Burned Ones

Chapter 06

Annabeth.
Fourteen years old.

I walked out of the doors of my high school and tried to ignore the hand that kept tapping my arm.

Three guys from my school flanked me, one of which insisted on touching me every two seconds to try to get my attention. They were all Dacostas because that was the bad part about living in Melkin. While some parents had their kids attend schools elsewhere, not all did and instead just sent them to Melkin High. Our parents may have drawn divides in the city but we were all clumped together here. Not many Dacostas actually attended here but even one was more than enough.

"I'm talking to you," the one poking me said and tugged on my ponytail instead. "What are you all dressed up for?"

"Yeah," his friend agreed. "If you wanted my attention, all you had to do was ask but I don't mind the view."

I slapped away the hand that was locked around my hair. This had started ever since I started at this school. My dad said it was who I was and that guys were going to do that, like Axe had. He said it was because I was me and they were Dacostas and it would make them look even better if they did something to me. He told me not to let them and that was that. It didn't make sense to me since he'd gotten so mad at Axe about it but sometimes, I think my dad didn't really hear me. He was always busy with things my uncle needed him to do and so it made since. He had a bunch of other people to worry about. I needed to be able to handle myself.

A hand touched my neck. I stopped walking and turned toward the person, leveling them with my best glare.

The guy who had tried to touch my neck paused, taking a step back out of my space but the other two didn't care. The one who had grabbed my hair just grinned and kissed the air, taunting me. My stomach rolled with the memory of him finding me the other day and kissing me before I managed to break away.

I looked toward the line of cars picking up students, not seeing the one I was expecting.

A loud whistle cut through the air that had all four of us turning our heads. Tom was in his last year of school and took his own car to and from. He was currently standing outside of it, waving me over. I deflated, looking back at the line of cars.

With dread, I headed in Tom's direction. The three guys followed me, pawing at my hair and arm and muttering things they wanted to do to me.

I wanted to punch their noses so hard it fractured their skills.

But I also didn't want to start unnecessary drama between the Casey's and Dacostas. Especially right now, because my dad was always so busy with problems. So, I kept my head high and knocked their hands away from me all the way to the car.

Tom had a large SUV that I had to try to climb in as gracefully as I could in my skirt without flashing the guys still standing nearby.

My door wasn't even shut all the way before Tom said, "Took you long enough."

I clenched my jaw. "Jay was supposed to pick me up."

Tom shrugged his shoulders. "He told me I needed to about an hour ago."

I frowned. Jay was older so he couldn't follow me around school which was fine. I didn't need his help, I had it handled and could take care of myself. But whenever I wasn't in school, if we both weren't busy, he hung around me and I looked forward to our time together.

"You know, they wouldn't treat you like that if you didn't dress that way," Tom said as we pulled out of the parking lot. He cast a quick glance down at my clothes. A skirt my dad would've made me burn if he saw it and a tank top underneath a jacket. Both the skirt and shirt were new and I even spurgled and got a push up bra at the store. Jay was supposed to pick me up. I needed his help with something and I really wanted him to say yes.