Not Just Charity

Evan

It's lunch block, and Eve is walking back from the library. She had to borrow a book for an ELA assignment. She's taking the long way back, the way that looks out over the garden behind the school. She stops to sit on a bench and pulls out the book she borrowed. Just as she's about to open it Evan and his cronies come around the corner.

Eve stands up and continues walking, hoping they won't notice her. Her hope was in vain. They come up behind her. Evan in the lead, his main receiver, Derek, on his left. And some other kid on his right. She doesn't know who he is, but if he's with Evan, he's bad news.

"Hey!" Evan says, walking besides her.

"Hi???" Eve responds, confused at his attempt at conversation.

"How's it going?"

Now she's definitely worried. "Why do you care?" She says with an edge in her voice. She stops walking and backs away.

"Come on, don't be like that!" Evan takes a step towards her. "I just want to know how your day's going! Its got to be better than mine!"

"And why is that?" She's stalling, trying to slide away from him so she can make a break for it.

"Well, my girlfriend broke up with me! Tell me, oh great mother! Why is it that you would create so much life! But not a single one wants to be with me?!?" He stares at her, anger in his eyes. She knows she should just say something consoling and try to run. But she is sick and tired of Evan and his antics.

"Maybe nobody wants to be with you because your such an asshole!" She knows as soon as she says it she made a mistake. His nostrils flare and he grabs her shoulders, slamming her against the wall.

"Maybe you should have done a better job when creating mankind then!"

"I didn't fucking make anyone!!!" She yells at him, scared, but also pissed off that he's being such a jackass. "That joke is old! I'm sorry your girlfriend broke up with you, but being a dick to me isn't going to make her come back! Now can you just let me go!"

"Your right." She looks at him in surprise. "You won't make her come back, but you can make me forget about her!" Her eyes widen in horror, and she almost throws up on him.

She tries to push him off her, but his lackeys grab her hands and pin her to the wall. She squirms in their grip but they are too strong and she can't escape. "Let go of me!" She kicks out but doesn't connect with anyone. Evan grabs her chin with one hand and puts a silencing finger to her lips. She tries to bite it, but he just chuckles.

"Feisty are we? That's ok! I like my woman with some fight!" He smirks at her and she spits in his face. He flinches, but just wipes it away with his shirt. "Tsk, Tsk." He shakes his head at her, "Now, there's a difference, between brave. And stupid. And you are quickly approaching it."

She just keeps on trying to escape. "I would rather kiss 1,000 frogs, than have you anywhere near me. I would rather die, then let you touch me!" She stares defiantly into his eyes.

"Now there's no need for that! It's understandable to be afraid, I'm sure getting your first kiss must be a big deal!"

She pauses in her struggles and looks at him in confusion. "Who said this was my first!"

"The fact that you have no friends and have been alone your whole life. But, if it isn't your first, then that just means it will be all the better!" He looks at her like he couldn't possible believe anyone would ever like her. "Now! Let's get this over with! I have class in 20 minutes."

He moves towards her and she kicks again, this time connecting with his knee. He swears and slaps her in the face. He then grabs her jaw, her cheek stings from his hand, and forces her lips to his. She's revolted. She bites his lip hard enough to draw blood and he stumbles away, shock on his face. Derek goes to catch him and she manages to escape the other guy's grip.

She's bolting, but they play football and she only makes it 10 ft before Evan's hand is around her throat. He throws her to the ground. She kicks up at him but he just grabs her feet and pins them to the side. His buddies come running up behind him and help him hold her in place.

"Has nobody ever taught you manners?" He glares down at her. She just looks back in terror.

"Maybe we should fix that!" Derek chimes in.

"Maybe we should," Evan squats down next to her and grabs her face. "Lesson one: when a guy kisses you, you do not bite him!" He slaps her, her head hitting the pavement.

"Lesson two: You do not kick a guy, anywhere!" Another slap, this time she sees stars.

"Lesson three:" He grabs her by the neck this time, pulling her face up to meet his. "You never, ever, run from a guy, especially when he's just trying to have a good time!" She can barely focus, he's cutting off her airway and the edges of her vision are blurry.

BRING!!!!!

Evan drops her and her head slams to the ground. She was saved by the bell. Literally. The three of them go running off, and Eve lays there. Trying to catch her breathe. Once she feels ready, she stands up, and almost falls right back over.

She stumbles to the nurse's office, but before she can knock on the door, her legs give out and her vision goes dark, her body deciding it was done with the day.

***

She wakes sometime later to the sound of her mom and the principal talking. She is on a cot in the nurses office, that much she can tell. She doesn't know how much time has passed, but she is starving.

"Mom?" Her voice comes out in a rasp.

"Oh honey! Thank god!" She comes to the side of the bed and takes Eve's hand. "You had us worried! Come on! We're going home!" She helps her sit up and steadies her and she stands.

"I just have a few questions before..." her mom cuts off the principal with a look that could kill.

"Those will have to wait! She is in no state to do anything right now. I am taking her home!" She guides her to the door, past a stunned principal, and out to the car. They are silent the whole ride home, her mom letting her rest.

When they get home her mom doesn't ask any questions, just makes her a sandwich and then says she has to go back to work.

"Just for a little while, I could only get Bob to cover me for an hour. I'll be back later. Rest!"

Eve nods and waves goodbye. After her mom is gone she sits at the table, eats her sandwich, and then rests her face on her hands. She is black and blue, a colar of bruises around her neck, and another one blooming on her cheek.

She just sits there, quietly, trying to contain all the emotion bubbling inside of her.