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Chapter 3- Threats

Chapter 3- Threats

Rhea woke up feeling sore, her head pounding and her stomach hurting from all the kicks from her dad. She dragged herself out of her lilac and white striped bed. She didn’t want to go to school, but she didn’t want to risk staying home if there was a chance her dad would come home. She sulked over to the closet to get ready for school. Every time she moved, pain shot through her body. Rhea grabbed a black top and black skinny jeans, and after she put them on, she covered herself with a purple jacket to hide the bruises on her arms. She then went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and cover her bruises on her face with makeup. Picking up her messenger bag as she whimpered, she walked to the kitchen packing her lunch. Once she was ready, she walked out of the house to her bus stop. Her bus stop was not far, it was only across the road by the stop sign. She stood there for ten minutes and then the yellow bus came into view. Rhea wished she could drive to school, but she couldn’t. She had her license, but she didn’t have her own car.
   
The ride was never long, it was only about fifteen minutes until the high school came into view. Rhea got off the bus, walked through the double doors, and went down the busy halls to her locker. People bumped into her like she was invisible, but Rhea was used to it, she was a nobody and she accepted it. She kept her head low, trying to avoid the people walking pass her.
   
“Morning, Rhea!”
   
Rhea looked up to see Chris standing beside her locker, in his white shirt and jeans along with the blue hooded jacket that she gave him.
   
“Hey, Chris,” she said quietly. “You’re wearing the jacket I gave you.”
   
“Yeah, coffee?” Chris hold out a foam cup for Rhea.
   
“You bought me coffee?”
   
“Yeah! I couldn’t just buy one for myself,” Chris beamed. “Here.” Chris shoved the coffee into her hand. “Ya look like you could use some.”
   
Rhea lightly smiled, “Thanks.”
   
“Well, I have to get to class. I have history first, don’t want Mrs. Smith to get angry. I’ll see ya later.”
   
Rhea grinned as Chris walked away to class. She turned around and Krista, Amanda and Molly came into sight. She jerked from being startled, she didn’t know how long Krista had been there.
   
“H-hey, Krista,” Rhea greeted quietly.
   
Krista narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know what Chris sees in you,” she said, crossing her arms.
   
“I-I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” Rhea said a bit confused while taking a step back.
   
Krista took a step forward. “I’ve been trying to get Chris’s attention for a while now and somehow he’s attracted to you.”
   
Rhea blushed a bit and looked away. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
   
“Aw, do you see this, Krista?” Molly teased. “She has a crush on Chris!"
   
Rhea’s blush became a darker red.
   
Krista leaned in close. “He’s mine, so back off.”
   
Rhea turned back to look straight into Krista’s blue eyes. “He’s no one’s, he can chose who he likes.”
   
“Did she just talk back to you?” Amanda said, a little mused.
   
“I think she did,” giggled Molly.
   
Krista growled. “I’m warning you. Stay away or else,” she threatened.
   
Krista and the two girls walked away as Rhea stood there a bit frightened. The bell then rang as Rhea cursed under her breath. “Shit. Looks like I’m late for class now.”

0-0-0

After fifth period, the bell rang for lunch. All the students ran out of class trying to get into the lunch line. Rhea brought her own lunch. In her brown bag was a tuna sandwich and an orange. While she was walking through the cafeteria to find a empty table, she heard someone call her name.

“Rhea! Over here!”

Rhea turned her head slightly to see who called her. She saw Chris waving to her as everyone sitting with him was looking at her. Rhea felt her cheeks warm up as she looked around and saw everyone looking at her. She looked back to Chris’s table and saw Krista glaring at her.