Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Chapter Four

Lucy's perspective
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Once we finish writing we continue on with class. But suddenly we're all interrupted by the classroom door swinging open. The eyes of the class land on the person who drew all the attention, but how can they not when they literally swing the door open so hard that it hits the wall. Wow...what an entrance... I think sarcastically. The person finally walks through the door and up to the teacher. I immediately try and duck down, because the one person I DIDN'T want to be here, is here.
Lisanna.
      I honestly didn't think my day could be this terrible. This isn't even fair! She looks around the room and spots me next to Natsu, who is apparently-according to our little "talk" earlier-her property. Her eyes narrow at me in disgust. But then, because she's "perfect" she smiles sweetly and waves at Natsu. Who clearly doesn't know her based on the confused look on his face. He waves back, probably just trying to be polite and nice, since he seems like the kind of guy who just wants to help out.
"Everyone, I'm here for the cheerleaders. Since I am the head," she states obnoxiously "and we would really appreciate it if you all could fill out a survey for us!" She smiles so brightly that I think I might be blind. I hate it. She hands out the survey and then we all start it.
Q1: Who would you like for the cheerleading leader?
Well, it's not like they know it's me, I'm being anonymous since we don't have to put our name. Sooooooooo...
Answer I put: Mirajane.
I know this will really get on Lisanna's nerves because a) it's her older sister who everyone loves even more than her, and b) Mira isn't even a cheerleader. So she can't be the leader.
Q2: Why do you want _____to be the head cheerleader?
Answer I put: Because Mira is so amazing, in fact we should all have a Mira Day, where we all just tell Mira how much we love and appreciate her.
Okay, yeah, so I'm being kinda rude and obnoxious, but in my defense Lisanna beat's me up and bullies me repeatedly, so this is just some minor, anonymous, payback.
Q3: Thank you for taking this survey! Any other comments?
Answer I put: seriously though, can we have Mira Day? Cause that'd be an amazing day! It would be so much fun! And I guess they could invite her baby sister, Lasagna.
Fun fact-I know Lissana HATES being called lasagna. Along with being called Mira's baby sister.
      Okay okay, maybe I went a bit far and now I'm really being a completely bitch, but it's just a little anonymous payback from all the pain and suffering she's inflected on me. Plus, it's not like this is gonna make her stop. She doesn't even know it's from me. Or even that it's even from my class since we didn't have to put any personal info on it. And yeah, I feel bad about it, but I mean...why can't I have just a bit of payback from everything she's done to me...?
We hand in the surveys and I make sure to put mine below a few people so that she doesn't read it while she's going out of class. Natsu smiles at me and I smile back. As Lisanna leaves I see from the corner of my eye her loathing me. Maybe I shouldn't have put that...I starting to feel a bit bad about it now...I mean yeah, she's a huge bitch, but she just likes a guy. And even though that doesn't excuses everything else she's done to me or said about me, I did go pretty far...
The end of class roles around and I wave Natsu goodbye as I head out the door "also, since you're new here, if you need any help, you can ask me, if you want" I say a bit awkwardly. "Yeah! Thank you Lucy!" He smiles at me. I smile back, it feels like it's been a long time since I've smiled so genuinely so much, it feels so nice. I can feel happiness radiate through me. I know it's stupid to like someone after only a day, but I can't help but like Natsu.
I forget about Lisanna and go through the rest of my day, finishing it up then I grab my stuff and start to leave school. My mind wanders to Natsu and how sweet he is, I can feel my cheeks heat up a bit.
I don't notice until to late, that someone is in front of me. I collide with them and fall to the floor and automatically start to apologize to them. I look up and see Lisanna. How am I this unlucky... I think to myself. She drags me back. And how do I keep forgetting that she is so unusually strong?! I try to squirm and fight back but I seriously don't understand how she's so small, but so strong. Are cheerleaders supposed to be this strong?! Because this is ridiculous!
This time though, when she drags me out of sight, she has bodyguards. I scream, or try to anyways. But as soon as sound leaves my mouth one of two tall, muscular guys she had with her, tackles me and slams a hand over my mouth. Cutting off my cry. I try screaming through his hand but all that achieves is a small, muffled cry and a hard slap to the face. My eyes water a bit because it stings so bad, but I refuse to cry. I can't show weakness to her. She leans over me, staring devilishly at me. "Didn't I tell you not to go after him?"
"But-but he sat next to me!" I reply desperately. But because the guys hand is still over my mouth it doesn't come out right. It sounds to muffled to understand. But apparently, my answer didn't interest Lisanna. She started walking away and I thought it was over till she said quietly to the guys "beat her up" she hesitated before also adding "and make sure that the pig doesn't squeal". I knew she was talking about me. My eyes widened as she strode out of sight. A fist connected with my stomach and I screamed. I don't know how the guy still managed to keep a hand over my mouth, I had been struggling and trying to fight my way out the entire time, but nothing seemed to faze him. He looked at me with hard stone eyes and then he lifted up his other hand and his fist slammed into my head. Somehow it didn't knock me out completely, but I feel limp, becoming numb. My vision blurred and my head started to buzz.
Kicks and punches all flew my way. But I felt to out of it. My head was still buzzing and everything was starting to go dark around the corners of my eyes. One of them leaned over me and waved his hand in front of my face. I blinked but couldn't do anything more. "You better not say anything" he said while pulling my hair to make me look up at him. He let go of my head, causing my head to smash back to the ground. My vision started swimming and I think I saw him nod at his friend before they abruptly left.

