Alone

Chapter Six "No Way"

Lauren strikes me hard in the ribs while the others aim for my legs and shoulders. I want to get up and do something but it hurts so much from the kicks.
As many time they aim for my head they hit my hands which I'm sure are broken.
Except what do I do? My voice is muffled as I scream for help.
"This is what Laura wants. I can't wait to tell her that we did this" says a girl.
Anger knocks back the feeling of blood rushing through my body and I get up and out of the grasp of the girls. I run and run and run until I collide with a girl running towards me. One of Lauren's friends.
They tie my wrist together tightly and wrap it around a tree.
"Nighty, night" Lauren says as she finally kicks my head. I go cold after that.
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When I walk up I see Sam running to me. She gets on her knees and unties the knots on my wrists.
My hands drop as the rope loosens around them. They're red. I feel tears coming and this time I don't stop them.
Sam hugs me. "It's okay. I knew those slime balls were acting weird so I followed you guys but then I lost you."
"What time is it?" I ask.
"Six thirty."
"Oh no. I told my parents I'd be home by six."
"It's okay. I told them you're going to stay till seven and if I didn't find you by then, I would have told them."
"Thanks" I say. "I can't go home. Not like this at least. Today my parents took a day off so they'll see me."
"You can come with me."
I do go with her to a house that's a lot smaller than mine. It's cozy though.
"I like it" I say.
"It's nothing compared to yours though."
"Just because a house is bid doesn't mean it's comfortable." She sets me down on a couch and asks me which leg hurts. Both of them I what I said. "Where's your mom and dad?"
She frowns. "They're probably getting drunk or getting tickets for speeding."
At first I thought she was joking. She isn't.
She hands me a cup of hot chocolate and sits in an armchair. "What happened?"
"They led me out to a deserted place in the park, beat me, and tied me to a tree. Of course you already know that part." I don't want to think about what just happened. "I'll get the first aid kit."
She leaves and I remember the worst part of all. Hearing that this is what Laura wanted. Why did I go?
Sam gives me ice packs and band-aids. "Thank you" I say.
"No problem, but what are you going to tell your parents?"
"Nothing" I say. "I could run upstairs and put make-up on.
"What!" She looks at me hard. "You were just beat. You haven't seen the bruise on your head. Even if you don't tell your parents they'll find out."
"You're right" I say. "I'll tell them I fell down something."
She thinks about this for along time. "Fine" she says.
When my mom comes to pick me up I cover all of my aches. I run up to my room and start applying concealer and foundation to try and hide them. At least I don't wear shorts. There are plenty of bruises there.
When I finish I plop on my bed and fall asleep until the next morning.
I change and check to make sure my make-up is still there. It is.
I have to go to school today and see Laura and crew.
I have to go and look everyone in the eye. There is no possible way that they didn't tell everyone what happened.
There is no way I'm going to live like this for the next four years.