Reviewer: SpookyTaco Signed
Date: May 08 2017
Title: Chapter 30: Agitation
He's got a bad case of PTSD. If he's not going to go to the authorities or faculty, he should just man up and go sit with Cait at lunch. I'm sure that would surprise her. Better to face her head on in a public location than in a dark alley. Plus it would show he's mastering his fear, something which often makes bullies back off. Cait derserves to be locked up in juvey, but she wouldn't go so far as to actually kill him. I.e., she's not insane and pure evil, just spoiled and cruel, so he should face her.
Author's Response: I like the thinking behind this, but I can categorically tell you that, in a school where Betas are bullied on a semi-regular basis, confronting Caitlin will basically just result in her casually picking him up and carrying him somewhere private as he squeaks away - no-one will bat an eyelid. The odds of him somehow landing a PR victory against the #1 predator within school are roughly zero; she's greatly feared, popular, and holds great sway over most people, even teachers. Even if she's spotted by a teacher who acts on it, as long as she puts him down, no-one's really going to give a shit, as I say, the Betas get hung onto coathooks and bullied on occasion and it's just considered a thing (think of it like some of the horrid racist/sexist attitudes that used to/still pervade society, but in this NWO add sizeist).
The teachers would perhaps show a modicum of care for Jack, but they're not really bothered, they don't think Betas should even be at the school. I guess you could have him confide in the school's support network and start to build a case from there, but as a story that's just gonna end up tedious, I really need to keep the action away from a criminal investigation, so I'm trying to provide semi-plausible doubt of official channels to keep the narrative focused. It's basically playing out like a kids movie - don't trust the adults, beat the bullies yourself!
As for Caitlin, it remains to be seen how complex or evil she truly is.