Terrible Version of Hide & Seek

*Aella* 

I heard someone quickly walking behind me. Turning around I saw at least five jocks walking up to me. I knew one of them as Ryan the school's athlete and most popular boy, and not surprisingly he just happened to be dating Olivia. He had light blonde hair that almost looked white and sage green eyes he was at least 6'3 towering over my 4'9. 

'This is when my shortness does not help me' 

I knew if I tried going up against him I would end up in the hospital or dead. 

'Shit...'  

I hated to admit it but I needed to run and hide. taking my ear buds out I glanced up at the clock, 15 minutes until the bell rang. 

'I can do that' 

"Hey bitch!" I heard Ryan yell at me. I took off not looking back. I could hear them running after me as turned into the next hallway. I looked around trying to find a place to hide but there were only lockers; I spotted a set of stairs that would take me to the next floor. I pushed myself running as fast as I could, because my life depended on it. 

'I really regret not eating anything today' 

when I grabbed the railing I glanced behind me, 

'How are they more than half way down the hallway already!?!?' 

I ran up the stairs skipping every other stair until I felt something grab my ankle forcing to drop on a knee. Turning around I saw one of his friends had grabbed my ankle and was now yelling, 

"I got her Ryan" Panic overwhelmed me as he started dragging me down the metal stairs. I kicked at him trying make him loosen his grip but his hand was locked tightly around my ankle. He pulled me forward trying to make me stop my fight against him. I felt the back of my head hit a stair as he did so. I ignored the pain shooting through my skull and rammed my leg into the back of knee as hard I could; he fell on his ass making him loosen his grip on my ankle. It wasn't a lot but enough. I wasted no time in kicking the back of his head forcing him forward as he rolled down the stairs. 

I didn't want to stick around to see what happened so using the railing to push myself I climb the rest of the stairs. my head was throbbing and black dots started clouding my vision. My ankle was now twisted badly slowing me down as I looked for a place to hide. The bathroom would be too obvious of a place and I don't have the impression they care about privacy. Gratefully my locker was only down the next hall. 

'I'll figure out how I get out later or I'll just starve to death' 

When I reached my locker I frantically unlocked it hearing Ryan and his gang running. I got in and quietly closed the door. The lockers here were thin but tall and since I didn't have keep anything in it I had enough room to fit in. I held my breath as I watched them pass me through the slots at the top of the locker. I heard someone yell toward them and they turned around. I couldn't see who it was until they finally reached my small line of sight. 

'Axel? What the hell is he doing here' 

Ryan was thinking the same thing, 

"What the fuck do you want?" I noticed four other boys standing around Axel I recognized them from the lunch room, and only knew them as part of the Red Spades. Axel replied coldly, 

"What is the popular boy doing running around the halls?" 

As they stood in front of each other; I noticed Axel was slightly taller than Ryan and was more attractive. I could feel the tension growing between the two, 

"Looking for that bitch who hurt Olivia" 

"The chick giving a speech about a party?" I could see Axel was stalling but I didn't know why he always seemed straight forward. 

'Wait, does he think I'm still running so he's giving me more time?' 

I shook my head. No that couldn't be the reason. Ryan nodded, 

"Yeah, she's my girlfriend" 

Axel raised an arched eyebrow, 

"Dude how desperate are you?"

"What?" 

"You have to be desperate if you're dating that slut" Ryan grabbed Axel by the collar of his shirt, 

"What did you say" Axel was getting intimidating now as his tone grew lower and threatening, 

"I don't fucking repeat myself, I know you heard me. Now I'm giving you a chance you can leave now and keep away from Aella or I beat the shit out of you right here." 

I felt my heart skip a beat at his words. Maybe it was because he pronounced my name correctly on the first try, or he was defending me. I liked the way my name rolled off his lips so smoothly as if we have known each other for years. My head was spinning faster now and the walls were getting smaller around me. I breathed in slowly trying to calm down. 

