Spitting Image

Chapter 2

***Marcel's POV***

I could feel the blood trickling down my nose and head. They continued to kick me and punch me. I groaned with each impact, but never fought back. After three years, you learn it works out better if you don't. They're bearing me up a lot worse than normal, so I guess they're making up for the summer.

"R-Ricky? Oh, Ricky! Ricky stop! Please stop!" I hear a familiar voice sob.

Oh shoot. I never wanted Darcy to see me like this. She'd be to crushed. I'm strong, I've dealt with it for three years, and I can continue. I never wanted to burden her with this. These are my problems, not her. Besides, I would ruin her image. The beating stops as Ricky looks up to his girl.

"Darcy? Why are you defending the nerd? He doesn't matter, he just takes up space." Ricky says. Ouch, that hurt. Darcy pushes past them and looks down on me. I look away, unable to look her in the eye. She bends down without answering Ricky, and looks over my injuries.

"Marcel? Why didn't you ever tell me." She asks, the hurt evident in her voice. Then her attitude changes. A fire alights in her emerald eyes. She stands up, and turns to face Ricky. "You jerk! You bully! You worthless piece of-urgh!" She yells at him. I'm sure those are not the words running through her mind, but our mum never approved of swearing. "How could you do this to my brother?!" She stands slightly on her tip toes, making her the same height as him. We're both really tall. Well, so are my bullies.

"This is your brother? Oh, baby, I'm so sorry, I had no idea! If I ha-"

"If you had known what, Ricky? I think we both know even if you had known he is my brother, you would have bullied him the same! So you can just shut your lying trap!" She spats in his face. She bends down and begins to help me up. I wince with every move.

"Darcy, what can I do to help?" An unfamiliar voice asks.

"Please go find a teacher, find somebody! Marcel needs to see the nurse!" Darcy says as she struggles to hold me up. I look into the eyes of one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen. She hurries down the hall, checking in every classroom. Me and Darcy start walking toward the nurse's office, until something gets in our way. Or should I say, someone.

"Darcy, baby, don't do this. C'mon, you're one of the most popular girls, and I'm one of the most popular guys. We could do so much. We could rule the school." Ricky says in a tone that makes me uncomfortable.

"Out of my way, Ricky. Get this through your head: we are done, through, broken up. In other words, we are never getting back together. Like, ever. Now, please move." Darcy says with authority.

"You're going to regret this, Darcy Peters. Go run home to your poor Mummy and Daddy. Oh wait, you don't have a daddy because he didn't like you!" Ricky says through clenched teeth, but he steps out of the way. The comment about our dad is getting to Darcy, I can tell. She's always been sensitive about that. We make it to the nurses office where Katie is explains what happened. Mrs. Daylong, the nurse, clucks her tongue. Darcy helps me onto the table.

"I believe this is the worst yet, Marcel." She says. I simply look down and don't answer. Darcy looks back and forth between us.

"H-how often has this happened?" She asks.

"He comes to me three times a week. Sometimes more, never less. It's never been this bad though." Mrs. Daylong answers as she bandages my head. "They really went after you today, Marcel."

"Guess they were just making up for lost time over the summer." I mumble. Mrs. Daylong begins to examine my side. I flinch when she touches it, because it hurt pretty bad.

"I think you are going to want to go and get that x-rayed, alright?" She says. I nod. "Miss Peters, can you take your brother to the emergency room?"