This One's for the Broken

Chapter 6- Here's to the Recovering

It had been a month since that dreadful night. 

Rebel didn't come to school for two weeks. 

What really happened that night was horrible. And Rebel told me the whole story a few days after she got back from the hospital. 

"A drunk man, he looked about my age, grabbed me when I was talking out the garbage. He stuck a syringe in my arm and I was out cold. When I woke up, I was on the roof of the school. The drunkard was sitting next to me, with his feet dangling off the edge. I tried to get up, but he noticed and shoved me down. Then he began to punch me, and claw me. I kicked and fought back, and he ran off." 

She didn't have her phone that night. And she was too scared to make her way down from the roof. 

So Rebel just sat, waiting. For what? We have no idea. 

And everyday since, I'd visit her. Make sure she was holding up. And when her mom had to go to work, and her brother did too, I'd go to her house and make sure nothing happened to her. 

We were in art when someone first had the guts to question about what had happened. 

I bet a kid was with his friends, after some party, and heard the sirens rushing by. Another one was probably studying, when the blue and red lights zoomed past their house. 

Their night was the same as always. But ours wasn't. 

"Rebel, what happened that night?" 

It was Jenny, a popular girl who everyone loved. I saw Rebel's friend, Liz, who was also her constant visitor, look up and gave me a look to do something. 

Typical Liz. Always bossing me around.

Rebel looked shocked, and looked to me for help. 

"Well come one, Savage, everyone is dying to know what happened," Jenny pressed on. She also added an annoying giggle at the end. 

I hated that girl.

Did I say everyone liked her? Well everyone but the sensible people liked her.  

"Jenny, everyone will survive without knowing," I retorted. Everyone in the class was looking at us. And our quiet art teacher, Mr. Smith, has his headphones in. 

Rebel looked at Jenny, then to me, and then to her paper. 

Another girl, Ashley, spoke up. 

"Probably getting stoned and the cops caught her." 

Everyone giggled. Rebel shook her head. 

I held back everything and took a deep breathe. 

"Looks like her boyfriend was there too!" 

I stood up, slammed my hands on the table, and gave everyone a look, then grabbed my backpack, and walked out of the classroom. I heard Rebel follow. 

Turning around, I saw her quietly standing there. I wrapped my arms around her, and she buried her head in my neck. Gently, I stroked her hair.

She looked up at me. And I looked into her eyes. The rebel had lost the fire in her eyes. 

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After school, we walked to the park, and sat on the swings. 

Back and forth. 

Back and forth. 

We swung in silence, listening to some little kids running around and yelling. 

The mom made sure her kids didn't come anywhere near the swing set.  

Rebel glanced at the happy cheerful kids running and playing.