Red Revenge

4. Broken glasses

Monday arrived at the end of the fourth period. Hope, a quiet and resilient girl, was navigating through the crowded school corridors, making her way to the lunchroom. She was eager to meet her girlfriend and her circle of friends, their presence a comforting constant in her challenging school life. Suddenly, without warning, she felt a forceful push from behind. Her glasses fell off her face and skittered away. She didn't have her contacts in, leaving her virtually sightless.

She dropped to her knees, her hands patting the cold, hard floor in search of her glasses. But then, a dreadful crunch echoed in her ears, a clear indication that someone had heartlessly stepped on them. Before she could react, a kick landed on her, hard enough to forcefully shove her back against the cold metal of the lockers.

"Look at her, the school's orphan," a voice sneered, filled with misplaced superiority. It was Landon, his laughter echoing cruelly in the corridor.

His girlfriend, Dana, acting as his equally callous sidekick, snatched Hope's backpack off her shoulder. She thoughtlessly dumped Hope's books, pens, and personal belongings out in front of her. Hope sighed, a familiar sense of resignation washing over her. This wasn't new. Ever since sophomore year, she had been the unfortunate target of Landon and Dana's cruel games. She had long since stopped trying to fight them, knowing it was futile.

Suddenly, a voice of authority cut through the cruel cacophony. "Hey! What's going on here?" It was Caroline, the stern yet compassionate headmistress of the school.

At her arrival, Dana and Landon scrambled to escape, leaving Hope alone on the floor, feeling around for her damaged glasses. Caroline, ever the guardian, retrieved what was left of Hope's glasses and handed them to her. Hope put them on quickly, the world coming back into focus. She avoided eye contact with Caroline, but managed a quiet, "Thank you, Mrs. Forbes."

With Caroline's help, she quickly gathered her things, stuffed them back into her backpack, and stood up, dusting off her clothes. Caroline, sensing Hope's discomfort, decided to accompany her towards the lunchroom, offering a comforting presence.

"How are you and Lizzie doing? You haven't been around in a while," Caroline asked, her tone filled with genuine concern.

"We've been managing, Mrs. Forbes. I'm sorry for the absence, I've just been more tired than usual lately," Hope replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Caroline, understanding the burdens Hope was carrying, pulled her into a gentle hug, "I know your past with your parents weren't the best, but you and your sister are always welcome at my house. Always remember that I'm here for you if you ever need me."

"Thank you," Hope hugged back tighter before finally letting go. She then continued her journey to the lunchroom.

Hope's Pov:

I found myself waiting in line for food. Dana and Landon were smirking at me from a nearby table. I could feel their eyes on me, but I chose to ignore them. I picked up my tray, methodically filling it with the day's offerings without sparing them another glance. I then navigated my way through the bustling lunch room towards my usual table, where my friends were already gathered. Warm greetings of "hi" and "hey" floated up toward me.

"Hi," I responded, managing a small wave back as I settled into my chair. I took up my usual position, sitting across from Lizzie, with Josie at my side.

Lizzie's eyes immediately landed on my face, widening in surprise. "Oh my god, your glasses!" she exclaimed, her voice full of concern.

I dismissed her with a wave of my hand, attempting to downplay the situation. "It's okay, I'll get new ones tomorrow."

But Lizzie wasn't easily brushed off. "Are Dana and Landon messing with you again?" she asked, her voice lowering to a whisper.

I didn't want to talk about it, I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of knowing they'd affected me. "Please, let's not discuss it," I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lizzie nodded, her face falling slightly. I felt a pang of guilt, knowing she was worried about me. But I didn't want to talk about it. It was a trivial matter. I was just another high school girl being picked on. No big deal, right?

The conversation around the table quickly shifted to the upcoming football game, the air buzzing with the excitement of tomorrow night's match. I remained silent, focusing on the food in front of me, trying to block out the noise around me. My thoughts were elsewhere, on the recurring dream that had kept me awake the previous night. As I finished eating, I rested my head on the table, letting the drone of conversation around me fade into the background. I was just so tired, the same dream replaying over and over in my mind, except this time, I didn't go back to bed.

...

The final bell of the school day rang out, signaling the end of the monotonous lessons and the beginning of my much-needed sleep. I found myself escorting Lizzie to her car, our hands brushing as we navigated the sea of students. As she slid into the driver's seat, I leaned in to share a tender kiss with her. She assured me she would send a text later that evening. Once her car was out of sight, I retreated to my vehicle and embarked on the familiar route home.

Upon reaching my house, I made my way up the stairs. My room welcomed me, the familiar scent of worn books and vanilla filling the air. I quickly changed into my favorite pair of sweats and a worn-out hoodie, the fabric soft against my skin. No sooner had I crawled under the covers than sleep overpowered me, pulling me into its comforting embrace.

Time lost all meaning as I slept, the world outside continuing its relentless pace. I eventually surfaced from the depths of slumber, awakened by the sound of a knock on my door. It was night now, the moon casting long shadows through the window.

"Hope? Are you in there?" The concerned voice of my sister, Allison, echoed from the other side of the door.

"Come in," I called out, my voice just above a whisper.

Allison entered, her eyes immediately scanning over me, taking in my disheveled appearance. "Hey, are you okay? I was just about to head over to my boyfriend's place. I can stay back if you need me," she offered, her tone filled with sincere concern.

I reassured her, "No, go. I'll be fine. I'm thinking of heading up to the school for a while. Mrs. Forbes lets me use the gym at night when it's empty. I think I could use a bit of solitude."

Ever since the tragic loss of our parents, I found solace in physical activity, especially when the gym was devoid of its usual chatter and clamor. It provided a much-needed distraction, a way to quiet the chaos in my mind, if only for a few hours.

"Okay, well, remember to call me if you need anything. Be safe. I love you," Allison said, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. With a final wave, she left, her footsteps echoing down the stairs until the house was silent once again.