This has definitely been an absolutely, horrible day.

• • •

I don't know if time passes slowly or fast but it couldn't have been that long of time because I could still hear vague voices of students leaving school. I had regained a bit of composer and I tried calling out "help" but it didn't really work. At least I didn't think it did till I heard two voices close to where I was. Although it definitely sounded like they didn't know I was there.
"Spill! You're new here so everyone likes you already, surely there's someone you like?" Someone asks.
I hear a breathy laugh before the guy responds "I don't know about that, it's not like I'm some super amazing guy" Natsu...? And it sounds like he's trying to doge the question completely.
"Come on...surely there's someone..." it's clearly a girl, and by the sounds of it, she's trying to make a move on Natsu. Wait a minute...I'd know that girls voice anywhere. It's Lisanna. And she's knows I'm back here. She's trying to get him to tell her he likes her while I'm here! No!! He can't fall for her charm, she's awful, I don't want him to be crushed and used by her! He's so nice and sweet! But if I call out to him, and he finds out Lisanna will kill me. But I can't let him be tricked by her, not to mention, I do actually need help. Pain is starting to come back and it's really badly starting to hurt. I can tell just by the pain that I'm going to have a lot of bruises and cuts by tomorrow.
"Ummmmmm, Lisanna was it?" I hear Natsu ask.
"Yes?" She replies sexually.
"I don't even really know you that well"
"Why not you get to know me then? Maybe a date would be nice?" She temps.
"I'm sorry, I'm so busy lately, you know, being a new student and all" I could tell he was just using that excuse to get out of it, and the relief that floods through me is amazing.
"Of course!" She says, not understanding he was nicely trying to decline "but we definitely need to get to know each other soon" she states for her parting words.
"Natsu..." I call helplessly as soon as she leaves. I blush as soon as I try to call out for him. I feel so embarrassed for making him go out of his way for me. He must've heard because I hear footsteps round the corner to where I was. Hidden in an ally like walkway. I don't think he noticed me at first but I saw him from my upside down-ish point of view. I heard a gasp and see his face drain of color a bit. I don't blame him. Seeing a beat up girl on a sidewalk who's barely able to talk, let alone get up, would be very shocking. Not to mention we were just together in class a few hours ago and everything was, as far as he knew, fine.
"Lucy...?" He asked horrified. "What happened...?"
      You know, for someone who is usually good at thinking most things through, for some reason, in all that time I had while they were talking, I didn't think up an excuse. "Ummmmmmmmmm...I got hurt..." I stated the obvious.
"Well yeah, I can see that but what happened? How'd you get hurt?" He says crouching down beside me. "I...I don't remember" I try. We both know it's a complete lie, but he doesn't press any longer. He seems to understand he won't get it out of me right now.
"I should take you to a hospital" he says, thinking aloud.
"No!" I say quickly. If he takes me to a hospital my dad will find out and he will make sure that it never happens again. Probably by sending me to a coffin instead...he would not be okay with the hospital bills. And he'd make sure I knew it afterwards.
"What? But you're hurt! You need to go to a hospital!"
"It's fine," I lie "I'm just a little hurt. It'll be okay though, can you just help me home" I ask.
"No, you need help, Lucy" he stares sternly. He scoops me up off the ground and starts to carry me bridal style. I feel too weak and tired to fight him. And my body won't respond. Instead the soft rocking of him carrying me, and the warmth from him, loll me into a light sleep. I'll stop him from taking me to the hospital in a bit, I just want to sleep a little...