Promise I Will

06

My head rests on my forearms, and the teacher stands at the front of the class speaking nonsense that I have no idea about. My papers lay under my arms, words scribble the pages, but I could barely make out my own name. I have never liked writing notes. Heck, I have never liked school to begin with.

I lift my head ever so slightly and find the clock with a quick glance. Ten more agonizing minutes. You can make it; my conscience tells me. Just hold on, you can make it.

I sigh and my head falls to my folded arms once more. I few things hit my head softly, I barely notice, until a sharp pencil makes contact with the back of my neck. I wince and hold my head up. I turn and see Olivia and her goons snickering in the back seats. I face the front and the teacher is sitting at her desk not seeing a thing.

I swiftly move my tongue in my mouth to soothe the anger boiling within me. Again, I glance at the clock, eight more minutes.

Another pencil hits my back and falls to the floor. Still the teacher doesn't see a thing, and if he does, she doesn't care. Sometimes I wonder if it's even in their job description to stop bullying. They never seem to see a thing.

I huff grabbing my books off the table and stuffing my papers inside my binder. "Where do you think you're going, Anna?" I give her a look and say, "Somewhere that isn't here."

With that, I strut out of the class with the cries of Olivia and her goons telling me to go fuck a pig. Why, I don't know.

The cool, crisp air of the hallway hit my face and I sigh in defeat. I just let them win. I let them make fun of me and let them burst me like a bubble. I let them rip me in two like a piece of paper. I rush down the hall fumbling with my feet as I do. I turn corners and go through doors, and downstairs, when I come to a janitor's closet. I don't think, and take the handle and rush in.

"You are stupid!" I yell.

"You're ugly!"

"You're garbage."

"You're nothing!" I scream, pushing a cart of cleaning supplies, letting them fall and hit the ground with a hash clash. The door handle makes and noise, and my breath hitches in my throat.

"Hello?" A familiar voice booms. I let out a breath but try to cover it. Too late.

"Anna?" I crane my neck to look up. My face reads surprised. He knows my name.

"How do you know my name?" I ask almost silently.

"You in every single one of my classes. It would be weird if I didn't know your name..." I don't know who his voice is familiar. The light is turned on and I am met with a boy, with unnatural blonde hair.

Suddenly, I remember him. "I ran into you..." I say spontaneously.

"Yeah, Carson..." He holds out his hand for me to take. I stare at it, scared.

"I won't hurt you," he whispers. I lift my hand to his and his grip is soft and tender. Like he believes I'll break. Too bad I'm already broken.

"Why are you in here?" He says.

"You said you were in all my classes?" I raise my eyebrow. He nods, "Then you should know I left class." I state.

He just nods and I sigh.

"So why were you running that day?" He asks but doesn't let me respond before he answers his own question. "My mate Wyatt, he said he was chasing you after you yelled at him. He was only trying to help you." He blabs.

"I don't need help." I'm quick to reply.

"I could think differently."

I roll my eyes, "Why are you here?"

"Checking on you. Is that a crime?"

"It is when it's about me..." His brow quirks, like he doesn't understand, but doesn't question it.

"What do you want?" I ask again.

His body makes its way down beside me, where I had made myself comfortable on the ground. "I'm sorry if you feel alone, but you need to know things get better. You're not alone." I can't help but let out a half-hearted laugh.

"Yes, I am, you know it. I've been doing this for three years. Olivia and her goons, always finding new ways to torture me."

"Well... From this day forward, I'm with you. You're not alone. You have me."