the devils house || b.e

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟰

my first full day of lessons was over and i'd never wanted to stab out my eyes more, i didn't understand how these teachers managed to make boring lessons even more insufferable.

too make things worse, i had to take part in a compulsory after school club, a different one every. single. day.

today just so happened to be basketball, i couldn't be more unathletic if i tried so there was no way this was going to end well.

after changing i made my way down to the sports hall and thankfully spotted rae and venus.

at least i knew some people.

venus smiled waved at me, beckoning me over to them

"ready to play?!" she asked raising an eyebrow to which i shook my head.

"i'm the least athletic person on earth" i responded, "i'm not built for sport"

"oh come on", she dragged, "i'm sure you can't be that bad.."

"oh just you wait", i mumbled.

"don't worry i hate this game too", rae muttered into my ear, "i only do it to make her happy, she's very.. well enthusiastic"

"oh i'm sure she is" i responded

"right let's get this game started!" venus yelled.

•

the game seemed to be going pretty smoothly, i hadn't had to do much, i just stayed out of everyone's way avoiding any contact with the ball.

venus on the other hand was definitely in her element, sprinting up and down the hall, shooting more hoops than i could count.

"hey are you even going to help!" a boy yelled, "or are you just going to stand there and do fuck all"

my eyes shot up in his direction, assuming he was talking to me and fully being prepared to admit i was happy doing 'fuck all'

but no i wasn't the one he was talking too, my eyeline followed his and i saw billie shifting awkwardly near the bench.

i didn't even realise she was here.

she shrugged her shoulders at him, not meeting his eyes as she fiddled with her fingers.

"speak up bitch!" billie visibly flinched as his voice echoed across the sports hall now capturing everyone's attention, "you're making us lose on purpose"

at this point billie looked a bit like a lost puppy, shuffling around unsure of what to say or what to do with herself anymore but before she even had the chance to do anything, the boy launched a ball directly at her head at fall force.

my eyes widened and the second i saw hers start to tear up, i couldn't just stand there any longer.

"hey!" i yelled marching towards the snickering boy, "leave her alone! she doesn't have to take part if she doesn't want too, it's not like any of us have chosen to be here!"

well apart from venus

"yeah she's right", venus butted in, "get your ass on the bench, you're out for the rest of the game"

"come on v.." the boy started.

"now!" she rose her voice pointing to the bench to which he rolled his eyes slowly trudging over to it and sulkily sitting down.

"hey are you alright?" i jogged over to billie who shook her head as she walked out the hall, tears of embarrassment threatening to fall from her eyes.

"right let's get back to the game!" venus shouted as everyone resumed their positions.

i glanced outside, wondering if i should go after billie but quickly decided against it, she was embarrassed, the last thing she needed was someone pitying her more.

so i carried on standing around watching the game go by for the remaining 35 minutes we had putting little to no effort in helping my team win.

the match ended in a draw, leaving venus visibly annoyed, as it was her team who could've scored the last hoop but didn't as the bell rung.

"if she had just thrown the ball instead of standing their with it.." venus fumed, "we could've won!"

rae giggled at her frustration, planting a soft kiss on her forehead, "you'll get another chance next week my love"

oh?

i followed them out the sports hall planning on going back up to my dorm to shower when i saw a light coming from the girls changing room.

that's weird? their out of use.

curiosity quickly got the better of me as i slowly made my way towards it, cautious of any danger that may present itself.

i slowly pushed open the door, only to be met with the sound of small gasps and quiet sobs which was when i saw billie sat on the bench with her head jerking slightly in her hands.

i carefully approached her, not wanting to scare her and send her into more panic than she was already in.

"billie.." i spoked cautiously as she lifted her head to look at me with bloodshot eyes, and her eyebrow uncontrollably twitching, "did he really hurt you that bad?

she shook her head letting out a choked sob, "it's not that.."

i sat down next to her on the bench, turning my body to face her, "then what's making you so upset right now"

"i just want to go home", she sobbed, "i hate it here, all i do is fuck up and embarrass myself, i avoid attention yet i still seem to be getting all of it and i can't stand it, i just want to be left alone"

i saw noticed her head jerking to the side again rather violently making me frown slightly, as i gently grabbed her hand causing her to flinch and rip her hand away.

ouch

"sorry", she mumbled, holding her hands protectively against her body, her eyebrow twitching.

just as i was about to offer some comfort, a member of staff who i assumed to be the school nurse came in with a sympathetic expression on her face.

"oh billie, sweetheart", she said softly as she made her way towards the shaking girl, "i was told you weren't in your dorm and hadn't been seen for a large part of basketball so i assumed you'd be in here"

"and who are you darling?" the nurse asked me with a smile.

"i'm lyra, i'm billie's roommate", i murmured, shifting awkwardly in my seat.

"thank you for staying with her for a bit", she said genuinely before averting her attention back to the blue eyed girl, "billie, do you think you'd be able to walk with me to my office? it's empty right now and the hallways are quiet, we can have a talk in there, does that sound okay?"

billie nodded softly as she shakily stood up from the bench, wiping hastily at her eyes as she followed the nurse out the room, leaving me completely alone.

i'm not usually one for physical comfort but something about that girl just made me want to hug her and keep her away from everything bad happening.

i hope she's okay

•

AUTHORS NOTE:

i hope you're all having an amazing day <3