Togetherness

5

Soccer tryouts were scheduled for after school, even though it was pouring this morning, so when final bell rings, I rush out of the room and stuff my homework in my bag. I manage to avoid Tim as I walk into the girls' locker room. Since I'm not considered a guy to quite literally any of my classmates, I'm forced to get changed in the female locker room. When I open the door, I hear voices inside, bitchy voices. More specifically, plastic bitches. All three of them, Carolynn, Jannett, and Bridgett. Of course. Cheer practice is immediately after school.

I try to sneak through to my locker and go unnoticed but alas, I cannot be that lucky. The three of them are circled together in the exact center of the room, talking and giggling. Bridgett's the first to notice me. She gasps loudly and points a perfectly manicured, cherry red talon in my direction. Two other heads of platinum blond hair turn my way.

"Ella! Oh my god, hi!" Jannett shrieks.

"Jesus Christ, Jannett, shut up," Carolynn says.

"You shouldn't wear white, Carolynn. Your tan's rubbing off," I point out. Sure, it's not a good idea to insult the plastics but it's so fun. She's wearing a pair of white cutoffs that show a bit too much skin. The edges of the denim have an orange tinge to them.

Carolynn huffs and glares at me. "Whatever." She rolls her eyes and tosses her hair over her shoulder.

I roll my eyes and walk to my locker, turning the lock and getting it open first try. I grab my duffel bag and walk into one of the stalls to get dressed. I lock the door and set my bag down. I peel my shirt off and pull out an older shirt from rec soccer, tugging it on and slipping my shoes off. I roll my pants off of my legs and put my shorts on. Once my shinguards and socks are on, I stand up and put away my clothes and shoes in my duffel, placing my cleats on top since I can't wear them in the building. I walk out of the stall and run my hand through my hair. The locker room is quiet so I would assume they left. Walking out of bathroom area, I leave the locker room completely. Outside the door, someone's arm wraps around my torso and their other hand covers my mouth. I scream against the hand and struggle, trying to get an advantage somewhere.

"Shut the fuck up, you little bitch," a voice hisses in my ear. Tim.

I bite the hand hard enough to draw blood and he releases my mouth.

"What do you want, Tim?" I ask, spitting his name out with a hint of venom.

"I want you, baby, and I know you want me."

"Um, no. I really don't."

"Aw, but Ella, what happened? You used to love me. What changed?"

"You become a sick and twist asshole who would hit me for the fun of it and tried to rape me. I don't love you anymore, Tim. Leave me alone."

A fist makes contact with my stomach and I groan, sliding against the wall behind me. Tim grabs me by my hair and tilts my head up towards his face. My teeth grit and my eyes squeeze shut as his breath fans against my face.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You deserved every hit you got. I gave you the world. You went and got the thought in your little brain that you're a guy. You had the audacity to leave me. Again I ask, who the hell do you think-"

He's cut off by a pair of hands ripping him off of me and shoving him against the wall. I cower up against the wall and cover my face, not crying, just trying to process what just happened. A groan escapes his lips as his back hits the wall. I hear skin hit skin in what I would assume was a punch. And now, I can hear Tim getting his ass kicked. It doesn't even sound like he's trying to fight back, he's just taking it. Silence falls over the hallway and then the only sound is ragged breathing from whoever it was. They bend over me and hooking their arms under my legs and back. I wrap my arms around their neck and bury my face into their shirt.