Battle Scars

three

The big thing at Westman High School is the story of Ethan Quinn.

Some say he committed suicide, others say he's a maniac stuck behind bars, and I think the main one is "Ethan got hit by a train."

None of those I believe. I don't believe one word out of these phonies' mouths. I think this Ethan guy is still alive, and possibly even stable somewhere.

I never knew him. I've just heard his name multiple times since the beginning of this year.

Ethan Quinn this, Ethan Quinn that, the gossip never ends.

But I guess that's just how high school works.

"Ms Collins." I hear my biology teacher, Mr Freeman say my name.

"Y..yes?" I stutter as I snap back to reality, repeatedly tapping my foot on the ground as anxiety hits.

"Did you hear my question, or is daydreaming more important than a diploma?"

The whole class starts giggling and snickering. My cheeks start feeling hot. I tuck my hands under my bracelets.

"I said, who was the inventor of evolution? We went over this numerous times."

Was this question supposed to be easy?

"It's Charles Darwin, fish girl!" Some kid from the back of the class yells.

The entire class starts laughing, and soon enough, my eyes begin to water.

I swear shit like this happens every day, I don't know how I'm not used to it by now.

"Is she crying? She's that emo?" I hear two girls whisper amongst themselves.

I run out of the classroom, not giving a shit if Mr Freeman calls security. I can't let an entire class watch me break down.

I run to the bathroom and lock myself in a stall. I softly cry to myself to let it out.

I stay there for a good ten minutes before I hear a knock on my stall door.

"Yeah, um..I'm fine!" I blurt.

"Amber?"

I didn't know who it was until I opened the stall.

There stood Lynn, another old 'friend' of mine. She's not too fond of Veronica, but neither is she of me.

She glares down at my sobbing face. 

"What the hell happened to you?"

I sniffle and wipe my nose, then deeply exhale.

"Life happened, Lynn."

"Don't be all emo, Amber. The world isn't all about you."

That was it. That's what got me all boiled up inside. I couldn't take it anymore, I didn't want to take it anymore.

"You know what Lynn," I start.

She turns around and faces me.

"Fuck you." I finish, not knowing what else to say. But I do admit, it felt good.

Lynn is not the type of girl you want to mess with. She could kick anyone's ass at this horrible school. 

Tall, badass, gym-rat type of girl.

"Well you know what I'm sick of, Amber?" A bad adrenaline rush starts to soar through me. Oh no.

"I'm sick of all of this! Your cutting and you begging for someone to feel sorry for you! Well guess what, Amber Collins."

She leans down to my level.

"Nobody cares. You're worthless just like the rest of this damn school. You're not going to get attention from this," She yanks my arm out and then throws it back to my side. "So just stop."

She starts to walk away, then turns back and speaks.

"You're an attention whore. Just like Ethan Quinn."

I throw a punch at her and miss as she ducks, hitting the mirror behind her. The mirror shatters and my knuckles start to sting. A drop of blood hits the tile floor.

She turns around. "Bitch, what the hell!" She says while getting me in a headlock. I claw her arm and wheeze as an attempt to get out.

"You know not to mess with me, why the hell did you just mess with me!"

I elbow her in the face and her grip releases. Looking back, I see blood start to drip from her nose. She charges back at me with the most devilish look I have ever seen in somebody's eyes.

Just then, security walks in. Two large men split us up and try to calm us down.

Next thing I know, I'm in the principals office sitting next to the bitch I once called a friend. She holds a tissue up to her nose.

"What am I supposed to do with you girls, suspend you?" Principal Allen says in disappointment.

"That'd be nice. It would get me away from this attention seeking emo."

I'm so tempted to punch her face in.

"Three day suspension for the both of you. I hope you learn from this, ladies."

.          .          .

My mom refuses to exchange looks with me as she drives me home in Walt's old, beat-up jeep. She shakes her head every few minutes. I sit quietly in the passengers seat. I know that if I say anything she will explode.

"I just can't believe this, Amber. You've been at school for only two weeks and now this happens?"

I stay silent. No use in arguing with her. Just like Veronica, she always wins.

"You're grounded. For a whole week."

Silence.

She looks down at me when she hits a red light. I pretend like I dont notice her and play with my bracelets.

"Let me see your arms." She says suddenly.

My heart starts pounding, and that bad adrenaline comes back.

"W...why?"

"Let me see them."

I refuse. She hits her breaks when we get to a secluded road and grabs my arm, ripping off my bracelets. My heart starts to race.

She looks absolutely horrified.

"That's it!" She says.

"What?"

"I'm so sick of this, Amber! You need to get your emotions together. I'm admitting you to the Westman Hospital."

"You're doing what!!"

And that's how it all started..