The Scarring

Chapter 3

Beep!! I jolted out of bed and sighed. I rolled over to look at my alarm clock and groaned. Another day at school. At least when I finish this year I can finally leave the house and never have to see the people that live here. I crawled out of bed and took a quick shower, throwing on black jeans and a white shirt with my scruffy converse. I threw my hair up into a high ponytail and put on what little makeup I use. Foundation, concealer and mascara. I checked the time: 6:21. I grabbed my backpack and, checking the coast is clear, snuck down to the kitchen to grab an apple. Somehow I was able to sneak out of the house unnoticed, I hope the rest of today goes as well as it is now. I munched on my apple while walking to school which is about 12 kilometres away, glad I finally had something to eat.

By the time I reached school I was still hungry, tired and unfortunately early. Homeroom doesn't start until 8:30 and it's only 8:00. I placed my bag on the hook in my area and quickly made my way to the library. That may sound really nerdy, but it's not. The library is my sanctuary, somewhere I can be alone and in peace. The bell rung, startling me out of my reverie. I hurried out of the library, and making myself as small as possible, hurried to my first class English.

I made myself as small as possible, hugging the wall as I walked to English. Someone knocked the books from my hands and slammed me against the corridor wall. "Where do you think you're going nerd?" sneered the one and only Alex Goode. He smirked and his cronies Liam, Kyle and Luke crowded around him laughing. I reply the only way I know how. "Trying to get to class. At least I was until your ugly ass face stopped me." His smirk dropped, and he gave me a murderous glare. "Watch it bitch. I can make sure you see your mum again oh that's right, she's dead." His smirk grew so wide as his cronies laughed and faked crying noises. His grip tightened on my neck, causing me to panic slightly. I replied, "Yeah she's dead, so what? I can't change that. At least mine wasn't a whore." His face paled, and he looked uncomfortable, scared and angry. He ripped his arm away from my neck, and I dropped like a stone onto the floor. I breathed a huge breath of relief in and fought the urge to choke.

He turned away and said something to his cronies quietly. They smiled evilly and he turned back to me. "Parking lot. After school. Be there or recieve twice the punishment tomorrow." Alex smirked and starting walking towards the back side of the schoool, kicking my scattered books on his way past his cronies leering at me with colourful insults. One even kicked my stomach as he ran past to join his "friends". I groaned quietly with the bit of pain that had blossomed in my stomach, and groaned louder with the realization Mrs George was going to roast me alive. I stood up wincing and made my way slowly picking up my books. When I got to the last book I went to pick it up until I realized a hand stretched out with my book. I slowly looked up and found myself looking into a pair of intense emerald green eyes. His smile was breathtaking and his hair was the perfect shade of brown styled just right, swooping upwards in a quiff. "Looked like you needed a hand. Name's Adam King. Gonna take your book or not?" I blushed a bit, realizing I had been standing there gawping at him like an idiot. "Y-yeah, course. Sorry about that. Word of advice: don't talk to me. Social suicide. You should go before anyone sees you. And thanks." He looked taken aback, until he smiled that killer smile. "I guess I'm one of you now." He winked, handed me my book and walked away. I hurried to my English class which I was 10 minutes late to and I'm not looking forward to what will happen next.

______________________________________________________

I slowly walked out of my last class, Maths. I had been dreading this moment all day: after school in the parking lot. I had somehow avoided Alex all day and I'm not sure how. I think he planned it on purpose to scare me and leave it playing over in my head like a record on repeat. I quietly made my way through the halls to my bag. I slung it over my shoulder, and sighing, slowly shuffled along the corridor with my head down, my hands in my pockets and my feet dragging along the floor. I thought I had waited until the hallway was empty but I heard a locker slam and muttering. I glanced over to the main school entrance, calculating whether I would make the 100m before whoever it was caught up, I didn't want to take any chances. The footsteps got louder and they were about to turn the hallway. I panicked and dashed for the bathrooms, closing and locking the door and I held my breath waiting to be discovered. When the footsteps faded I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and unlocked the door. Peeking out of a gap, the coast was clear and I made my way to the door quickly. I all but ran through the door and into the carpark to begin my long walk home, well I would have except I bumped into something and somehow ended up on the floor. My chin was lifted up and I was looking into the cold, dark eyes of Alex. "Found you," he mocked. "I was beginning to think you had left without saying goodbye. My feelings were hurt." He feigned hurt, and then he laughed obnoxiously. Without warning he kicked my stomach. I gasped in pain and doubled over, trying not to throw up. "This is just the start of what follows. But, you're used to the pain right sweet-cheeks." Each kick was followed by a wince and a smirk, which of course brought on more pain. Luckily he doesn't touch my face; if he did people would suspect someone was hurting me and if found he would get in a whole lot of trouble. "I don't know about you but that made me feel a whole lot better. I can skip workout now. Let this be a reminder of the consequences of trying to leave because next time I won't let you go this easily." He spit on the ground near me and smirking he sauntered over to his car, revved the engine and sped away.

______________________________________________________

Checking in at work I made my way to the back to start unpacking boxes onto shelves avoiding eye contact. I really hoped the makeup I put on my neck would hide the hand shaped bruises from this morning. I mumbled hi's to people as I stacked the shelves in the frozen section as quickly as possible. It's not the best job, I work from 6 till midnight but it pays enough for me to give dad to let me live in the house and buy everything I need. Well, just enough. As soon as work is over I walk home and I try get as much sleep as possible and do homework before school so I usually only get a couple hours but it's been this way for a long time. It's a vicious cycle.

On nice days I try to visit mum to make sure she's being looked after before work. Dad never comes and neither does my brother but I like to have a chat and have a moment to just us. The cemetery isn't far from my house and I always pick up a new bouquet of flowers to place on her grave, give it a quick clean and have a long chat and boy did I need to have that chat today.

- Hey guys, so yes you can hate me all you like but I'm irregular and I like to keep you on your toes ;). Just joking, I just struggle with writing this book and I always get distracted by something else that's 'way more important'. So I hope this satisfies your craving for what happens next and the next chapter should come out in a couple weeks *fingers crossed*. This one's for you Taliboo. Au revoir my cupcakes, Lani.