Oh Ms Believer

91. Samantha

Monday morning I woke up to my alarm and stayed laying in bed. Mom said I didn't have to go to school if I didn't want to. But I didn't want to stay home. Home was more dangerous. Too many places I could be cornered if I was alone, and I couldn't follow Mom and Sarah around everywhere. At least at school, I can try to blend in and disappear.

I got up, went to the washroom and got dressed. I wouldn't look at myself in the mirror. I didn't want to see the bruises on my neck. And I didn't want to look at myself. How could I let him do that? Why couldn't I stop him? I'm not weak. I'm actually pretty strong. I mean, I play wheelchair basketball. And regular basketball. But something happened that night. And I can't remember everything.

I pulled on the biggest sweatshirt I could find and a pair of sweatpants. I did up my shoe, grabbed my crutches and school bag and headed out of my room.

"Oh, I was just coming to get you," Mom said in the hallway as I came out of my room. "You know, you don't have to go to school if you don't want to."

I shrugged.

"It's fine."

Mom followed me downstairs and started asking about breakfast. I wasn't really hungry.

"I'll have something at school," I said, heading to the front door.

"Sam, wait, I'll drive you," Mom said.

"It's fine. I'd rather walk."

Walk, crutch, whatever.

Mom didn't say anything besides telling me to have a good day and to call if I needed anything or wanted to come home.

I barely listened. I just needed to get out of the house.

It isn't a long walk to school. It only takes me about 20 minutes but I took my time. I was early enough and as much as I wanted to get out of the house, I didn't really want to go to school. What if people were talking about what happened? I'm sure by now everyone knew what Tristan did.

I thought about ditching. In the end I decided to go to school anyway. It would hopefully keep me distracted enough.

Jill was outside waiting when I got there. She had a huge grin on her face when I approached her.

"I wasn't sure you were coming. You never answered my text. But I'm so glad you're here!" She threw her arms around me.

"Are you okay?" She asked after breaking her hug.

"I'm fine," I said, crutching my way into the building.

"Did you walk to school? Why didn't you have your mom or dad drive you?"

"It's fine. I needed the air," I said.

I went to my locker. Jill stayed close to me and since her locker is right near mine, it wasn't weird.

"Sam! You're back!" A voice called out. I looked up. It was Mason. What did Mason know? What would Mason do?

I bristled and pulled my backpack close to me. Mason stopped and looked at me with a tilted head.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine," I said.

"You sure?" He asked.

"Yes," I said, closing my locker and heading to my first class.

No one seemed to notice me when I got to class and that's just the way I like it. I sat in my seat and tried to make myself as inconspicuous as possible. A few people saw me and said hi. I pulled my hood up over my head. I didn't want to be seen. I just wanted to be left alone.

I stayed quiet in class. If I was called on, I just said I didn't know the answer. Even if I did. My teachers seemed to be fine with that. How much do they know about what happened? 

Everything seemed okay until lunch.

I headed towards the cafeteria, but I really wasn't hungry. 

"Hey, Sam," some guy from the football team said. "Wanna have some fun?"

"No," I said, trying to move around him.

"Aw, come on," he said, standing in my way. "I hear you're a lot of fun."

He tried to put his arm around me. I leaned on one crutch and hit him with the other.

"Ow! You bitch!" He said, grabbing my arm.

"Hey!" I heard another voice. I turned around and saw Mason coming down the hallway. It was then I noticed there were two boys in the hallway and just me. I had to get away. I hit the football player over and over to get him to let go. 

"Tristan said you're an easy lay, you slut!" He called out after me as I crutched away as fast as I could.

"Sam! Wait!" Mason was chasing me now. I had to get away. I had to get somewhere safe.

I left the school and crutched through the snowy football field. I slipped a lot and fell a few times but I had to get away.

I made it to the park I used to run to when I lived with Stanley. There's a place I can fit in and hide. It should be safe.

I curled up inside the concrete tunnel. I didn't feel well. I was shaky and sweaty. And tired. I was so, so tired.

What harm could a nap do? I was somewhere safe.

I fell asleep.