Salty Licorice

Chapter 7

Avery's POV

After running laps in the gym in the morning I can feel my lungs protesting the activity with the burning and tightening feeling in my chest with every breath. I stop running and lean on my knees trying to do some simple breathing exercises to regulate my breathing In hopes to make the burning go away and get full function of my lungs back.

Justine walks over to me and I groan rolling my eyes barely lifting my head up to meet her gaze, exhaustion really taking its toll on me now. I don't have the time or the motivation to deal with her right now.

"Leave me alone Justine," I manage to say between shallow breaths.

"I see you and you're brother do have a type going for younger girls like nasty cradle robbing faggots. Lucky for your little freshman whore, she doesn't have to experience the Sullivan's dick game, or lack thereof," Justine snaps at me.

"Stop it!" I try to yell but I'm still trying to catch my breath that seems to be evading me, so it mostly comes out in strangled gasps.

"It's so fucked, that your forcing that gay shit on her," Justine continues. "But then again, she does seem like the type to put out for just about anyone who gives her a little attention."

"Shut. Up!" I finally yell back behind gritted teeth. I can feel myself getting worked back up again, with my heart and breathing feeling like I'm sprinting a 5k but I'm standing still.

Before I know exactly what's happening I feel a slight sting on my face and my lungs can't keep up with me. I start wheezing and collapse onto my hands and knees coughing trying to gain my breathing back but I can't seem to get a full breath in and instead I just keep coughing. I feel another closed fist make contact with my face but I know I can't stop coughing to do anything about it. But each cough is coming out more strangled then the last. Luckily Justine's punches don't have anything behind them. I can see in my peripheral vision someone running but I can't really process anything unless it's trying to breathe.

I try to sit back up but I hear Marisa command me to stay down so I drop lower to the ground and I don't see it but I hear it. Justine makes a choked gagging sound, followed by Liz's voice telling her to back off. I feel Marisa grab my arm and help me to my feet before walking me over to sit down at the bleachers. I look over at Liz and see her standing holding up her arm in front of Justine keeping her at arm's distance. As I'm sitting on the bleachers I can really feel the tightening in my chest and feel myself wheezing with every breath I take. My head starting to feel lighter, forcing me to lean my weight on Marisa who has a firm grip on my shoulder from behind keeping me up right. But as I keep forcing my body to inhale not seems to have any affect on my stressed lungs. I have the desire to lay down but Marisa has a death grip on me keeping me upright.

Emily runs up to me while shaking my inhaler before handing it to me. I take two desperate puffs and wait a second for the medication to take effect. I get a few deeper breaths after a little bit and look up to see Liz fast walking over to me and coming down on her knees and sitting between my legs looking up into my eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?" She rush's out, taking my face in her hands and looking at my cheek.

"I'm fine," I say breathlessly, still trying to get full use of my lungs while shaking off the light headedness.

"Does it hurt?" She asks, concern covering her features.

"Nah she punches like a baby, barely felt a thing." I put a lazy smile on resting my hands over hers sliding them off my face.

I lean forward and kiss her forehead, still holding her hands. Her eyes are trained on me still looking at my face for the bruising where I was struck. Most likely, there wont even be a mark at all later.