Hyperventilate

Chapter 2

"No matter how long you try to pretend, it won't go away."

I pushed the man off of me and looked around. I saw a male figure, about my age. He looked over at me and then walked away. I put my clothes back on, very sore from the assault. I was still bleeding, but it wasn't like I hadn't seen a little blood before. I made my way back home, and slipped on my uniform. I grabbed my bag and began to walk to school. 

I quickly put on my jacket, as it was quite cold. I entered the school gates, and examined myself. I obviously didn't fit in. I saw a group of girls walk past me, a lot taller than me. One of them looked my way and gave me a smart ass look. I glared at them and walked into the main building. I went to the office and was given all the information needed. I went to my locker and unlocked it. I was approached by a girl, slender with blonde hair, a lighter shade than mine. 

"You're pretty hot. I guess you're okay." She said, "But honey, take off those glasses, you look like a nerd!" She said spitefully. "Anyway, I'm Stacey, Queen Bee here at Auben High." She said, flicking her hair. All of the boys made googly eyes at her, swooning for their lives.  "I want YOU, to join the popular girls clique." She said, smiling at me. "You should do it.. I'd never be offered that chance in one hundred years.." A girl with a black droopy plait said. "Shut up, stupid." Stacey said, shoving the girl with the plait. I looked at her, I had only been here five minutes and now I was being offered the top spot. I looked her up and down, "This offer seems too good to be true, I've only just gotten here." I muttered. "What was that, hon?" She said, glaring at me. "You'll regret those words, I have the power to make the rest of your school life hell." She said, shoving me.

The girl with a dark plait approached me. "You should've accepted." She said, holding her books. "Anyway, I'm Jane." She said smiling, revealing her braces. "I'm Percy, nice to meet you. But I could tell there WAS something fishy about that girl." I said, looking her direction. "Yeah.. I guess you're right. I'm an outcast, so I would've jumped to the chance. Good thing you're observant." She said, looking at me with an intent look. "I saw you earlier, I was in the hospital, with my asthma." She said, sighing. I sighed too, I'd had to deal with similar breathing issues. "I don't have asthma, but my sister does... Lil..." I said, trying hard to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

Jane looked at me with a caring look, "You look as if your sister isn't doing so good, I saw you in the hospital this morning." I sighed, she was right, Lil wasn't doing so good. "Yeah... I guess you COULD say it that way." I said, thinking of my poor little sister, sitting in a hospital bed, hooked up to all sorts of machines that keep death away.  I imagined my parents, crying, hoping Lil will survive. I honestly don't think she will, she's been through this way too many times, her small little frail build cannot handle any more.

Jane gripped my hand, "I'm sure she'll be okay, just you wait." She said, but she sounded uncertain all the same. My hope suddenly dropped, I was certain she wasn't going to make it. The bell sounded, signalling us to go to class. "I've got art now, you?" Jane asked. "No, I've got science, sorry." I said, shrugging. I sighed and walked towards the science room. 

I entered the room and every single person in it stared at me like I had something on my face. I sighed, this wasn't unexpected, I was the new girl, everyone thought I had some sort of good quality about me. I saw a group of boys making googly eyes at me, I gave them a glare, boy if only looks could kill. They were taken aback and started whispering abruptly. I sat down in the only spare seat I could see, right by the window. I mentally facepalmed when I realized that group of boy's chairs were right next to me.  

One of them approached me, tall, dark hair. I would've thought him good looking, but he had acted like a complete jerk just a moment ago. "What do you want?" I grumbled, "Feisty. I just wanted to tell you that my friends aren't always stupid." He said, "Why are your cheeks all pink, first time talking to a girl?" I mocked, smirking. "N-No!" He said, walking off, his face red. I usually had that sort of effect on people, but I honestly didn't care.

The long dreary lessons dragged on for what seemed like a million years, but we pushed through. The home-bell rang, and I went to my locker to get my things. "Hey, how was your first day?" Jane said, smiling. I smiled back, "Yeah, it was pretty good!" I said, grabbing my books and stuffing them into my bag. "Well, that's good!" She chuckled. "I have to go home, when you've got two worried to death parents at home, you're sort of needed." I said, smiling apologetically. "Alright, see you tomorrow?" Jane asked, "Yep! You know it!" I said, as I headed out of the door.

I was stopped by a rather large person, they grabbed me by the back of my collar. I was dragged behind the building, I was worried, I'd already been through something probably a lot worse than this in the morning. I struggled, "Percy, stop." I heard a low, male voice say. How did he know my name? I looked up, tall, dark hair. I knew this person. "You are Percy, right?" He said, unsure. I nodded, realizing something. He was the one who saved me this morning, from that smelly (possibly homeless) drunk! "Y-You saved me..." I whispered. He nodded, looking away from me.

"Why did you think to do that? You didn't have to help me!" I spluttered, unused to such attention. "I-I wasn't helping you." He said, trying to hide his blush by turning away from me. I shrugged, he was obviously trying to play hard to get. I chuckled, "Anyway.." I said, turning so my back faced his. "Your name?" I muttered. "Oh! Oh! I-I mean, A-Adam.." He said, trying to make a smooth recovery. I sighed, god were boys useless. "I'm gonna go.." I muttered, walking away. 

I walked home. I heard thunder, then all of a sudden, a down-pour began. I groaned, great. I walked through the door, "Mom?" I called, dad wouldn't be home yet, he'd be at work. I went into the bathroom and walked toward the shower, I really needed to freshen up. I stopped and stared, I saw blood everywhere. The sink, the floor, everywhere.