She's a Freak

Beaten

Carleigh's POV:
        I woke up around 6:30 the next morning. Even though I bathed at Nat's house yesterday, I could still smell coffee in my hair. After a quick shower and breakfast, I got dressed and straightened my hair. As I finished, I heard my phone vibrate. A text from Nat!

Natty:) :
Good morning, Carls :)

He sent me good morning and good night texts everyday. I never replied though. I wanted to, but I worried that if I started communicating, he might start asking me a bunch of questions. Why'd you stop talking? Why did your dad get arrested. Why are you so scared to go to psychologists? I just wasn't ready to verbally talk to anybody yet. 

        After hugging John and Allison, I hopped on my skate board and started making my way to school. I passed by the same car from yesterday. The man was in the driver's seat again. This time as I went by, he stared at me and didn't take his eye away. I stared back, trying to see his face, but he was wearing a pair of very large sunglasses that covered to majority of his face. I definitely knew him from somewhere. I just couldn't put my finger on it. "Whatever." 

        I arrived at school 15 minutes before the bell rang, so I had some time to kill. I looked around for Nat but he was nowhere to be seen. "Oh well." I gave up on my search and went to the library. I returned a couple books and looked around for a new story. I settled on the first book in the Divergent series and Looking for Alaska by John Green. I put Divergent in my bag and found a bench behind the building. I always went there to read. It was quiet and secluded and very private. No one ever went back there. Well, no one except me that is. I sat down and tucked my feet neatly under me. I opened Looking for Alaska and was soon lost in the story. I was about 10 pages when I heard a thud. I looked up from my book and saw Hayley, a cheerleader, laying on her stomach at my feet. She groaned in pain and sat up just enough to smirk at me. "Chelsea!" She screamed. Chelsea came running over and knelt by her friend. "What happened, Hayls?" she exclaimed with her snobby high-pitched voice. "The freak here tripped me!"She cried. My eyes widened at her words. I looked down at my feet, which were still tucked under the bench, the way they had been since I sat down. There was no way I could have tripped her! "Oh did she?" Chelsea replied in a sneaky voice. I furiously shook my head, fear written across my face. "I think she needs to be taught a lesson. Don't you, Hayley?" she asked her friend while cracking her knuckles. "You're right, Chels. Why don't we teach her?" 

        Chelsea grabbed a fist-full of my hair and pulled me to the ground. Hayley, now on her feet took the opportunity to kick me in the side of my rib cage. I rolled away from her but that allowed Chelsea to kick me in my gut, knocking the air out of me. I rolled back and forth trying to get away but only failing. They paused for a moment all of a sudden. "Get up!" they shouted. I did as I was told, pain in every inch of my torso. Chelsea again grabbed my hair and pushed me up against the brick wall of the building. She held me there by my hair so I couldn't escape. "Now, have you learned your lesson, loser?" she asked. I nodded as best as I could, but head was pinned in place. "No? Okay then." I closed my eyes and waited for the pain to come. Bad idea! Since I couldn't see, I had no idea what they were planning to do. I opened my eyes just as their fists to come in contact with my chest. And being a girl, that hurts like hell! I doubled over in pain as tears streamed down my face. I leaned back against the wall to keep myself from falling over. As if on cue, the bell rang. "See ya round, freak." the girls laughed as the skipped away, leaving me alone. I slowly slid down the wall, my arms covering my chest. I placed my head between my knees and began to sob. I sat there with tears pouring down my cheeks. I wiped my eyes and noticed black stuff on my hands. "My mascara!" Perfect! Now I was late for class, in serious pain and my make up was ruined. 

        I slowly stood up and picked up my bag. I limped to the bathroom and washed off my mascara. It looked much better but now anyone who looked at me could see how puffy and red my eyes were from crying. I made my way to class, hoping I could just go in and sit down without drawing too much attention to myself. But sadly the door was locked, meaning I had to knock to be let in. The rest of the class was already doing their assignments.  The teacher answered and let me take my seat without getting upset. Since I was usually never late, she let me off with a warning. I smiled gratefully at her and sat down. She told what the assignment was and I quickly got started. I finished before the rest of the class, since they were all too busy socializing to do the work. I read Looking for Alaska for the rest of the period. As I headed to 2nd period, Adam stopped me in the hall. Being much stronger than I was, he easily pinned me against the lockers. "I heard you tripped Hayley this morning." he smirked. I shook my head violently be he just snickered. "You don't need to make up stories, freak. Lying isn't gonna get you anywhere." He leaned forward, his face going to the crook of my neck. I shuddered as his hot breath hit my skin. "I'll be watching you, freak. I'll know if you try something like that again." He whispered against my collarbone. He pulled away and smiled. "Have a nice day." He said before walking down the hall and disappearing around the corner. 

        I speed walked to my next class and placed my head on my desk. I could still feeling him breathing on me. "That was the closets to me he's ever gotten. It was disgusting!" Just thinking about it sent shivers up and down my spine. "I did not trip her! It was all a set up. My feet were under me the whole time! I've never done anything to them. Why do they-" "Carleigh!" Nat yelled in my ear. I snapped out of my thoughts and jumped in my seat. He sat in his seat laughing at my reaction. I reached over and punched his shoulder, making him laugh harder. "I said your name 4 times." "What?" I looked at him. "Are you okay? You look like you've been crying." I looked down at my lap, playing with my hands. "Carleigh?" I sighed and lifted the side of my shirt slightly, showing him the already forming bruise going up my side. His eyes grew huge and his jaw dropped. He reached out a hand and touched the blackened skin. I flinched and moved away. "Sorry." he exclaimed, still examining my side. "Who did this to you?" I nodded towards the door as Hayley entered, hanging on one of Adam's friends and giggling. "Was she the only one?" I shook my head. "Was it Chelsea?" he asked and I nodded. "Are you bruised anywhere else?" Without lifting my shirt, I pointed to all of the places that hurt the most and gestured around my chest. He knew exactly what I meant. "I'm gonna go talk to them." He said through clenched teeth. I grabbed his wrist and silently begged him to stay put. "Carleigh, it's one thing if their calling you names, physically hurting you is much worse! I can't just let this go." "Please?" I pleaded silently. He somehow read my thoughts and stayed in his seat. I didn't want to cause anymore trouble.