Emily's Escape

Chapter 8

It was Monday and it was in school. I was sitting in math. I was listening carefully. Then the bell rang and everyone hurried outside. I packed my things together and did the same. It was lunchtime and everyone was headed to the cafeteria.

I had my apple in my bag, but I didn't want to eat it in the cafeteria. I walked outside and saw Carter, Tyler, Max and all of the other popular guys. I gave Carter a small smile and walked passed them. I didn't think he would want to talk to me in front of all the popular guys. They were all ordered to hate me by Ashley.

"Hey, Emily!" Carter called out for me. I turned around surprised.

"Uhm, yes?" I asked. Didn't he realize everyone could hear him? He did a motion for me to come over to him. Even the guys looked surprised as I walked to him.

"Emily, this is Tyler, Max, Josef, Alec and Jonas," he said pointed towards the boys. I knew them. We had been friends just last year. I had so many memories with these guys.

"Uhm, yeah, I know," I said and looked down to my shoes.

"Carter, you're a fucking idiot. She used to be popular; she used to be one of us. That's before, well, whatever happened," Jonas spoke. This was so awkward.

"Oh, right, shit, sorry, I forgot," Carter said, and looked just as awkward as we all did.

"What's going on here?" Ashley's voice rung in my ears. Shit. She and all of the popular girls walked out of the school.

"Why are you talking to her?" Celia asked and gave me a disgusted look. I began to shake under the girl's glares.

"Carter asked her over," Josef said and wrapped an arm around Ashley. They were apparently dating, or so the rumor told.

"Why?" Lea scoffed. I felt my heart tighten. Lea had been my best friend. She wrapped a lock of her black hair around her finger.

Nobody really said anything.

"Because she is my friend," Carter said. All of the girl's head snapped towards him. It would have looked funny in another situation.

"Ashley, do you have a problem with that?" Carter spoke again. Ashley scoffed.

"Dude, don't talk like that to her," Josef said. And stepped closer towards Carter. I felt myself flinching. Josef was the leader back when I was popular. He shouldn't be tested.

"Dude, step back. We both know I'll beat your ass," Carter said and scoffed. What?

He would get hurt if he kept talking like that. Josef was the bad ass in school. He was tall and buff.

What surprised me, even more, was when Josef stepped back. What was going on?

That's when I really noticed. Carter, he was really tall and really muscular. I had never noticed it before. He was actually really big.

I got it now. The two boys were in a battle for the alpha crown. All groups always had a leader. I guess Carter and taken Josef's place. I wasn't that surprised; a lot seemed to have happened while I was minding myself.

"Josef," Ashley said and pulled him towards her. She also knew what was going on.

Josef stepped back and with that, he lost the imaginary fight.

Carter scoffed and left, Max and Tyler quickly followed with big smirks on their faces.

I stood with all of the girls and Josef, Alec and Jonas.

So...

"I'm just going to go," I nearly whispered.

"You should, you don't belong here," Ashley said then all of the girls giggled.

I went out to the bleachers and sat at the top.

What just happened?

Being in my own thoughts I didn't hear Carter coming. I only noticed him when he sat down beside me.

"Hey," he said.

"Please don't involve me in that," I said bluntly.

"In what?"

"You know, the whole popularity drama. I have been there before and there's a reason I left," I said truthfully.

He chuckled.

"Yeah, I don't even know why I'm involved in it," he chuckled again. I looked up at him.

"You look more than involved, you look like the leader," it was true.

"They're scared because they know I'm stronger than them."

He sounded so confident.

"Have you eaten?" he asked.

"Uhm, no, not yet," I said and got out my apple from my bag.

He looked down at the apple. "Do you feel better?"

I did, I wasn't as cold and I could concentrate this morning in math.

"Uhm, yeah, a little," I said, but I knew that I had to fast again in, at most, two weeks. That was my schedule. Fast about a week, and then eating little, but something, in two weeks.

"Good, I'm glad," he sounded sincere but I wouldn't know.

"Do you care about me?" It flew out of me and my hands quickly went to my mouth trying to take back the words. Carter didn't seem shocked, though. He just chuckled a little.

"Of course I do," he started.

"No, please don't answer that. I don't even know where that came from, I'm so sorry," I said and stood up. I needed to leave. Right now.

"Emily," carter said and grabbed my wrist. "Don't go, it's fine," he said and pulled me down. I looked into his eyes. I felt so embarrassed.

"Please, let me go, Carter!" I ordered. He didn't though.

"No," he said and laughed.

"Carter!" I couldn't get out of his grab.

"No!"

I kept trying to go and he kept holding me down. How was he that strong?

I struggled for about 5 minutes. At first, it was funny, but I quickly felt my patience slip away. I was hungry and tired. I didn't have time for this.

"Carter! It's not funny anymore!" I said and he quickly let me go. I took my bag and looked at him.

"I... I have to get to class now," I said and walked away.

When I got back inside the school I walked past Ashley, Lea and the other girls. I mentally begged that they wouldn't notice me. But, of course, they did.

"Emily?" Ashley said.

I turned around. They all waved me over. I got nervous but walked to them.

"What are you doing with him?" Lea spat.

"I don't know what you are talking about," I said low and looked to my shoes.

"Carter, what are you doing with Carter Woods?" Ashley asked.

"I'm not doing anything with Carter, we work together in English, that's it," I didn't really feel like saying that he also ordered me to eat sometimes.

"I don't get it. Why you? I've been trying to get with him for like two weeks now. You must be doing something differently?" Nina, a tall dark haired girl said.

That was unexpected.

"Nina, shut up!" Lea hissed. Nina rolled her eyes and turned to me again.

"I'm not doing anything. I'm sorry," I said and walked away. I didn't really know what to say. Was Nina jealous of Carter and me? There wasn't even anything to be jealous about.

I walked to class and sat down in my seat. I couldn't concentrate, though.

Nina was jealous. I have never experienced that before.