Alone

It's All My Fault

   Eventually Friday came, and although I was happy about it, I still dreaded going to school. Friday was great and all, but really the only good part is when the last bell rings.

   I got ready, putting on my favorite pair of black ripped jeans, my new Adidas sweat shirt, (a matching shirt underneath) and then slipped on my matching shoes. I love matching. But what's even better than matching, is when someone else is also matching with you.

   Tyler and I, both wearing our awesome matching outfits, made our way to his car. I started to get into the back seat, remembering what his mom said. "No," he said quickly, and I glanced at him. "You don't have to sit back there. My mom's not here, so what she doesn't know won't hurt her....Or us," he said with a smirk.

   I smiled and got in the passenger seat. Why does his presence make me so happy?

   We get to the school soon, and I get out, feeling really cool as we walked side by side in our matching outfits. We both smiled at each other and talked about when I was gonna take my driver's test. Suddenly someone shoves into me, and with the sudden force, my small body goes flying. I get that people always think that it would be cool to fly and all, but honestly, I don't think it's all that and a bag of chips...

   I fall to the ground, hard. I let out a sharp gasp, then look up to see who had attacked me. One of Lukas's "friends". I heard the boy chuckling, obviously proud of himself. I saw a few other people snickering too. I felt my face get hot with embarrassment. Why was I so weak?

Tyler's POV.

   Summer and I were having a normal conversation, minding our own business, when someone pushed her. She was blown off her feet, landing hard on the ground, with a sound of pain. The guy who had pushed her had pushed her hard, but not that hard. Summer was just so small that it didn't take much force to knock her down, where if he had pushed me with the same force, I would have maybe fell back a few steps. Either way, he still hurt her.

   I looked up to see who had hurt my Summer. I spot Jake, one of Lukas's minions, laughing and walking away. The only thing on my mind was anger, anger for hurting someone so... So...precious. She has never done anything to hurt anyone. Why her? Why hurt her?

   Without thinking, I reach out and grab Jakes backpack, and yank him backward. He stumbled, his smile gone. I punch him hard across the face, and people start to gather around. I punch him repeatedly, before he fully recovers from the shock and starts to fight back. He lands some hard strikes to my jaw and cheek bone, sending blasting pain through my head. He knees me hard in the stomach, causing the wind to get knocked out of me.

    I stumble back, trying hard to get air into my lungs. Jake takes my moment of weakness as an opportunity to beat the sh*t out of me. He starts punching me hard in the face, blow after blow. I try and block him, but fail miserably. I fall to my knees, still concentrating on getting air. The air finally comes in, giving me some more energy. I get up and kick him in his weakest spot.

   He clutches his crotch and starts to fall to the ground. I feel someone put me in a headlock from behind. The principle. He pulls me into his office, and immediately calls my parents. "Where is Summer?" I ask, worried. She's alone and I'm not there to protect her, I think with my jaw clenched.

   The principal didn't answer me and talks to my mom on the phone. I pace back and forth, not able to relax. All the events replay in my head from this morning.

Summers POV.

   I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched Tyler fighting the boy. I never thought Tyler could hurt anyone, he is just so nice and caring. But soon the fight was blocked off from my view, due to all the people surrounding them. I suddenly feel exposed and alone without Tyler with me.

   I walk away from the fight, from the people, from everything. I keep my hands in my pockets, and I just walk. I feel an unexplainable sadness in my chest. I don't belong here. I wanted to go back to my old school, my old life, even if I didn't have friends and my mom and I barely had money to support ourselves. I just didn't want to be here.

   I walk along the edge of the woods, listening to the beautiful birds singing. I feel the sun on my face, and I let it give me peace. I wonder how my mom is doing if she is even still alive...

   I look over to see that the fight is over and I don't see Tyler anymore. I hope to god that he's okay. If he's not... I don't know what I would do. I sprint to the office, and I find Tyler in there, his face bruised and swollen. I suddenly feel tears spring to my eyes. He's hurt...

   "Hey, what's wrong?" he asks me. He walks over and wraps his arms around me, giving me a tight hug. "It's okay, your okay now. Why are you crying?" he says in a whisper.

   I sob lightly into his chest. "B-because you're h-hurt because of m-me" I choke out. He pulls back and puts his hands on my shoulders. I look down at the ground. He puts his hand under my chin and slowly makes me look up into his eyes.

   "This is in no way your fault. Do you understand that?" he asks me, and I can see in his eyes that he truly believes that. I nod my head, and he pulls me back into his chest.

   "Your mother will be here soon to pick both of you up. We were gonna expel both of you, but your mother made a deal with us. Your punishment for both of you is after school detention for the whole next week, and you are suspended for the rest of today." The principal says.

   "What? Why is Summer in trouble? She didn't do anything! She was the one that was assaulted!" Tyler says angrily.

   "Don't raise your voice at me young man. She is supposedly the cause for all of this, from what witnesses say," he says angrily.

   I start to tremble. It's all my fault. Tyler suddenly puts his arm around my shoulder, pulling me close to him. I instantly feel safe and secure. I stop trembling and instead I just feel...Warm.

   The door opens and in walks an angry Ms. Smith. She slaps a huge wad of money on the principles desk, then turns to glare at both of us. "You both are in so much trouble."