D e a n

o n e

Effy Williams slammed into the rough, cold surface of the lockers in the girls' locker room. Zoey Greer and Sophia Bennett held her arms back as Veronica, the 'ringleader' of the group, swung her perfectly manicured fists into her stomach repeatedly.

Effy screwed her eyes and clenched her teeth, taking each hit.

"Come on, bitch. Fight back!" Veronica roared as she swung and clocked Effy in the ribs. She was beginning to get bored with beating up the frail girl who never fought back. It was like kicking an already dead dog. It was boring for her. Sophia and Zoey snickered as they held her up for another hit.

"Vee," Bridget Silvers, who stood at the doorway on lookout duty, called as she quickly rushed in. She hesitated for a moment and cringed when Veronica sent another hit into Effy's abdomen. "Vee, someone's coming. We gotta go."

Effy looked at Bridget through squinted, watery eyes. When Bridget quickly turned away, Effy found herself less than surprise. She should have known, by now, Bridget wouldn't help. She wouldn't intervene or cross Veronica.

Veronica swung again, and Effy cried out through gritted teeth.

Zoey laughed, and Sophia said, "Come on, Vee. She's done."

Veronica stood back, her fist clenching and her brows knitted, and watched the way the tears streamed down her cheeks. She squinted at her like she were a slimy worm on her shoe. All Veronica wanted to do was slap her. But she knew, never in the face. That was their one rule. No visible bruises otherwise people would start asking questions. She grabbed Effy by the shoulders and held her upright as her knee shot up and struck her just under the ribs. Effy crumbled with a loud 'oof.' She curled on the floor and let the warm tears run down her flushed cheeks—the pain in her abdomen intensifying and pulsing.

Veronica crouched down by her side. She tangled her hand in her hair and yanked Effy's head back. In her ear, she hissed, "Stay the fuck down, bitch." Bridget handed Veronica her bag, and the four walked out laughing, leaving a physically and mentally exhausted Effy slumping on the ground.

Effy stayed curled on the floor for a moment as she let the pain subside. A few moments later Mr. Kennedy came rushing in.

"Elizabeth? Are you alright?" Mr. Kennedy asked with a concerned tone of voice as he bent down at her side. Completely forgetting how much Effy loathed her birth name and preferred the nickname Dean had given her when they were children. Since 'Elizabeth' was too difficult for little Dean to pronounce correctly, he would call her Effy for short. Up until that moment, Effy liked her name. She saw no flaw in it. But from that moment on, she despised her birth name with everything in her and began going by Effy. She grabbed her bag and let Mr. Kennedy helped her up to her feet. 

"Yes, sir." She croaked out with a weary voice. She brushed her slender fingers through her hair to smooth out the tangles and fixed her shirt. "I'm fine."