t have a gang of followers to help beat me up. He doesn’t need them. He doesn’t take my lunch money, push me around or make me do his schoolwork.

It is much worse than that.

I should explain how it all started.

A few weeks ago, I passed the girls’ gymnasium and could see they were all facing away from the window, jumping rope. In my defence, I have never had much success with girls. I’m short, scrawny and not the outgoing type. I guess I did linger by the window, watching as the roomful of girls who would never look twice at me jumped up and down. I’m not proud of it. I’m not a freak or anything. It was just a moment of weakness. I must have stood still for just a few seconds before I heard the snapping sound of a phone camera. Turning around, it was Mark. ‘Ben isn’t it?’ He said. ‘We are in the same Maths class. Didn’t take you for a pervert.’

‘I’m not! I was just-’

‘Oogling the girls like a perv?’

‘No!’

‘That’s not what this picture will make people think, ’ Mark kept his distance but showed me his phone screen. It didn’t look good.

That’s how the blackmail started. Just a few seconds, and having the bad luck of Mark being behind me.



But things had been escalating lately, and there was nothing I could do. Mark could ruin my life. If he showed those pictures to anyone, I would be kicked out of school.

Mark strolled up to the lockers and leaned on them. He was taller than me, with a swimmer’s physique and dark, scruffy hair.

‘Hey, Ben, how’s it going?’ he said.

‘Oh, hey,’ my voice was sullen. I knew Mark’s polite, sunny demeanour was all part of his act. Mark was smart. Like really smart. To anyone watching, Mark wanted our conversations to appear as if it was just two friends talking.

‘I take it you did what I told you?’ He asked with a confident smirk. It was a pointless question. Mark knew there was no chance I would chicken out. I nodded, not trusting my voice. ‘Good, so hand them over.’

‘What here?’

‘Yes, here, just be quick.’

I slid my bag off my back and opened it, looking around just in case anyone was watching. Lessons were about to start, so the corridor was mostly empty; the few people left were preoccupied with getting to their classrooms on time. As quick as I could, I shoved a hand into my bag until I felt lace.