3

BAILEY

“Did papa hit you again?”

“No squirt. I tripped and fell yesterday on my way back from work.”

I say,ruffling my baby sister's hair 

“Hey! You're messing my hair up. I spent 30 minutes fixing it this morning. Today is my first day in 3rd grade. I have to look perfect.”

I chuckle and put my hand around her shoulder as she fixes her hair.

School has begun and because of my scholarship to crescent high,I cannot take her to school again,seeing as we're at opposite sides of town. 

So I leave her with grandma

“Have a nice day at school, squirt.”

“You too,Bailey bear. Don't get into trouble okay?”

My heart swells at her concern for me.

“I won't. Grandma,are you sure this is fine? I can take her, you know?”

“Are you calling me incompetent? Shoo shoo,get out of my house.”

She chases me out with the help of Nyxie,both of them giggling uncontrollably. 

It's moments like this that I live for.

____

Crescent High is on the other side of town. The rich side.

We're divided by the river I was nearly killed in and the bridge or a boat is how you cross over

After what happened to me at the end of junior year,the last thing I needed was to go back to my former school. And so the scholarship is quite literally my saving grace.

Even though the bullies and my killer are all around me still. I can dodge them for the most part.

And hopefully,this fresh start at crescent high would be everything I need.

If only wishes were horses,they said.

I haven't been in Crescent High for more than five minutes but I'm already the topic of discussion. And not the flattering kind. 

They are picking me apart and they're doing it as if I am not present and can't hear them. Just like I'm used to.

Wallflower? Try nonexistent 

“The school obviously gave him the uniform but couldn't he at least try to get the prescribed shoes?”

“Don't be insensitive. Those shoes look like he's worn them all his life. He probably couldn't afford new ones. Let alone the prescribed ones.”

“Poor thing. Bastion will be so pissed when he finds out that his sister didn't make it because of him. He doesn't even know how much trouble he's in.”

Another comes to stand beside me at my locker and rolls her eyes at them.

“You guys should really learn some manners. If you're gonna gossip about someone,atbleast do it behind their back.”

They huff in annoyance but stomp away anyways.

“I'm sorry about. My name is Hayley,I'm the head girl of crescent high.”

She extends her hand and I stare at it dumbly

“This is the part where you take my hand and shake it.”

“Oh.” I respond,flushing red but shaking her hand this time

“Bailey Sawyer?”

“Uhm yes. That's me.”

“Welcome to Crescent High. I'm going to be your escort for the day. I'm supposed to show you around and take you to the principal's office. Also,you can ask me any question and I'll answer if I can.”

Psst You actually thought she wanted to be friends,she's doing her job.

“Oh right. Okay.”

“Hey! Don't sound so disappointed. You can choose if you want to be my friend when the day ends.” She says,a playful grin on her face

It sets me at ease and I smile at her

“You don't talk much huh? Don't worry,I'll talk for both of us.”

She leads me out of the hallway and out of the building into another one,showing me around as we go.

Until we arrive at the principal’s office.

“My sister deserves to be here more than whoever he is. You must admit her into the school.”

“I understand that you're upset that your sister can not be here with you. She is welcome to join us next year for her sophomore year. But there is nothing I can do now.”

The door closes,shutting the voice out as the secretary walks out of the office with a grimace on her face. But I've already heard enough.

That's definitely the Bastian guy the girls were talking about. 

“You must be Bailey Sawyer.”

The secretary says,staring at my shoes.

“Yes.”

“The principal will see you soon,you can sit over there.”

She points at the couch opposite her desk,completely ignoring Hayley.

We both sit and wait in awkward silence.

I'm obviously not wanted here. And even though I've never really been wanted anywhere all my life,this one worries me because it was supposed to be better. This was supposed to be a fresh start.

It's a start alright,just not a fresh one. More like dried and crunchy. They're no different from my dad who hits me or my neighbours who ignore me or my schoolmates who bully me.

They'll probably be worse because they're entitled and spoiled.

The door finally opens,and when the guy looks at me,all air is whooshed from my lungs.

Its the guy from that night. The guy who saved my life.

The guy whose clothes I sleep in every night since the drowning incident.

If I didn't see his face,I would have recognised his smell immediately. After all,I inhaled it until his clothes didn't smell like it anymore. 

My hero.

But after the surprise and recognition leaves his eyes,he scowls and narrows his eyes. The hatred is prominent and obvious. 

I am the guy who took his sister's spot after all. He hated me before he knew who I was and he probably hates me more now that he knows who I am.

I mean,I am the guy whose life he saved and I'm the guy who didn't thank him enough that night. 

Fuck me.