Chapter 106: Fall of Blood

Why did I bother going to school that Monday morning? Call it habit, sucker for punishment, whatever you want, but up I was, showered even, and off I went.

Yeah, probably one of the dumbest moves I've ever made. Ever.

No one waited for me in the nook by the front door. Big surprise. And not a soul stood by my locker to say they were sorry, either. Still not a shocker. What was the worst? How they hovered in their new favorite spot, my former friends, Benjamin lording over them with that sickening smile of his.

I had to walk past them to go to Chemistry. Someone snickered. My memories of bullying at pretty much every school I'd ever attended came rushing back and, like the coward I hadn't been in a long time, I ran.

Slumped in my seat, I struggled with tears. I'd only imagined that snicker. I was sure of it. They knew how much it hurt, would never, ever bully me. They just wouldn't.

Right. Like I knew them at all anymore.