Bullied By Scott Hoying

Chapter 7

I ran like I had never run before, though I knew I couldn't outrun Scott.

He was catching up to me as I got more tired, panting as I leapt over rocks and fought my way through bushes.

There was just no way that I was leading him to my house, like, as much as I would have liked to, I wasn't trying to commit suicide.

I realised that Kevin's house was just three blocks down, if I could keep running for that long. I got more and more tired, a trickle of sweat ran down my forehead and onto my nose.

Two blocks.

I could hear Scott shouting behind me, it was unclear  what he was saying, but it was the angriest voice I had ever heard.

One block.

There was a sharp pain forming in my chest, and my right hip had a severe stitch.

Scott was gaining on me, I had to do something. I swerved sharply into Kevin's street and hid behind a rubbish bin.

Though I really wanted to pant as loud as I could, I had to hold my breath.

Scott came into view just seconds later, eyes wide as he searched the street for me.

I was still holding my breath, I was beginning to get dizzy as crouched there, the earth swirling around me, fading.... Fading... Until  everything went black.

I woke up to a bright white light shining in my eye.

As my eyes adjusted to the light, a familiar face appeared in front of me.

I smiled,
"Hi Kevin." I said weakly. He smiled back,
"Hi Mitchie, how are you feeling?"

I didn't really pay attention to the question though.

"Why am I here? Why are you here? What happened?"
I asked, confused.

Kevin had a sad smile on his face. "Well, I was walking home, and I saw a teenage boy kneeling down and crying. I walked over to him and saw that you were lying there unconscious. So I sent him away and took you to the hospital. The doctor said you fainted from lack of oxygen and you will be fine in a few hours."

"wait..." I said, confused. "A teenage boy? What did he look like?"

Kevin paused for a minute, stroking his chin in thought.

"I dunno.... Blonde hair... Blue eyes...."

"oh my god!" I exclaimed a little too loudly, and an elderly man shushed me from the bed next to mine.

Scott! He was.... Crying over me?! Why? I couldn't understand.... But I'll think about that later.

I put on a fake smile and looked up at Kevin, leaning against the pillow behind me.

"Thanks for doing that for me Kevin." I said.

"You're welcome...." he said,
"you don't remember why you were lying there, do you? I'm not pressuring you or anything. I'm genuinely curious."

"I... No. I don't." I lied.

"Okay." He said, his bright smile returning to his face,
"when the nurse says you can go home, I'll drive you."

Just in that moment, a young male nurse walked in. He had a black man bun and dark blue eyes.

"Well, Mr Grassi, looks like your free to go! Make sure you drink lots of fluids, and if you bang your head by accident, make sure to let us know. I'd also like to speak to you in private for a moment, if you wouldn't mind, Sir?"
He said, gesturing to Kevin.

Kevin nodded and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

The nurse smiled down at me. "Mr Grassi, as we were examining you, we found some... Peculiar things."

I stiffened at that.
"Like what?" I asked cautiously.

"Well... We found several bruises on your arms and ribs... And you seem to have a cut quite deep on your shoulder... Is everything okay?"

I looked around the room, trying to think of something.

In the end I just smiled and said "Oh yeah! Everything is fine!"

The nurse nodded briefly, respecting my privacy.
"I understand. But if there is anything you want to tell me, or anything you need, anything at all, just tell us. What you tell us here will be kept inside these walls."

"I understand that, Sir," I said, nodding briefly,
"But I really am fine."

The doctor smiled down at me and helped me get off of the bed.

"Very well then. You are free to go. Take it easy for the next couple of days. If you start feeling strange in school, I advise you not to go. Bye now!"
The nurse said kindly, ushering me out the door.

He said good bye to Kevin and we walked down the hall and out of the hospital.

The car ride was mostly a comfortable silence, me too busy with my thoughts and Kevin focusing on driving.

We turned into my street and drove up to my house.

"Thanks again, Kevin!" I said gratefully.

"Anyti - Woah...." Kevin stopped mid sentence, staring behind me with wide eyes.

I turned around, looking around to see what he was looking at.

"Oh, that's Kirstie!" I said turning around and smiling at Kevin.

Kirstie was standing in front of my door, a purple purse in one hand a leash holding two white dogs, one with brown patches, in the other.

"She's beautiful," Kevin said.