In the few seconds before the ball struck her nose, Harleigh looked round the PE hall. Jocks were already high- fiving each other in triumph and her ex- girlfriends were dancing and giggling in a type of sick euphoria. It hit with a sickening crunch that made tears pool in her eyes and blood spurt from both nostrils. Mr. Maine looked outraged beyond belief.
Maine roared at all five of the guys that had been involved in the attack on Harleigh. The girls looked terrified, but pleased at what they had orchestrated. People started to walk towards Harleigh. One girl in particular stood out to her. Jessica Maeson. Her black hair was shoved into a high bun atop her head with bits left down to frame her cute, pale face.
Harleigh warily eyed the silver cross hanging around her neck on a simple, silver chain. She wasn't religious and the last thing she needed was someone preaching to her about conversion. Jess wrapped a slender arm around Harleigh's shoulder and tugged her in the direction of the sick bay.
"So, what was all that about then hm?" Jessica pressed, arm still slung round Harleigh's shoulder.
The bleeding had almost stopped and some random girl had been kind enough to hand her a makeup wipe to stem the tide of red but Harleigh still had trouble speaking.
"Mia. They're friends of Mia so they're no friends of mine." Harleigh snapped. Jess looked taken aback at Harleigh's hostility but paid no attention to it.
"Why have they targeted you all of a sudden? You've been in Florida all summer or something right?"
"California and the reason I'm being targeted is because it was me who set up Mia last year after she transferred here." Jess's bright blue eyes widened as she looked at Harleigh in shock. Nobody knew it was her that orchestrated those humiliating attacks on Mia except Mia herself, and Harleigh's ex- cronies.
"Well, I guess you deserved the paint thing then, but not actual physical damage. Are you pressing charges?"
"No, what's the point? Make my life even worse than It's going to get all for a couple thousand dollars? No thanks. I have too much money to know what to do with already."
Mrs. Bradbury, the school nurse, took one look at Harleigh and tutted before pulling out an ice pack and some wipes to mop up the rest of the blood. Pictures of her darling little family stood side by side on her desk, and she had a patient's review up on her computer's desk top.
Scanning it quickly she came to the realisation that Carlie Hepburn would be home due to a severe migraine, or rather severe hangover. She'd drunk with Carlie before and even Harleigh the world's greatest party girl couldn't keep up with her.
Upon realising that Harleigh had read something confidential, Mrs. Bradbury shut down the review and turned her attention back to Harleigh.
"Some minor swelling and you probably will have two beautiful black eyes for a few days, other than that you'll live."
"What? It stings like crazy?! Is there anything I can take for the pain?" Harleigh yelled making her nose twinge even more. From the corner of her eye she spotted Jess through the door's glass pane. She was lurking in the empty corridor looking apprehensive and bored.
"Let me check your file. I don't know whether you've been given the OK to take paracetemol in school." After running a quick check, Bradbury handed her two Anadin Extras and began to usher her out of the door. "Come see me tomorrow, I want to check out the swelling."
After nodding at the woman she made her exit to a waiting Jessica who was fumbling nervously with her cross.
"Why are you still here?"
