Chapter 2

School wasn’t my favourite place, but at least I was out of Florence and Winston’s way.

I managed to make it on time today, thankfully. It makes it easier to be stealthy when the halls aren’t as crowded. I made it to my locker and then to class without incident or running into anyone I didn’t want to.

It seems being the poor unloved orphan didn’t make me one of the popular kids, but it did put a target on my back for them. It came with a load of attention I didn’t want, nor did I have any choice over getting.

Getting into the first period I rushed to the back and got my seat in the corner. Math. I like Math. Numbers aren’t mean and can’t lie. They are simple and factual.

The next few classes flew by quickly and next thing I knew it was lunch time.

Slumping into the queue, I quickly picked out a sandwich and left to go eat outside.

I always enjoyed the outdoors. Growing up I rarely had access to outdoor activities so every time I got the chance to be outside, I would take it.

I was so busy being in a daze, admiring the lucky emerald colour of the leaves, that I didn’t notice the group walk up to me until it was too late.

“All by yourself again? What a shame.” Came a sickly-sweet voice that dripped with poison.

I snapped my head round just in time to see the plate of spaghetti fly towards me but unfortunately, I wasn’t fast enough to move, just fast enough to reach up and protect my face.

The sound of laughter erupted from the group of 5 kids in front of me and I knew for a fact the culprit of my current situation was none other than Sarah, the school queen and bitch.

5ft7 and a body every girl dreamed of having and every guy dreamed of being with. She stood with her perfectly bronzed skin glowing in the sunlight, her blonde highlighted hair that reached the lower of her back was blowing in the light breeze.

“Oops. I’m so sorry. My hand just slipped” she said between wheezy laughs as I stood and to walk away.

Suddenly, I was yanked back by a pair of big strong hands, gripping me so tight that I knew I’d have finger marks on my arm.

“She said she was sorry. Don’t be so fucking rude and tell her you accept her apology” Ryland spat in my face. Of course, the queen's king wasn’t too far behind her.

Ryland was a typical jock, cocoa brown permed hair sat like a mop on the top of his head and his jacket was noticeably tight around his big football player arms.

I looked at him, anger flashing across my face. “Oh, I think she is looking to fight babe. Look at the look on her face” he said, and I pulled my arm from his grasp.

“I’d like to go and get cleaned up please.” I managed to whisper out, as I calmed myself and changed my expression to one of passive. “That’s all. No fight. I’m sure it was all just an accident”. I turned and walked off with them still laughing to each other.

Stopping at my locker I grabbed the bag out that I kept in the back. It wasn’t uncommon that I would have something ‘accidentally’ spilled over me, so I always kept a spare set of clothes here.

I made my way to the bathroom and cleaned as much sauce off my hair and body as I could.

Standing in the cubicle, I started undressing to get out of the food-stained clothes, when the sound of the door caught my attention.

I stopped and waited for a moment and then continued when I didn’t hear anything.

I was already standing in nothing but my underwear before I heard the cubicle door next to me open. Stopping again, I stood there for a moment.

Is someone just hiding out here?

My question was answered when I looked up to see a bucket and felt the cold water hitting my bare skin and with a scream I ducked down.

Water went everywhere, everything including my clean clothes were soaked and I heard the same laughing again.

I opened the door and jumped out to see 3 girls that were outside with Sarah.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I managed to spit out. Shivering and holding back tears that wanted to fall free.

“What is wrong with us?” Came one of the girls’ voices.

“That isn’t how to speak to the people who are making you famous”. Giggled one of the others.

My eyes went to where they were looking and I quickly noticed Sarah. How did I not see her before?

My heart dropped when I realised she was being far too quiet, then it shattered completely as I noticed the phone in her hand.

She gave me a malicious grin, one filled with hate and wickedness. “Smile slut. Show them goods off for the world” she said slowly, each word burning into my soul.

Throwing my arms over my body I ran back into the cubical, trying to ignore the sound of the screeching laughter outside the door.

I grabbed the bag of wet clothes and put them on as quickly as I could, throwing open the door and running out past the girls who were still pointing the camera in my face.

I ran past the classrooms to the front doors of the school and I didn't stop running until I was back home, fighting tears the whole way.