Opposite Worlds

Chapter 2:Who hurt you?

Adam's P.O.V.

Well, after math, science, and robotics, the bell for lunch finally rang. I was starving. A teenage boy has got to eat you know! So I headed to the lunch room, hoping to get a decent spot in line. A practically ran down the stairs and through the cafeteria to get to the area where the food was.

I pulled up my sleeves and salivated a bit at the smell of the warm food. Sure it was cafeteria food (well, I'm pretty sure it's food), but I was so hungry I didn't even care. I got in line and grabbed a tray, sliding it along the metal rail and grabbing all the grub I could fit into my stomach. 

After I typed in my code and payed for lunch I headed to a table with no one else sitting at it. I know no one would join me either, so I wasn't worried about anything. Until I remembered the new girl that was in class today. And I was all the sudden very worried. 

Why was I worried? I asked myself She isn't MY problem anyway... 

I tried so hard to convince myself that she was perfectly fine, but it didn't work.

All the sudden, I lost my appetite thinking about what could happen to someone like her.

So small,  I thought. So delicate. 

I made it my mission to find her before the bullies got to her. I got up out of the chair and dumped my lunch. I scanned the cafeteria. She was no where to be seen. I could think of only three places she could be. 

 I hurried to the place in front of the stairs, where I often see a circle of boys attempting to harass a girl, mentally and physically. 

Nope. 

I ran back towards the cafeteria and walked inside the library. I quickly looked around. I only saw a few students here and there. Whether they were reading a book or hiding, possibly both, I didn't know. 

My heart swelled with worry. Why do I feel the need to protect her? I wondered. But shaking off my questions for the moment was what I needed to do to help her. So I continued my search. Lastly, I headed towards the hallway where most of the trouble boys hung out. I saw nothing there either. I hastily turned the corner, when I heard something.

It was crying. Coming from the janitor's closet. I walked closer to the closet. It was definitely crying. I pressed my body up to the door, and laid my ear against the wood. 

Muffled crying and sniffles were all I could hear now. It made me so sad. I sunk down to the bottom of the door and sat down. There wasn't enough courage to open the door. So I just sat there like a wimp until the bell rang. 

I couldn't focus. 

And as I walked home, I felt numb. I couldn't help her at all. I was so weak. 

For a few days it went on like this. I kept trying to open the door to ease her sadness (and beat the living crap out of whoever was causing her tears.)

Finally, it was the end of the week, and she still returned to English every day after lunch with red eyes and a worn down look. 

By Friday, I had enough. 

When I heard her crying again, I leaned against the door, and willed myself to gain the courage to help Delia. When I felt ready, I opened the door slowly. 

I was not prepared for the sight that I saw... 

She was huddled in the corner with her face in her hands, attempting to stifle the sounds of her sobs. She hadn't even noticed that I had come in until I closed the door behind me.