"Lauren," a frantic distant voice searches for me across the void of unconsciousness, "Lauren..." Everything seems so distant and miles and miles away. I keep hearing my name being called, time and time again and I try and reach out to the person speaking but there is a darkness between me and them. Eventually I am shaken and open my eyes. The sudden light blinds me to the point of feeling sick and I try to sit up. I feel groggy. The image of the person calling my name comes into view, blurred at first, but becoming clearer with every second. Harriet. Harriet is here. "Oh my god Lauren," Harriet says, "You scared me half to death. I'll go and tell Matron you're awake." Harriet leaves the room, which I guess is the small room adjoining Matron's room. I still can't quite remember why I am here, but it suddenly comes washing back to me. Leighton and her ferocious whispering threats, Alexis and Toni's cruel laughs and Jake's lies. Jake. I moan and clutch my stomach. The guilt comes over me, wiping out any other emotion. I try and sit up but just collapse onto the bed. Harriet enters the room with Matron, armed with her medical kit. "What happened?" Harriet asks, as Matron patches up my wounds, "I came in to wash my hands and you were lying on the floor unconscious." I can't quite speak, I feel disconnected from her. I shake my head and indicate to Matron, who is watching Harriet beadily. Harriet nods in agreement. "It's some kind of physical violence, make no mistake," Matron says, "The nerve of some people. Thinking they can get away with beating a poor defenseless person up. Outrageous." "Yes Matron," Harriet agrees carefully, "Haven't you got to go and get the medical book?" "Ah yes," Matron smiles at me reassuringly, "I'll be back in a moment. Thank you Harriet."
"So," Harriet says to me as she closes the door, "What actually happened?" I clear my throat, trying to find the words the express the pain and anger I felt during those ten minutes. "Everything was going fine," I start, "Until Leighton and her friends came in. They were talking about someone sleeping with Leighton's boyfriend, who I found out was Jake. They said that he wanted to ruin my life." The tears start to come. Harriet indicates me to go on. "I came out of the cubicle and they started being horrid to me. Toni and Alexis grabbed me and pushed me against the wall," I recite, still blubbing, "Then Leighton started threatening me. She said if I touched her boyfriend again, it would be the last thing I'd ever do. Then, they broke me." Then I fully break down. I look at Harriet and she looks back at my tear-stricken face. "You were right," I cry, "Everything you said was right. I was such a fool to not believe you." "Look," Harriet says to me, trying to calm me down, "None of that matters now. True, it hurt me but I got through it. I knew you'd turn around. Never did I ever expect to see you lying in a bathroom, unconscious, covered in bruises and blood. I'd never want that to happen to anyone."
The door opens again but it is Jamie who walks in. He is covered in bruises too. I go and hug him, tears still spilling down my cheeks. He comes to sit on the bed with me and Harriet, and winces. "Jamie, what happened?" Harriet asks, "Who was it? Them?" Jamie nods, still wincing. "I pissed off Nate at the end of lunch. I called him a dumb shit." Jamie admits, a twitch of a smile coming back into his bruised face, "Which he is. He didn't see the funny side of it though." Another wave of guilt runs through me. Nate, who I was friends with. Nate, who I helped with Economics. He'd done that to Jamie. I looked at Jamie in disbelief. The door suddenly opens again. I don't think I could ever be prepared for who came through.
YOU ARE READING
The Price of Blood
VampireTwo parts. Two stories. Two points of view. Two outsiders trying to fit in in their respective worlds. One extraordinary event will bind them together. They should not be together. They should be enemies. Can they be more than friends?
