The Popular Girls

Things Are Not Always What They Seem

I am often asked the question "who gets targeted by bullying?" The age-old stereotype of bullying only happening to "the shy kid who wears glasses" has been shattered as we know that it can happen to anyone. And sometimes it happens to those that you least expect. The following story was sent by a young girl - and poignantly details that "being popular" doesn't give you the exemption ticket.

Some people may be jealous of the 'popular' girls. The IT people. I am one of the 5 most popular girls in the school and I'm telling you there is nothing to be jealous about. We're not true friends. The girls gossip and talk behind other's backs and there are sides to every little story. One day this girl hates you, the other day she thinks you're her best friend. That happens, and when it does, it hurts.

The most popular girl - the Queen Bee, some call it - leads people to believe in what she believes herself. She is popular because she built a reputation, but I know that nobody truly likes her. I am a very close friend to the Queen Bee's best friend (who doesn't think of the Queen Bee as her best friend, just lets her think so as to not hurt her and suffer the pain she and I suffer everyday) and I think she's jealous sometimes of our relationship. She would ask the other girls to go on a 'hate fest' against me and would ignore me for 3 days or so.

I've gotten used to it. Every week or two something like that happens. Sometimes I wonder why that never happens to her. Why when our group splits up temporarily she's never alone. The 'best friend' and I, we talk to each other. About how we feel about situations. But no, we never gossip. I know how it feels, I know how it feels to have your stomach empty and not dare to go to the cafeteria. I know how it feels to have to fight back tears. I would not wish it on anyone.

Nobody deserves it.

- A girl who is just trying to get through middle school