In My Defense

The Harder They Fall (Literally)

Chapter Eight

My phone buzzed from underneath my pillow. It was Ryan. How did he get my number? The only people that knew it were adults at school.

Hey it's Ry.

I rolled my eyes at my phone.

What? Can't this wait until school?

I rolled over and closed my eyes for two minutes until my phone vibrated again.

Yeah... But I'm outside your house.

WHAT.

WHAT?

I leaped out of bed and checked my face. Shit. I scooped up a huge blob of mouse cover-up and smeared it all over my face. My bruises were almost completely healed, just little yellow stains on my otherwise porcelain skin.

A persistent tap was coming from the door when I reached it.

I swung it open to find a very handsome-looking Ryan. RAELYNN ALICE. Never think that again.

"Did you just wake up or did a Rae sized tornado hit you?" He was smiling. The dimple smile. I gulped.

"Oh. Um, I was just about to get ready. Come in." I forced a smile as I waved him inside. When we reached my room, I took off my sweater and pulled my hair back into a ponytail.

Ryan sucked in an audible breath. "What the hell happened to you arms?"

I cringed. The thin scars trailing up the length of my arm.

"Where were you?!" Franks voice boomed after me as I ran to the safety of my room.

"You said I could go to Lindsey's!" I screamed back at him. I should've kept my mouth shut.

Frank's eyebrows raised so high I'd thought they'd fall off. "Oh, did I?"

"Y-yes." My voice betrayed me, and that's how he knew to advance.

He threw me across the room, my arms flying to catch something. I ended up grabbing Frank's shirt bringing him down with me. All the air left me body as I struggled under his crushing weight.

"That's it! You're just like her! Stay there, damn it!" He boomed into the kitchen and brought back a large knife.

I was desperately trying to wiggle away, still gasping for air. He moved his way towards me slowly. It was a game to him. He wanted to see if I could run away before I got to him. And I did. I caught my breathe and tried to regain my composure. Then I felt an oozing sensation run down my arm. He glided the knife across my shoulder as I got up. My mistake was stopping to look at it.

"I've got you!"

Each time the blade connected, Frank would take an antagonizing time to make it down my arm. I didn't struggle because I knew that one wrong move was all it took to kill me.

"Oh," I tried to sound casual. "Camping accident."

Ryan smiled faintly. "Well, I'll wait downstairs while you get ready."

"Okaaaay."

Ryan quietly shut the door behind him, leaving me alone to get ready for hell. I mean school.

I decided to wear my hair back since it was warm, and I didn't have any bruises on my face anymore. I wore lipstick and possibly some blush. And eyeliner. Because eyeliner makes me happy. My best blue jeans were clean and I pulled on a tight-ish gray (long-sleeve, duh) shirt with some lyrics and signatures from small bands I knew. Why was I doing all this? I don't know. It felt like a special occasion.

I raced down the stairs to see Ryan holding his jacket in his hands revealing his (gorgeous, firm and yummy) arms.

"Whoa. You look..." Ry trailed off.

"Stupid? Because if there's time I can go cha-"

"No,no. You look different. In a good way." He smiled at his feet and scratched the back of his head. "Let's go."

I tried to stand close to him but I get anxiety standing to close to people sometimes. But I tried to swallow whatever ridiculous fear I had, and stood about two inches away from Ryan (this is a big deal, are you proud of me or what).

"What's all that writing on your shirt?"

I looked down because I forgot I was wearing normal people clothes. "I used to go to small gigs and for someone reason, I'd always wear this shirt. I asked every band member to write their favorite song lyric of all time and then sign it. Kind of a memorabilia of bands no will probably remember."

Ryan was looking me weird. He was smiling, but it was this goofy smile that also showed his dimple.

"Do you do that on purpose?" He asked me suddenly.

"What the frick are you talking about?"

"Like, you seem to be unintentionally deep. You see things differently, like a writer, or an artist."

I smiled and said, "Or a musician?"

"Exactly. And that's what you are. Keep at it, okay?" This seemed extremely urgent.

"Well, of course. What else am I to do?" A high pitch laugh broke out behind me and I groaned.

"Freaks!" Lena yelled.

I spun around on my heels. "Hi, Lena. Long time no see, Oh! And I see he did last you more than a week. I'm not sure if you're trying to prove something to yourself or to me, but either way I am very impressed. Loved the chat. Tell your mom I said hi!"

I turned back around and grabbed Ryan's hand walking away fast.

"Where you think you're going, cheap whore?" Lena called after me. I ignored her but then I was making out with the floor due to a powerful thing colliding with my head. Probably a rock that she found in her head.

"What the hell?" Ryan screamed. My vision was fuzzy but I could make out him getting in Lena's face. I couldn't be sure but she looked terrified and I didn't blame her. Ryan towered over her, practically breathing fire.

He pushed her and her boy-toy (I forgot his name and it doesn't matter) advanced towards Ryan. But Ryan saw him coming and swung so hard that it even made me dizzy. Boy-toy was out like a light while Lena cowered on the ground.

Ry kneeled to her size. "Leave Raelynn alone," he growled.

She nodded frantically.

Ryan made his way back to me. "Are you okay, Raelynn?"

I grunted. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Can you stand?"

I couldn't pretend now. I knew I was hurt and that Ryan was the only one close enough to help me.

"No. I need help." Ryan helped me to my feet and we trudged along to the teachers' lounge.

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I wrote this in like two seconds before I went to bed because idk I had a miraculous break-through or something. Let me know if anything doesn't seem right because I usually correct the chapters AFTER I publish them, but yeah. Thank you!