Not the same.

"Hey. Are you okay?" a kind sweet deep voice invaded my ears, making me stir back into consciousness. I shot awake only to fall back down when a sharp pain shot through my rib side. It was only Frank, the janitor. He was an old, quiet but kind hearted person. But people are usually too busy making fun of him to notice.

"What happened to you dear?" he helped me sit u. I clutched my side, hoping the pain would go away.

People make fun of him cause he has a lazy eye. But that does not defy him. He's the greatest person I've ever met. He's been more of a parent to me than my mom has ever been my whole life. At least he acts like he cares. I really like him, and I envy his kids for being blessed with such a caring father. They have a wonderful father and I hope that they appreciate him.

"Is it those nasty kids again?" he asked, concern clearly traceable in his voice, "I think you should report them. This has gone way too far,"

"No, I can't," I whispered with all my remaining strength, only enough for him to hear me.

"I can! Just tell me who they are and I'll___"

"Do nothing. "

"What?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"You don't understand Frank. If I tell on them, nobody will believe me. And it will only make things worse. I tried it once and it didn't end well for me," I whispered the last part, remembering what happened last time I tried to tell the principle what they do to me.

"Snitches get stitches" is what Casey told me that day before making a cut on my lower stomach. I literally did get stitches. I still have a scar to remind me of what Casey did to me that day. And warn me anytime I might decide to tell anyone.

"Come on, I'll drive you to the hospital," he carefully took me by my arm and with the same gentleness, swung it around his shoulder to give me support, helping me to stand up.

"It's okay Frank. I don't need a hospital. I'm just a bit bruised. I'll just head home instead,"

"A bit bruised? You can barely even walk!"

"I'm seriously okay,"

"Then at least let me take you home," he insisted and I nodded.

We left the closet and walked down the hallway. The halls were empty. School was probably over. Thank God! Cause I seriously don't think my body can take anotheer beating.

We were almost out of the exit door when we heard multiple voices laughing behind us. And of course, they all sounded too familiar to me. I t was the school football team and the cheerleaders. I even forgot that they had their first practice today. Which means Casey was there. And so was Mike, Brian, Kenzie, and every other person who torments me. Kenzie was the first to speak up.

"OMG Sarah! Now you're sleeping with the janitor as well? Now that's just low, even for a slut like yourself. I thought you had better taste. Turns out I was wrong," Kenzie's high pitched voice rang through the empty hallways, and the group laughed. Frank simply encouraged me to to ignore them and keep walking. He was obviously used to their stupid petty insults. So we kept on walking.

"That's not even funny Kenzie," Connie's voice broke the laugher, and the entire group became quiet. Connie appeared beside me, and the group stopped behind us...beside Connie.

"Sarah, are you okay?" she stopped Frank and I, "What happened to you? After the race with Jake, I looked all over for you but I couldn't find you. Where were___" she cut herself short when she eyed me from top to bottom.

"What happened?" she questioned. Frank gave her a sigh and gave me a small questioning look. I gave him a small nod and he carefully unhooked my arm from his shoulder.

"I'll be outside if you need me," and with that, he left, heading for the parking lot.

"Could you guys excuse us?" she asked her new friends, and they all left. Tessa stopping to give her a hug before leaving. It still impresses me how the school rebels are obeying everything the new girl says. I get that Connie is the mayor's daughter, but these people don't listen to anybody, not even the teachers.

But Casey did not leave with the rest. He stayed behind Connie, all the while glaring at me... warning me!

"Casey, I asked to be excused," she still kept her eyes on me.

"I don't trust Vance," he said plainly.

Don't trust me? He doesn't trust me? I'm the one who doesn't trust him! I couldn't believe him right now. He's busy talking about how much he doesn't trust me after everything he's done to me? I felt like literally skinning him alive.

"Well I do! And I want to privately talk to her. So if you would be kind enough to please leave us alone?"

"Uncle Robert is waiting for us ___"

"I know the way home Cee, and so do you! You have a car, so do I. If you can't wait at the parking lot, then we'll see each other at home!" she said not sparing him a glance.

That was the first time those two have ever had a serious misunderstanding, and it's because of me. They've fought because of me. They fought because Connie was defending me.

Wait a second, they fought because of me! This time Casey is definitely going to kill me. I'm ruining his relationship with his cousin. He would never forgive me for that.

He stared at me all the while as he was walking out of the building. And by the look he was giving me, I could tell he was not the slightest bit happy. Before he completely shut the door, he mouthed me a "you're dead" before banging the door.

"They're gone. Now please tell me what happened. You simply disappeared the entire day. And then I see you after school hours, and you look like you've been run over by a truck,"

Now this is the time I come up with a believable lie. I'm not usually good at lying, but I had to give it a try.

"I um... I f,,, fell down the um... down the stairs, yeah! I fell down the stairs," I made up the story as I moved along.

"And then what happened?" she still maintained eye contact. Casey and Connie could definitely win a stare contest with the way they keep their gaze on people.

"I uh... I went to the uh... umm... nurse, yeah! I went to the nurse," I lied again.

"So you were there the whole day?" she furrowed her eye brows.

"Yeah... d... definitely," lie number three. I was really becoming great at this.

"You have to stop lying to me Sarah, I went to the nurse three times looking for you," she crossed her arms over her chest, "Just tell me what really happened!"

She went to the nurse looking for me? Yeah that's bad cause she's discovered that I'm lying to her. But it's also a good thing, cause it means that she was worried about me! She cared!

It made me almost tell her the truth, but then a sharp pain shot through my ribs, reminding me of Casey and what he's just done to me. Reminding me of the consequences of telling the truth. So I came up with another lie.

"It's a really funny story... so there I was___"

"I want the real story Sarah," I sighed. Lying to Connie is not easy at all, especially with her not breaking eye contact. She makes it really hard to lie.

"You can trust me Sarah," she placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, "Is someone hurting you? Is that it?"

My heart skipped a beat. She already suspects it. If I tell her the truth, Casey will kill me. And the truth can ruin their relationship, and most probably, their family's name. They don't deserve it. I don't want to be the reason they dislike each other. They have a really strong bond, and I don't want to break it. So I decided to keep it to myself. I kept quiet.

"It's okay," she sighed after some time, " When you're ready to talk about it, I'll be right here. No pressure. I'll support you all the way," she gave me a hug, and it felt great. I felt loved and cared for. I even forgot for a moment there that I was injured, so I hugged her back.

"Thank you," I whispered, but I know she heard because she nodded her head.

"Come on," she broke the hug with a smile on her face, "I'll drive you home, and I won't take no for an answer,"

"But Frank already offered to take me,"

"I'm sure he'll be happy to know that someone is watching over you,"

"Okay I guess," I gave her a small smile. She took my hand and put it on her shoulder, supporting me. And then a thought suddenly crossed my mind, Casey.

"What about___"

"Casey? He knows the way home. He doesn't need me to direct him. Plus I don't need him watching over me," and with that, we headed to the parking lot.

_______________

"Give me your phone," Connie switched off the engine once she parked outside my house. I handed her my phone.

"Whenever you need anything, anything at all," she typed away on my phone, "A friend, a ride, a bodyguard, love advice, a shoulder to lean on, literally anything, I'm right here for you. Just call me anytime. And I mean anytime! And I'll be right there for you always. Even if I'm halfway across the world, and it's midnight, I'll still come," she gave my phone back.

She unlocked the door for me, getting out to open it for me. As I was walking towards the door, she called out to me and said,

"You not only have a friend in me Sarah, but also an ally. And I won't let anyone hurt you,"