~°~Chapter Four~°~

I walk in quietly, hurrying to my chair by the window, it's just a couple steps but I manage to trip on a nonexistent obstacle and bump into desks and chair.

By the time I collapse in my seat, tears are in my eyes again.

I'm usually left alone and I finally calm down when I get to stare out the window at a huge apple tree that is my companion during classes, that's why I named my pet Apple.

I relax and let the bustling of the class roll over me, I'm content with people watching, at least teachers are used to me and never call me up for anything.

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The bell for lunch rings and I remain in my seat waiting for the class to clear out before I move, it quickly does and I get up and out.

I have to put my things in my locker before I go to the cafeteria, Virgil and Shana should be already waiting for me.

I get to my locker without event, needing to go to the restroom, I stop thinking about my anxiety, lost in thoughts as I push open the bathroom door.

I'm done and washing my hands at the sink, the bathrooms are mercifully empty and I take my first deep breath since I got to school.

I wash my hands and have a mini internal debate if I want to rinse off my face or not. It'll only get my hair and sleeves wet but it'll also lessen the puffiness of my saucer like eyes...

"Well look who we've got here."

A slimy voice interrupts my heated argument with myself and my heart stops, my eyes widening as I see Tyrone lean against a wall his over eager cronies smirking from behind him.

I'm frozen like prey, my wet hands shaking so hard I can barely switch the tap off, I watch hypnotized as he takes unrealistic large steps towards me.

I'm grabbed and slammed against a wall, still shorter than a fuming Tyrone with a tilted nose even though my shoes are dangling inches in the air.

He glares down at me, his dark eyes full of hatred. "You think you can get away with that huh Curls? Getting your boyfriend to break my nose and put Brian in a fucking hospital?" He demands and I can't raise my head, fear paralysing me.

I had no idea anyone was that badly hurt enough to be put in a hospital but I can't say this because my voice box is cowering somewhere in my stomach behind a swarm of butterflies.

I want to tell them that it's probably not in their best interests to hurt me again, considering that the last time one of them was hospitalized.

"That pink haired bitch broke my arm." Brian speaks up, face cruel.

Internally, I feel my jaw drop. Fragile Shana broke someone's arm! Crap! These guys are really going hurt me, I think desperately, tears gathering in my eyes.

"I-I'm s-so-sorry." I gasp out, already hyperventilating. "I-I did-didn't tell an-anyo-anyone, I-I p-promise."

"Of course you didn't." Tyrone pats my cheek sympathetically with the other hand not holding me up by the the neck of my sweatshirt.

An unhealthy pause --- then he whips me by the side of my face with his open palm, so hard that I hear buzzing in my ears and blood pools in my mouth from an accidental cut.

"Then how the fuck did he find out?" He demands, striking me on the other side.

I'm too stunned to do anything more than breath and blink through the tears streaming down my burning face.

"Did any of you guys tell?" He asks the people around him mockingly, like some sort of judge and jury.

The four of them denies, waiting patiently for the go ahead to bruise and break me.

I'm slammed hard against the wall again, my head knocking painfully against the tile and he let's go of me.

I fall to the ground, a tiny part of me hoping that they found me too pathetic and  decided to leave me alone.

I hoped too hard because a vicious kick is directed against my side as I crouched on the ground clutching my face. I bite down a scream, whimpering as my vision goes momentarily dark from the pain.

He grabs me again by my hair and holds me up, a hand wrapped around my neck, the pain is excruciating and I'm begging and crying for mercy. Doesn't faze him though but he drops me for his gang to get their turn, as they corner me with sadistic smiles, I wonder how I'm going to live through it and manage to hide my bruises from my mom and friends.

The first rounds of kicks has started when the door swings open, they pause momentarily to look at the intruder, I look up as well and see an unfamiliar face, hazy through my tears so I can barely make out his features.

I try as hard as possible to communicate with my eyes that he should get out before they turn on him as well.

"Just ignore and do whatever you want to do." Tyrone threatens gruffly.

The person that opened the doors walks closer. "Why should I listen to you?" He asks coldly.

Tyrone meets him halfway, getting all up in his face, his huge 6 feet form glaring at the newcomer who's roughly his height but much slimmer than the buff bully.

"Lemme give you some advice newbie, clearly you don't know who I am so I'll let this slide. Fuck. Off." He bites out, poking the newcomer in the chest. He snaps a finger and the kicking continues.

My entire body feels like it's on fire and I hope one of the new kids that found themselves in a wrong place at a wrong time doesn't get hurt because of me.

"What kind of school is this? That bullies drag a girl into the boys restroom and beat her up!" New kid says darkly, poking Tyrone in the chest.

Whelp! He has a death sentence and did he--- did he just call me a girl?!?!