Band-Aids On Bruises

Distress

I watched from the dark of my house as Fisher turned and ran away from the glass sliding door, tears running down his face.

It hurt to say those things to him. After every word I just wanted to punch myself and tell him the truth, but I couldn't. I need him to hate me. If he hates me then he won't talk to me any more. If he doesn't talk to me he won't find out. If he doesn't find out, he won't get hurt.

I make my way up to my room. I can see Fisher running down the street to his house, probably still crying. My heart hurts, I didn't want to hurt him or to make him cry. Tears start falling down my face and I bury my head into pillow, I've been crying non-stop since I got home. There is a ice packet lying next to my bed that I had been using to tend to my bruises.

I haven't left the house to go to school. It still hurts when I move, and people will see my bruises and get suspicious. I'm mainly not going to avoid Tyler and his group, I don't ever want to see them again.

I pick up my phone. There are a ton of unread messages, all from Fisher. I ignore them once again and re-read the one that had been sent to me Wednesday night, I knew it was from Tyler. I don't know how he got my number, but I was more concerned about what the text said.

??? : If you tell anyone anything, I'll make your life a living hell. I have my ways. And if you even think about telling someone at school, well it would be a shame if something happened to them wouldn't it? Especially your dearest Fisher. If you would like to try and change my mind, you know where to find me, pet.

I shivered after reading it. I knew that it was just a text, and that Tyler probably didn't have anyway to do anything to me or my friends (besides beat us up) and that he was just trying to scare me. It still scared me though. I knew nothing about Tyler. I have no idea who he knows, what he does outside of school, and what he's capable of.

I climbed into my bed and pick up the ice packet and continue to lightly cry while I press the cool object onto my now purple bruises and red neck.

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I lay there until I hear a car drive into the driveway. I forgot my parents where coming home today, and I leap out of bed. Ignoring the intense pain that shot through my body.

I change my shorts into long pants and pull a big sweater over my tank top. I can't let them see the marks. I then grab some tissue boxes and place them around my room. Then I rush around the house and turn on some of the lights.

I grab some soup and pour it into a bowl and throw it into the microwave. I use my red nose and puffy eyes to my advantage. I pull the soup out of the microwave and begin to eat it. When my parents enter the house, I play it off as if I was sick. Coughing and blowing my nose every once in a while.

I inform them that I got really sick after the party and took two days off of school because I didn't want to make anyone else sick. I feel bad for lying, but I feel as if it's my only choice.

My parents buy it and send me off to bed. Later in the night, my mum comes in and takes my temperature. She tells me that it's not that high, and that I should go back to school.

I try to convince her otherwise, but she says that she doesn't want me to miss more than two days. I've got no choice, so I nod my head. My mum smiles and kisses me on the forehead, says goodnight and closes the door as she leaves my room.

I begin to panic. I didn't want to- I couldn't go back to school! I was counting on the weekend to let everybody (Tyler, Brad, Nick) forget about me, but now they would know I was coming back to school. And Tyler was going to find me, I just knew it.

I began to hyperventilate, and I knew I was having another panic attack. I curled into a little ball and tried to calm myself as the night rolled on. Eventually, I slipped into a dreamless sleep.

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[The Next Day]

When I woke, my body ached with pain. It felt worse than yesterday. Maybe it was just guilt pressing down on it that made it hurt. I was about to go back to sleep, when I remembered that I had to go to school today. I sighed and stood up.

I wobbled over to my dresser and scanned it contents for something that would hide my 'wounds'. I pulled out some dark blue jeans, something I didn't wear too much, and put them on. The fabric felt strange against my legs, and I made a mental note to never wear jeans after this.

Next, I needed a shirt. After moving my clothes around, I found something that was perfect for my condition. A turtle-neck. I looked out the window and saw that it was raining, perfect weather for these types of clothes.

I pulled the turtle-neck over my head, and was surprised to find that it was relatively comfy. I glanced over in my mirror for a moment, then did a double take. I didn't look like myself. No pastel or light colours in my outfit made me look like any other student. The only thing that made me stand out was my curly blond hair. I'd have to fix that.

I grabbed my bag, and filled it with  whatever I thought I would need today. Then I made my way downstairs. My mum had made breakfast for me, and she had packed my a lunch as well.

I smiled and chatted with her as I ate. She told me about the trip, and it almost felt like a normal day for me. Before the 'event' happened.

I finished my breakfast and put the lunch in my bag, thanking my mum. She kissed my forehead and we exchanged goodbyes and my dad came and said goodbye to me as well. I felt happy before I remembered that I had to go to school. 

At the last moment before I left the house, I noticed a black toque lying on a coat rack. I found myself grabbing it and putting it on my head. Then I made my way outside and began my walk to the school.

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I made it to school without seeing Fisher once, thankfully. I crept through the halls, doing my best to keep my head down and not be noticed. I didn't know if anyone was looking for me, but I had no idea if Tyler had scouts keeping their eyes open for me, or if people where going to tell Fisher that they saw me.

I arrived at my locker and opened it quickly. I then scurried away from it and headed to my class. There was still time left, so I just waited next to the door. I pulled out my phone and did my very best to be anti social.

I waited there until there was two minutes left before the bell would ring. I stood there, feeling calmer now. 'Maybe Fisher didn't come to school today.' my brain says. I want to be relieved at that idea, but it just makes me sad and worried.

The bell rings and I'm about to enter the class when I see a figure running down the hall. I already know who it is by just looking at it, and my heart swells but my brain cries 'No!'

It's Fisher.

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It's like magic, isn't it? How I can love one chapter then hate the next! Welp. I just thought Dustin needed a better reason to be mean to Fisher, but dam, that threat was lame and Dustin's choices make me annoyed. And I'm the one writing this!!!! But, yeah. I feel bad for the muffin though. ♪~ ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