Prodigal Thorn

Chapter 6

A week later, much to my parents concern, I was back at Rosewood. I'd turned in all my assignments so I wasn't behind at all, but something was off. People were staring at me. Talking about me. Sure, I had a cast on my nose and both my eyes were black and blue, but still it was getting to be too much. None of the guys speak to me in any of the classes we share, but I feel them watching me. By the time I get to my locker before lunch, I was over it.

Lunch was no better. Stares and whispers followed me. Two girls in front of me we're talking about me as if I wasn't there.

"Did you see her face though?"
"Yeah that beat down had to have been brutal"
"Well yeah the whole class was there"

Wait. What? Everyone was there and no one said anything? I've spent the last week trying to piece together the events of that day and all I know is Luca is involved. I grabbed a salad and a yogurt, my appetite ruined. The volume suddenly increased with cheers as the Core walked into the cafe with Nate at the front. I couldn't help my eyes tracking his lean form and the arrogance he carried himself with. His brown hair perfectly kept, eyes like steel scanning the cafe before they land on me. I look away, something nagging at my brain that it's not safe for me to engage them.

After getting my lunch, I seek refuge in one of the unused lab rooms to eat lunch. "Come on Alex, you've gotta remember something," I murmur, picking at my salad. I barely noticed the door shutting and locking. My head shoots up as the boys stand as a unit. "That can't be good for the nose, Lex." Xander said, tapping his nose. A sudden rush of fear hits me and I'm wary. My eyes take them in. Killian stands blocking the door, his blue eyes colder than a winter storm. Xander stands off to the side his blue eyes swirling with curiosity and distrust. Nate stands at the front, closest to me, his metal eyes, sharp. But the one who's inflicting this tornado of emotions within me is Luca. His brown eyes filled with coldness like he'd want nothing more for my imminent demise.

I swallow hard, my spine straight as I ignore the lingering pain in my ribs. My eyes narrow on them. "Just..tell me..." I will my voice to even, my breaths slow. "Did you do this?" I point to my face. "Did you get the whole school to attack me?" Silence. Nothing. They stand unmoving.

"So it's true. You really don't remember anything?" Nate says picking an invisible lint on his blazer. I edge away from him, mentally kicking myself from showing fear. He gets off on that shit. "Actually I remember him," I point to Luca, who startled momentarily. "I remember you grabbing me, hitting me with balls... I remember..." My head swims memories assaulting me.

"Luca... I'm sorry... Please.... Stop..." I rasp against Killian's hand that tightens on my neck. Tears fill my eyes and I curse myself for being so weak. "Ready for more dodgeball, Luc?" Killian laughs tossing me on the cold, hard gym floor. "You see Luca here has a lot of anger to work through and you are going to take whatever he does to you, Runt" I barely had time to protect myself before he unloads. Luca is the starting pitcher for the baseball team. The power of his pitches is uncontested. I feel it. His pain. His rage. I especially feel it when he's in close range and his aim is leveled at my head. His brown eyes filled with hatred and pain are the last thing I see.

The next thing, I'm collapse on the floor my breaths coming out in short bursts. Tears fill my eyes as I look at them. Four of the five boys I loved more than anything. Each differently owned my heart. I glared at Luca, rage radiating through my body. "I begged you to stop. I cried, pleaded even. You didn't give a shit!" I looked up at Killian. "And you helped him! What the fuck is wrong with you, huh? I get it. I hurt you. But this.." I close my eyes my heart shattering. "We were friends, no family. I gave each of you everything I had!" I reach for the C necklace and yank it off. "You want me gone so badly, Luca. There you go. Now leave me the fuck alone!" I was a sobbing mess as memory after memory tore me apart.