Scarlett ❤️

Chapter 14

My face is a mess this after last night. I've covered up as much as I can with makeup but biggest graze on my left cheek and the bruise on my right is still slightly visible.

I walk through the hallway, keeping to the edge, keeping my head down, desperately trying to go unnoticed.
All around me their are groups of people with their heads bent together whispering.

"Probably tripped over her stupid shoes"
"Sex in an alley"
"Attention seeker"
"I heard she lost a fight to some year 10 girl"
"Ew look at her face"

No one even attempts to hide that they're talking about me.
It's the same in all of my classes, my usual bullies are no exception; loudly sharing their take on why I've come to school like this.

I'm walking out of my maths class when I bump into someone.

"Oh shit, sorry" my breath hitches when I look up to see the person I just apologised to. "Ty"

"That was your fault" he muttered before quickly speeding away from me.

He was sporting a seriously dark black eye and a split lip. His nose was crooked and swollen and I notice he is limping slightly and clutching his side as he scurried away.

My mind flashes back to last night.

"I'll kill him"
"I'll deal with Ty"

Oh no. I have a pretty good idea where he got those injuries. Or at least who is responsible.

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On my walk home I stop at the gym. The first guy I see is Austin who pulls me into a side hug.

"Scarlett! I was dreaming about you last night" he winks as I pull out of the hug.

"Back off Fletcher" Noah walks over with Ollie, giving Austin a slight shove and a pointed look.

"Hey Scarlett" Ollie gives me a warm smile "how are feeling today?" I see the three of them silently assessing my injuries.
All of their gazes linger on my face, flicking between by marked cheeks, and I see anger flash in their eyes before they all push it away and offer me a smile.

"A little achey but otherwise okay" I admit, honestly.

"Good" Noah says, pulling me in for a hug. "You really scared me yesterday"

"I'm sorry" I feel a little guilty for a moment but then I remembered why I came.

"What happened to Ty?" I ask narrowing my eyes at each of them.

"Who's Ty?" Noah's poker face needs some serious work.

Ollie looks down at his feet but Austin's grinning from ear to ear.

"Not even close to what he deserves" Finn's sudden voice behind me, startles me.

"It was you" I point my finger into his chest.

"All of us" Austin laughs behind me. "You should have seen his face!"

"I did. His face is a mess" I'm not angry that Ty's hurt. I don't really know why I am angry. I don't like relying on anyone and these guys are already trying to solve my problems for me after just one night.

"He say anything to you?" Finn asks.

"No, he practically ran to get away when I walked by"

"Good" Finn's lip twitch with a hint of a smile. "I've got a client for a PT session. Consider yourself a gym member, on the house, the guys will sort you out".

"Im not staying" I tell him as he heads into the boxing rink.

"Scarlett I've been thinking" Noah starts, with concern etched into his facial features.

"Oh no. That's not good" I joke but he just continues.

"You came in for the self defence classes before... is this more than a one off?" He doesn't even give me time to answer, "if someone is bothering you, if this Ty has been..."

I cut him off "I only met Ty that one night and I doubt he'll come near me again, really everything's okay now" I lie. I can handle a few bullies, he doesn't need to know.

"Hey Scarlett" Austin whistles and calls my name from across the gym "you staying to watch me workout" he flexes his muscles in the mirrors along the wall and wiggles his eyebrows at me.

"I'd love to Austin but I've got to get to work"

"Boring" he shouts back in a sing-song voice.

"Where do you work?" Noah asks, walking me out.

"The restaurant at the end of the street"

"You going there now?"

"Yeah, I start in like twenty minutes"

"I'll walk with you"

"You don't have to"

"I want to" he opens the door for me.

"Bye Ollie" I wave and he smiles back sweetly "Austin" he flashes his muscles at me and winks.