Not As It Seems

Restraint

It was late, maybe coming up to about 9:30pm. People would normally be in their homes relaxing, some in bed and others preparing to go to bed. That wasn't the case in your home. In your house everyone was wide awake, in your house it was a frenzy. You stood over your stepfather, pummelling him as you shouted in his face. "You bastard!" You yelled as your fist kept connecting to his face whilst he threw pathetic punches up at you.

"Y/n, please stop it!" Your mother implored but you turned to face her, both of you with bruises on your faces as you told her, demanding her to stay out of this. Then you went right back to beating up your stepfather only to be knocked back as he got to his feet to resume the fight.

Only when the police arrived (there having been numerous complaints to them) did the brawl stop and you were dragged from the house. "Get off me!" You shouted as the two police officers restraining you pulled you to the police car as your stepfather pointed at you. "He's crazy, he just attacked me and his mother!" He accused and you shouted back. "You bastard!" You shouted before the police car door slammed shut and you were carted off to the police station.

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A week. That was how long had passed since your transfer and it was amazing to you how quickly that time has gone. You did your best to keep a low profile, avoiding as much unnecessary conflict as you could but it didn't always work. There were times when you turned to yell at people who wouldn't shut up with their whispering, only backing down as you saw a teacher looking your way.

Everyone was judging you, nobody was on your side and you felt alone, isolated. It was difficult to get by but there was also another thing that you noticed over the week. That girl, Madeleine. Why did you keep running into her? Yes, you were in the same classes so that explained some encounters, but not all of them.

There were times in the hallways where you would run into each other (literally), you would run into each other outside, you would even run into each other just as you were heading home (if you could call it that at least).

For your probation you have been put into a temporary accommodation where you will be surveillanced during said probation. This meant you'd have regular meetings with your probation officer who would take note of your behaviour and progress, it was rather demeaning to have someone taking note of your every step. But in the eyes of society right now, you didn't deserve the luxury of freedom.

The fact you weren't locked away would be seen as a luxury but it would have been better to be in prison, that way you wouldn't be able to hear anyone twist the truth. But for now you just kept as low a profile as possible.

The bell to signal the end of your lesson rang so you quickly made your leave, other students shuffling aside to avoid your path as you left the classroom. This was normal for you now, people were afraid to even be in your line of sight, so you got used to it very quickly as you made your way to your locker.

There was the indentation still from your little outburst the other day, something that didn't help your public image at the present time. The staring had become normal as well, other students watching as you just tried to get into the locker which was actually a faulty one so it explained why it wouldn't open without a little hit. "Stupid thing" you grumbled as you punched the door for it to finally unlock, the door swung open and you went to grab your things.

"You'll have to pay for that you know" a voice spoke to you, a familiar one that you tried to ignore. But Henry wasn't going to wait any longer to mess with you. He was trying to get you to have another outburst.

"Don't get too angry, wouldn't want anyone to get hurt in the crossfire" Henry mocked as you closed your eyes and took a deep breath to keep yourself composed. "Go away" you spoke in a low tone as you continued to sift through your belongings, putting away what you didn't need and gathering what you did. And all this was with Henry still at your side. "Why? Are you getting annoyed at me already? Do you have such a short fuse?" He asked with a smirk at the fact he was getting under your skin.

You, however, still remained calm; your breaths were deep and your eyes remained closed albeit a little scrunched up in frustration. "Leave me" you said, this time your voice was a little more tense as Henry still didn't seem to get the message that you didn't want this. But he did get the message; that was exactly why he was there.

"I mean you don't want to break the locker completely, that wouldn't look good for your probation report wouldn't it? That's what you're on right, probation?" He asked and your knuckles were turning white from how tightly you were gripping your locker door; the audience you had wasn't helping as students around were just watching the scene. Vultures watching the scene which was a metaphorical prey in a way. But you tried to ignore it all and so warned Henry; "last chance to walk away".

This was it, this was exactly where he wanted you. "Oh, easy there buddy, we're all friends here" Henry said in a mocking manner and you responded by slamming your locker door shut. "We are not friends! Fuck off!" You spat as your fist clenched. It banged against the locker door as some means to alleviate the frustration, but Henry didn't leave.

"Oh, is someone getting mad? Feel like...punching someone?" He asked as he circled around you, your breathing was heavy as you tried to remain calm but you heard the mutters and whispers around you as well as Henry's comments. You felt trapped, claustrophobic almost, as your breathing was heavy. But somehow, from nothing but sheer willpower, you kept yourself from lashing out, your knuckles were white and hurting a little from how tightly they were clenched but you still kept calm.

Your breaths shook before you stood straight and turned to Henry. Your stare was silent but told him that you weren't going to play his game; he took it as a challenge. So he continued to spout out taunts and mockery as he circled you. "Think you're pretty tough don't you, psycho? Think that just because you can hold back once it makes you strong? You beat the shit out of your stepfather, apparently you attacked your mother too, you're a psycho" he spat as he felt he was getting somewhere.

Henry was surprised as you simply barged past him, walking away before you punched some teeth in. Your breathing was heavy, you felt claustrophobic almost. But you managed to get away before you made a mistake.

That took a lot, almost all you had. It took your strength, it took your resolve, it took your control. It really took a lot of restraint. And Madeleine was one of the people to witness it.