Harassment and Being Blamed (long)

At the begging of last week, a guy (names are kept private, I will refer to him as J) asked me to the Homecoming dance. I had known him for years, and he hadn't changed much since we met: immature, gets in trouble and kinda annoying. We were never friends, so I turned him down. I wasn't screaming at him or threatening him, just a no. That's when the harassment started. Every day, asking me out, to be his girlfriend, to go with himhim, calling my baby. We share a class, so it was unavoidable. I didn't think much of it, but then I started to feel uncomfortable and it escalated. He told his friends that I would be his girlfriend and they shouted at me while I went to wait for my bus after school. I knew one of them too.

I got scared, angry. And I eventually got into an argument over it with the one I knew, a girl in a class of mine. (I'll call her B)
She defended him. "He can do what he wants." "That's not harassment." I got close, put my finger in her face. She got angry at the fact I was fighting, confronted her. She tried to end it by saying I'm not in the mood for this.

If it weren't for the coach intervening, it probably would have escalated with me swinging at her. I'm not a physical fighter. I don't like to use physical means to solve problems, even though I have a temper. But she's not in the mood for this. What does her mood hate to deal with my harassment? If she's annoyed, how bad did she think I feel?

B tried to deny anything was happening when out coach asked us if there was something wrong, but I told her. She emailed the teacher in the shared a class with J. It should have ended, and the teacher should have reported it to someone higher up.

She didn't, and it continued, the yelling at me from across the field, the attempts to start a conversation by J. I got the sense he was following me. I got anxiety about going outside after school or walking in the hall.

At one point, I told my mom, and she told me to go to the councilors. I reported it yesterday.
During our shared class, B started to bring up the fact I had gotten in her face, asking her friend so you like hands in your face. I said, "Very subtle." Again, we argued. She blamed me. Several girls did. And one thought it was funny.
That's not harassment.
I told her he's in trouble. I reported it.
You got an innocent person in trouble.
I told her I'm the one who's innocent.

One girl was laughing really loudly. She thought it was funny. I felt betrayed. These are supposed to be people I could trust. She was in the LGBTQIA+ community! And a girl! How could she find it funny?
I texted my mom. I wanted to go home. But I never did, told her not to pick me up.
J harassed me in class.

After school, I stayed by one of the teachers outside, but when my bus arrived, he came up to me. I yelled at him, dropping the word f**k.
Why are you being such a b**ch? B asked me.
I yelled at her, got in her face, then pushed past her (she was blocking the sidewalk)

She pushed me, at my neck, then threatened to beat me. I knew she would. There were around six of them, only one of me. I am so afraid, I'm staying home today, missing school. They could easily jump me in the hallway or after school. My mom's worried about me going to Homecoming. I can't blame her.

I need to know what to do. I don't want to encounter them. I can't take legal action, can I? The school can't stop him from approaching me in the hallway or in the cafeteria. I can't switch classes around: I'd ruin my schedule. It's only a matter of time before it causes a breakdown. I'm afraid I'll end up in a depressive state from my Bipolar Disorder.

School is supposed to be safe, right? Teachers are supposed to be protecting us! So why am I not being protected? Why am I being painted to be the bad guy by my own peers? How much bullying will I encounter by my own classmates, the people who should understand me? I need help protecting myself, before I end up seriously hurt physically or mentally.

Does anyone know how? Does anyone else have experiences?

 

The school can't be held responsible because I only officially reported it on Friday. But I told teachers. It's not fair but as far as the scool's concerned, they can't be held responsible. I'm only worried about retaliation of the students. I know how kids work. It's unfair but that's just the way it is.

 

Thanks for supporting me! This website gives me hope. After more of the shouting at the dance and some rude comments, it got worse again Thursday and Friday. He wolfwhistled and then told me to drop my shorts while his friend laughed. I told my teacher he was bothering me but not specifics and she said she'd write him up (give him In School Suspension/ISS) My mom was done with this and came to school to talk about it while I reported it again. I got sick on Friday so I stayed home today and yesterday but I'm hoping when I get back, it'll finally be over.

The funny thing is that I remember a time when I was not afraid of this kid. He was annoying and immature but not a threat. He used to be a class clown of sorts. The world scares me, how twisted it gets when you're older. (We're High School kids, back when we met we were probably in fifth grade). It's strange how I was finally feeling happy and safe then something came hitting me in the face.