The Hunting Season

3 :: Falling on cement

I dangled my feet over the edge. How easy would it be? To just jump and fall and then wash away?

I swung my legs, back and forth like a pendulum. Right, left, right, left. The wind caught my hair and tugged at my clothing as I gripped the cement wall, it's rough texture cold in my hands.

I could jump. I could do it. I can't swim, and it would be so easy to just fall off here.

Black clouds swallow the sky like black thoughts that swallow the mind.

At first, I thought it weird to have a bridge in the middle of the school, I mean, why have a river in the middle of the grounds?

But now, I like it. Technically the area is out of bounds and students are forbidden to come here. Apparently the bridge is old, and will break.

That didn't stop me.

No one comes around here, the grass is all dead from the lack of watering, there's absolutely no rubbish and funny enough, there's no graffiti.

Different from what I'm used to.

I wriggle forward towards the edge. The water is raging down there, swirling and swallowing. I'd drown in there.

I know it.

I don't think as I close my eyes and lean forward. Gravity pulls me down, then, something grabs me around the shoulders and pulls me back.

We're thrown against the road of the bridge.

"Are you fucking insane?" Ben yelled, pulling himself up.

I rolled my eyes, "What the hell Ben? I was gonna jump and what do you do, swoop in and save me."

His gaze narrows on me, "You were trying to kill yourself? Death by water huh? I'm sorry but it wouldn't kill you quick enough."

"I don't know you, I don't know the reputation you have, but next time Ben, save the next girl Goddammit!" the worst thing about it all was that I was angry.

"God Laura, you think I go around saving people," he chuckles, "I don't save people."

"Then why did you stop me?!" really, it was a pretty normal question to ask.

"Because I like you. I don't hate you like the rest of these idiots. You get it. I can tell. You understand what it's like to be different." Ben knelt down, "I just don't want to be alone in this hell again."

Well this was unexpected.

"Didn't I tell you the first day I came here that I don't do 'friends'?" I mumbled, my anger travelling away.

"I don't know, like you said, I don't know you Laura. But I do know that you have a dark mind obviously, you keep to yourself. Your past is something you don't want to remember. And that's how we are the same."

"You gather all that from what just happen?" I ask, wiping my hair away from my face. I had caught my breath and my anger had subsided slightly.

Ben grinned, "No, of course not. Just by the way you act in general."

"You sound like my stalker." I laughed. He beamed and something in my gut registered that there was no taking anything back and we were suddenly friends.

Ugh, the F word.

I shook my head, hand on hip and simply said, "Come on psycho."

+++

The cycle had started. As I walked awkwardly to the canteen I noticed everyone looking at me. Whispers exploded around the room like a poisonous leaking gas.

Great.

I grabbed what I wanted (packet of chips) and walked away.

Walking past a table, I noticed three girls sitting there all smug like.

Well I found the bitch table.

I kept walking past then suddenly the world tipped off its axis and I was clutching the cement ground.

Oh joy.

I glared at the snickering girls and stood up.

"Are you okay?" a sweet voice asked, dripping with sarcasm.

I turned, "I'm great thanks." I was about to walk away when it registered, "Oh, and look. You obviously don't want to be seen with me so next time how about you keep your leg to yourself like a good daddies girl and we will go our separate ways. Yeah? Good."

She scoffed as I patted her on the head. Her sweet smile fell on the floor and her face only showed a sneer with her nose turned up.

Classic!

"Look, Lora, how about you walk away before you hurt yourself... Again." she laughed as though she said something clever.

"Look bitch. How about you keep your fat leg out of my way? Or are you incapable of that?" I had my eyes narrowed and I was leaning over the table now, towering over her.

Her blonde hair fell in ringlets and her blue eyes sparkled. "I'm totally capable. The question here is are you stable?"

Oh, low hit. Nice move, but a bad one. "Stable? You?" I chucked my head up and laughed, howling. "I guess the only stability you have is sitting between some strangers hips."

She gasped and stood up. In the movies this is where she'd say something about how her 'Daddy' is gonna hear about it.

All this girl did was get right up in my face.

I wasn't aware that I was that attractive.

"I don't know who you think you are Lora, but you are a real bitch."

"Oh no." I started yelling now, "Look out everyone, apparently I'm a bitch. Ooh!"

The girls eyes narrowed then suddenly relaxed looking passed me. She smiled and cooed, "Oh, hi Ben."

Behind me was Ben. His big frame making mine looking tiny.

"Is there a problem?" he asked in a teacher like voice. I wanted to laugh.

The girl batted her eyelashes, "Oh... Lora was just telling everyone what a bitch she was."

I grinned.

Ben glanced at me with an amused smile on his face. "I'm afraid Katy, the only bitch around here is you."

The girl, Katy, looked shocked. She pushed passed me and clutched Ben's shoulder.

"Ben, baby. Are you really sticking up for the newbie over me?" she looked at him with puppy dog eyes. I crossed my arms.

It's clear Katy usually got her way.

Man, I hate spoilt daddies girls.

Ben pushed her back, "Yeah Katy, I am."

Suddenly it was like the entire school hierarchy had come shattering down into nothing but glass shards.

I could feel the fear everyone felt for Ben as he grabbed my hand and dragged me out of there. I could also feel the fear they now felt for me.