Ghost (Second Edition)

Chapter Three--Underneath the Bruises

Nathan

Friday.

The worst day of the week for Nathan. It meant he had one more day before he had to spend the next forty-eight hours with his parents and their "you should be happy to be born rich" attitude.

As he walked down the busy school halls, he kept an eye out for Luis, wanting to see how he was. However, by the time Nathan got to his locker, he hadn't seen Luis anywhere. He hoped Andy hadn't caught him; Nathan was willing to fight Andy if that was the case.

The bell rang signalling the start of classes. Nathan had English first, which Luis wasn't in, Nathan would have to wait till class swap to see if Luis was at school.

Nathan had already done the assignment, but he grabbed his books anyway, just to look like he was doing something. He closed his locker door and joined the river of students moving down the hall. Many of the girls huddled by their lockers and whispered and giggled behind their hands to their friends, Nathan paid them no mind; he was too busy thinking of Luis and where he was—and the odd spark that ignited in his chest whenever he saw the boy.

A sudden and rather hard shove sent him barrelling into the lockers on his left, blinking stars from his eyes, he saw the fist and ducked just in time. The fist collided with the locker, and then another fist connected with his jaw before Nathan could understand what was happening. He blinked to clear his eyes and met with Andy's furious gaze.

"Remember what I said yesterday?" Andy hissed.

Shock registered somewhere in Nathan's brain, but adrenaline had already taken over and so had panic. He dodged another punch but was then grabbed by the back of his shirt and thrown to the floor. His books flew from his arms and skidded across the floor as the students gathered in a circle around them.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" They yelled and cheered.

Nathan tried to push himself up to his knees. Breathing hard, his heart beating at twice the normal speed. The back of his mind screamed, "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!"

Andy kicked him in the ribs, sending Nathan back to the floor. He curled up into a ball, the pain was overwhelming. He looked up and was met with a punch to the face. Blood streamed from his nose; the coppery tang filled his mouth. He spat, then kicked his leg up and met Andy's groin.

The other boy howled in pain and hunched forward; hands covering his crotch. Nathan smirked, it didn't matter that the leg of his jeans had torn at the seam, he had gotten in a good hit.

Andy glared down at Nathan, eyes ablaze with fury. "You fucking bitch! You fucking rich bitch!" He lunged and Nathan scrambled up to dodge, catching the bone-jarring hit to the shoulder, it still sent him stumbling into another locker.

The crowd around them cheered, clapping, and throwing their arms into the air. No one was cheering for him.

Nathan looked at Andy through his hair and then swung a punch, catching the other boy in the jaw and sending him stumbling back, spitting blood.

His left ribs ached. That was what Nathan was aware of most, that and to fight for what seemed to be his life. He raised his arms ready to punch Andy again, when a loud booming voice came down the hall, cutting off the students' cheers.

"ENOUGH!"

The crowd went silent and parted down the middle slowly. Nathan leaned back against the locker, breathing hard. He turned to see the Headmaster, Mr Rightmore, as he stalked down the hall. His fury caused the students to part. Nathan also saw with great relief, Luis following after him.

"What is going on?" Mr Rightmore asked. Looking between the pair of bloodied boys, hands on his hips.

"Nathan attacked me!" Andy gasped, looking at Mr Rightmore with wide eyes.