I live in fear that the creep who approached me about my 'braids' might find me.

This happened when I (13f) was in my first year of high school. The creep in question was a middle aged man with a scruffy beard and a greasy smile. The school I go to has a lot of unaffiliated classrooms, and as a result has a lot of teachers and some classes that are in one part of the school. I was sitting with my friend in the canteen when I had to go to my German lesson. My friend (let's call her Laura) went to her geography lesson which was in the same area as my German lesson. As I was rushing out to my lesson, I heard a voice. "You know, your braids look really nice. I like that style." I spun around and saw the creep. He was a bit taller than my dad, balding, and was wearing a white shirt with khaki pants and loafers. He was a very stereotypical middle aged man, and that's what made him stand out so much. He was also standing in the middle of the corridor, surrounded by other people who were going to their lessons, and he stood out. I was annoyed that he had commented on my braids. I didn't realise at the time that it wasn't a normal thing to do. I replied. "Thank you." He replied, "I know a lot about hair. I have a sister who's a hairdresser and she says that only a few people can pull it off. I think it suits you. But I'd like to show you a more... effective way." I said, "No." He said, "What?" "I said no. Leave me alone." He said, "I was just trying to be nice." I replied, "I don't want you to." As I was arguing with him, a teacher was walking by. The teacher stopped and said, "You shouldn't be speaking to this student, it's not appropriate." The creep replied, "It's okay. She was asking for my advice." The teacher replied, "I don't care what she was asking for. You should not be talking to her about hair, that's not appropriate." The creep replied, "It's okay, I'm married. It's just advice." The teacher replied, "You should not be talking to this student at all." The creep replied, "But I know her from before." The teacher replied, "I don't know you from before, but I know that you shouldn't be talking to this student. Just leave her alone." The creep replied, "You can't stop me. I'm married." The teacher replied, "I'm not trying to. But you're making me uncomfortable and that's not allowed. Please just leave me alone." The creep replied, "I was just trying to be nice." The teacher replied, "I don't care what you were trying to be. Just leave me alone." The teacher walked past the creep and into the classroom down the hall. The creep looked at the teacher and said, "That's weird. I've never heard of a man getting in trouble for complimenting a woman before." The teacher looked back at him and said, "I'm not in trouble. You're making me uncomfortable. That's not allowed. I can tell that you're a weirdo." The teacher walked into his classroom and the creep watched him go. Then he looked back at me and said, "Well, I'm sorry you can't accept a compliment. You should be proud of your braids. They're nice." And with that, he turned around and walked away. I went to my lesson. I had to sit in class for the next hour with that creep's words in my head. I felt weird and sick and scared. I felt like I was going to be sick and that he was going to come and hurt me. I didn't realise at the time that the teacher knew him and that's why he was getting into trouble. I didn't realise at the time that the creep had been making other female teachers uncomfortable and the teacher had been doing his best to keep him away from them. I didn't realise at the time that the creep was married and that I shouldn't have felt weird or scared. When the lesson was over, I went to talk to the teacher. I told him that I was scared and that the creep had made me feel weird. He looked at me and said, "You should be proud of your braids. You have a nice face and nice hair. I can tell you that you are a lovely young woman and you deserve to feel confident." I was a shy teenager who didn't know how to deal with compliments, let alone creepy compliments. I didn't know how to react to the teacher's words. The teacher looked at me and said, "You know what? I'm going to call your parents and I'm going to let them know what's going on." I felt embarrassed and ashamed. I didn't want to be a troublemaker. I didn't want my parents to be contacted. I said, "Don't tell my parents. Please." The teacher said, "I'm sorry. I have to tell your parents. You have to be safe. I'm going to try to keep you safe, but I have to tell them anyway. I'm going to do my best to make sure that he doesn't bother you again. I promise." I said, "Thank you. I know you'll try. I just don't want my parents to know." The teacher replied, "I understand. I'm going to try to make sure that he doesn't bother you again. But I'm going to have to tell your parents. I'm sorry. I'm going to do my best to make sure that he doesn't bother you again." I said, "Thank you. I appreciate it." The teacher said, "I know you do. I'm sorry I couldn't do more." I said, "I know you are. I appreciate it anyway." I went back to my lesson. I had to sit in class with the creep's words in my head. I felt weird and sick and scared. I didn't realise at the time that the teacher was doing his best to keep me safe. When the lesson was over, I went to my next lesson. I didn't see the creep again that day. I didn't see him again for the rest of the year. But I lived in fear for the rest of the year. I was constantly looking over my shoulder, worried that he was going to come and hurt me. I was constantly worried that he was going to find me. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to deal with the creep or the teacher. I didn't know what to do. I just lived in fear. And now I live in fear that the creep might find me.

I live in fear that the creep who approached me about my 'braids' might find me.

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