'Alright the locker was a bad hiding spot for someone with claustrophobia' 

Ryan's friends backed away obviously afraid of fighting them but Ryan kept them from running,

"You think you can take us on? It's five against four" I watched as Axel smirked, 

"I've always loved the odds" with one swift move Axel had Ryan on the ground hovering over him as he pounded his fist into his face. The others had started fighting as well but my eyes were trained on Axel and Ryan. Ryan punched Axel causing him to fall backward off of him. Ryan pulled Axel up thrusting him into the closest locker which inconveniently was mine. I let out a whimper before I could cover my mouth as the sound of impact pounded in my ears.I felt a warm tear slip down my cheek before I could stop it.  Ryan's voice made me shiver, 

"well look at that, the killer's daughter has been here all along" Panic struck me again this time with more force. Axel pushed off the locker kneeing Ryan in the stomach causing him to cry out in pain as he wrapped his arms around himself falling to his knees, 

"Fucking touch her and I will kill you" I didn't know how to feel about Axel's words. I felt my heart skip another beat but a shudder went down my back at the same time. "Aella" I  found the courage to speak, 

"Y-Yeah?" I hated how weak and scared I sounded. He didn't turn to look as he kept his eyes on Ryan, 

"Are you okay?" Once again the bad boy of River High school surprised me. Never in a million years would I think Axel would ask me if I was okay. I was stunned into silence, "Are you going to say something Ginger" I broke out of my trance at the name he called, 

"W-What? Yeah I'm alright. And don't call me Ginger!" my fear was replaced with annoyance at the nickname. I heard him chuckle a little. Ryan got back up, 

"You son of a bitch!" he lunged forward but he was too slow. Axel moved to the side and grabbed Ryan by the back of his neck and slamming his face into the locker beside the one I was in, 

'At least it wasn't my locker this time' 

He cried out in pain as he sat up his whole nose was smashed into his face and he was bleeding out. he held his hand over his face as his friends who also got the shit beaten out of them by the others grabbed him and led him away. There was silence between all of us until one guy high five the one next to him . Axel walked up to my locker, 

"I assume you can't get out" I sighed in annoyance at my stupidity, 

"I was in a hurry and decided I would figure out my escape plan later" He chuckled again before replying, 

"What's your combination?" 

"24-35-10" He put it in and opened the door. Rushing out I breathed in deeply loving the fresh air. 

"You have a problem with closed spaces?" I looked over at Axel and nodded, 

"Yeah thanks" he shrugged, 

"Whatever, anyway you now owe me" I sighed knowing that was coming, but I didn't care. I was free and alive.

"I figured. What do you want me to do?" he smirked, 

"I'll let you know Ginger" I groaned at the name only making his smirk widen. I was entertainment to him and I hated it. One of the boys put an arm around my shoulder suddenly, 

"What's up! Thanks for giving us something to do. The name is Austin and I gathered you are Aella" I smiled, 

"yep, and no problem but I'm sure if you wanted a fight you could've started one without my help" he laughed, 

"Yeah that's true" they all introduced themselves to me and I could tell they were all very close. No one else would have the guts to nudge Axel in the ribs. I envied them, they all had each other. As if on cue the bell rang and people started filling the halls. 

"Oh yeah here!" Austin called as he tossed me my bag. I looked down at it, 

'I must have dropped it on my escape run'

 I looked back up at them and smiled, 

"Thanks!" Austin winked before I made my way to my last class for the day ignoring the looks and whispers of people around me. My only goal was to leave school before I was called to the principals, there was no way in hell I would be able to handle that well today. 

All through class my thoughts drifted to Axel. He was willing to break a guys nose to help me out. No one had ever done that for me which was probably the reason I was making a big deal out of nothing. After class I decided to leave through the back of the school, because it was quicker and I could avoid everyone. As I opened the back door and stepped out I heard the crack of something breaking making me turn my head to a horrifying sight...