Alone

A day at school

    Finally, lunch time rolls around. So far, I have had only 3 encounters with people asking me sarcastically "Who's your sugar daddy?". To be honest, that is a lot less than I would usually get in one day at school. Most of the time it's cat calls from guys and girls just being plain cruel.

There was this one incident when I was walking through the halls at lunch time. A group of guys decided that it would be funny to throw coins at me and tell at the top of their lungs, "Strip girl!". I didn't do anything until this girl walked by and said, "Don't be ridiculous Chad, she only takes bills, not coins!". Then she and her friends threw dollar bills at me.

    Honestly I'm use to it. It's a lot worse at home than it is at school but it doesn't help.

    I go through the cafeteria line and just grab an apple and a bottle of water. I walk outside towards the eating area and find my spot next to Tommy on the ground. The outdoor eating area has 3 small trees that are in the middle. There are 3 parts of the school surrounding it so it closes of into a triangle. Tommy and I always come here to eat.
 
    "Hey." I say sitting next to him.

    "Hey Cas what's up?"

    "How's your nose?", I say bitting into the sweet apple.

    "Hurts like hell. Probably gonna leave a mark."

    "Did dad do anything once I left?"

     "Nah, Mom just showed up and screamed at me for making a mess in the kitchen. Funny . . .I think that is the only time mom has done something that seemed normal."

     I laughed. "What? Doing drugs?"

    "No, yelling about a simple mess." Tommy said showing a faint smile.

    Tommy doesn't smile a lot but when he does, it always lifts my spirt. When he smiles, it shows me that for once everything at that moment is at peace. After that, we don't say anything for a while.

    The silence was killing me so I decided to break it. "So why are you and Luke leaving?".

    "I'm just tired of starting all of these fights between dad. Whenever I see him hit or even yell at you, I just get so mad that I go crazy on him. You on the other hand, you don't do anything. You don't even fight back. Your like a punching bag to him. I'm afraid that if I stay any longer, than I might take my anger out on you.".

    I didn't say anything. Why would he just get up and leave now? He has been through this for 17 years. Why can't he just wait one more year? Then we can both leave. I could live with him. We could both get away from him.

    "How's your eye?", he says, distracting me from my running thoughts.

    "It's fine, just sore."

    After that we just sit together, waiting for the bell to ring for 6th period.

    "Crap! I forgot that I am suppose to go and meet Luke. Will you be okay by yourself?"

    "Yea I think so. Will you walk home with me?"

    "I'll try Cas.", he says and then heads inside.

    I stay outside and watch the birds eat the leftover crumbs that kids threw onto the ground. The 5 minute warning bell rings and kids start to head towards their classes. I decided to stay outside a little longer because my class was only 2 doors down.

    I notice a group of girls starting to come my way. I get a better look at the group and I realize that it was Ashley Manson group. Crap!!! Ashley and I were bitter sworn engines.

    Quickly I start to grab my things. As I start to walk away, they already had cornered me. Most of them were laughing. Then Ashley came forward.

    "Awww look who's trying to look all sweet and innocent.", she said with a nasty smirk on her face.

    "Well Cassy, why don't you tell us who the lucky man is? He must think your verrrrry good in bed!"
She said as her friends died with laughter. I look around and see that some girls had their phones out and were recording. Great. Ashley stepped closer to me.

   "Do you really think that a guy would actually want to go out with you sweetie?"

    Then one of the girls in the crowd joined in. "If a guy really wanted to sleep with her, he would have to put a bag over her head!". Immediately the crowed burst with cruel laughter.

   "Why do you wear so much makeup Cassy?", Ashley said while she yanked my water bottle out of my hand. This is getting bad. I try to get out of the crowd but 2 girls had already pinned me against the wall.

   My heart was racing now. Ashley started to come closer now.

    "You look thirsty." She said. Immediately I could feel cold water run down my face and down to my white shirt. The water wouldn't stop. I couldn't breath. I couldn't think staright.

    The final bell rang but the girls just stayed. They were enjoying my suffering. Suddenly a loud, and deep voice jumped through the crowd.

    "ALL OF YOU GET TO CLASS NOW! LEAVE HER ALONE!" It was my English teacher, Mr. Jones. The girls scattered and disappeared into the building.

    I didn't move at all. I just let my body fall against the wall all the way down to the floor. Mr. Jones came by and helped me get back up.

    "Cassy, are you okay?"

    "Yea I'm fine.", I said brushing the dirt off my skirt.

    "Did they do that to you?", he said pointing to my exposed eye.

    "No, I just ran into the wall yesterday. I wasn't wearing my contacts."

    I didn't wear contacts. I don't want him to know about what happens at my house. I started to walk away.

"Cassy, if you need to talk, my room is always open.", he said handing me a tissue.

    I didn't accept it. All I did was ran. Not to my class. Not to my house. I just ran where ever my feet took me.