Words That Cut Too Deep

Chapter 2

Natalie

I walked into school with my head down, as usual. A few months ago, I would've smiled at Renee and Demi when I passed by. Now, I moved my hair in front of my face and tried to duck away.

"Whore." Renee spat as I shuffled by. So much for ducking away.

"Slut." Demi huffed as I walked on. Some guy stood next to them, probably laughing along. The school's ugly beige walls felt looming suddenly, and I was conscious of the crowds of students that jostled me on the way to their classes. A silent tear slid down my face. I wiped it away furiously, accidentally scratching my face with my ragged nail. I pulled my hand away to see blood on my fingers. My face was bleeding. I groaned.

"Hey." I heard a voice from behind me as I whipped my locker open. I tuned slowly, preparing for another snide comment by some other popular jerk.

"What?" I said defensively, ready to make a break for it. I glared at the guy standing in front of me. He had been with Renee and Demi a few seconds ago. He was tall, huge compared to my own 5'6", and he had dark tan skin. He flipped his wavy dark brown hair out of his eyes, which sparkled emerald green. He grinned with stunning white teeth. And God was he standing close to me.

He raised his hands up in surrender at the ice in my voice. "Sorry." he replied. "I just noticed your cheek was bleeding. I wanted to make sure you were okay." He relaxed his arms, but I could still make out the toned muscles through his tight white tee shirt and his dark blue jeans.

"I'm fine." I snapped. His eyebrows raised in surprise. He was obviously cocky, and he probably expected me to melt at his concern for the damsel in distress. But I didn't need saving. I closed my locker and began to walk away.

"Wait!" He called from behind me. I turned halfway around and looked at him through the corner of my eye. He closed the sparse distance between us in a second. "I'm Conner." He put his hand out in the inches of space between our bodies. I stared at him.

"'Kay." I replied indifferently. I spun around and continued off, ignoring the shocked expression on his face.

Conner

"Just flirt with her, whatever, I don't care!" Renee ordered and Demi nodded in agreement. I rolled my eyes. Before me stood Renee, Miss Nerd Turned Popular After Natalie Apparently Became The Devil, and Demi, who smiled and nodded.

"Think of it as an initiation." Renne went on, twirling her unnaturally dark blond hair between her fingers, which had an ugly crimson paint. "You'll fit right in after this."

"Are you sure?" I asked, unsure. "Being mean doesn't seem like the way to make friends." Renee scoffed.

"I swear he's never been to a high school before!" She said to Demi, who giggled softly. I saw the vacant look in her eyes that said 'I have absolutely no idea what's going on here, I wonder what color to dye my hair next time?'

"There she is!" Renee whispered and pointed to a girl walking towards the school. She was slim and had smooth white-blond hair that fell halfway down her back. She used that hair to shield her face as she passed us.

"Whore!" Renee said to her.

"Slut!" Demi followed suit. Natalie continued to walk, but in my peripheral vision I saw her wipe a tear off. I looked at them incredulously. Renee shrugged.

"Go, now!" She pushed me towards the school. I sighed and shoved through the heavy double doors. I spotted Natalie immediately by her locker. She stuck out because no one kept within a five foot radius of her. She seemed to have an invisible bubble wrapped around her. I walked over.

"Hey." I said. I plastered on an easy smile. Her shoulders tightened and she turned around uneasily. My face fell in shock. She was beautiful. Her skin was a light olive and her eyes were a dark sapphire blue. She looked at me cautiously, and her eyes sparkled with nervousness. She also had a small cut on her cheekbone that was bleeding. It looked like a red tear at first glance. I wanted to reach out and wipe it off her smooth skin and trace her cheek...Whoa Conner stop it right there.

"What?" She said, her snippy tone surprising me. I held up my hands.

"Sorry." I replied, trying to sound friendly. I smiled sweetly. "I just noticed your cheek was bleeding. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine." She said sharply. She slammed her locker and walked away.

"Wait!" I called after her, forgetting my job for a minute. I walked over to her quickly. "I'm Conner." I said gently, and held my hand out. She looked at me for a moment like I had two heads.

"Kay." She abruptly turned away, leaving me there with my hand extended like an idiot. I simply watched her retreating figure in tight black skinny jeans. Wow. I was in trouble.