Trust Me

Another 3

I ran down the street, leaves crunching under my feet as I sprinted to school. My thin windbreaker did little to protect me from the biting cold of autumn in Massachusetts. My clouds of breath fogged up my glasses, making me to blind to see the motorcycle headed toward me.It stopped barely a foot away from me, the driver cursing as he glared at me. I hid behind my hood and continued running. I always got to school early so I could hide from Mason and his goons, but today I had spent too long in the shower trying to rid myself of the stench of vomit. I was sure to get a pre-class beating today.

When I got to school, I ducked into the crowd until I reached my locker. I held on to a glimmer of hope that Mason wouldn't see me frantically entering my combination, but to no avail. I had only opened the door when his meaty hand clasped my hood and dragged me to the center of the hall. The crowd swarmed around us. Cassie and her squad whipped out their phones as Mason dumped me on the ground. I closed my eyes as Mason kicked me, encouraged by the never ending laughter from my peers. When the blows finally paused, Cassie sauntered up to me as I stood up tall, seemingly immune to the pain inflicted on me daily. Tears would only make everything worse.

The Ginger Queen started spewing her unoriginal insults as I stood and watched with a blank stare.

"You're an ugly, fat, stupid loser."

Her usual insults meant nothing. I knew that, while I wasn't modelworthy, I didn't look like a complete piece of trash, and I definitely wasn't overweight. I was bone thin and smarter than she'd ever be. Those words would never hurt me.

"You're useless and you will never be enough for anyone. Why are you even here? I bet your own parents don't even love you!"

Those words, however, were very true.

When she finally stopped, I picked up my books and started to walk away, watching for people trying to trip me. But at the last second, someone stuck their foot out and I fell to the ground again. Cassie cat walked to my side and grinned as she pressed her high heeled boot into my ribs, making me wince in pain. She was pressing on one of my newest bruises.

Before she could spit out anything, the crowd parted to reveal a tall, buff guy with raven black hair and striking hazel eyes. His eyes darted to me, widening just a fraction. He turned his attention to Mason, who was standing there with his arms crossed.

"Move," the new guy commanded. What the hell was he doing? Nobody stood up toMason, especially not for me.

"Who the hell are you, huh? Why should I move?"Mason growled, though I could see a glimmer of fear in him as he eyed Raven Hair's bulging biceps.

"Move," Raven Hair repeated. "You're blocking my locker."

Well that makes more sense. I should have known he wouldn't acknowledge the scene in front of him.

Mason's eyes widened at the sight of Raven's aggressive scowl, and he walked away (that's a first) with Cassie trailing after him. She turned around and shot a suggestive wink at Raven Hair and a glare at me before sashaying down the hall. The crowd around me dispersed, heading to their first class. I stayed sprawled on the floor as people intentionally stepped on my legs when I tried to stand. Raven Hair raised an eyebrow at me when I rested my chin on my hand, waiting patiently for the halls to clear.

When everyone's out to get you, its best to not even try to get to class until the corridor is almost empty.

By the time the hall was clear, the bell had already rung. Thank god my homeroom teacher didn't care about tardiness.

I tried to sit up, but pain from the bruise that had flowered on my side made me collapse again. Determined to get up, I scooted towards the row of lockers and leaned against it, dragging my feet towards my hands and pushing up till I was painfully squatting on the ground. I stood uncertainly, my legs wobbling underneath me, and walked slowly down the hall, clutching my side. I headed towards the nurse's office to get ice instead of homeroom. Since first period hadn't started yet, the new student helper would be in office instead of the nurse, so I could get ice without her asking about what happened.