The Shade of Water

Chapter 3

Landon pulled the car up slowly to his usual spot, which was right in the front of the school.

People standing by glanced at the car, but quickly did a double take when they noticed that it was me who was sitting in the passenger seat.

I could already hear whispers as I got out of the car.

"She's a charity case"

"What a slut"

"Whore"

I kept my eyes peeled forewards, staring at the brick wall ahead of me. I was a strong person, not someone who would break down crying because of a few words.

"Thanks for the ride," I said as we parked, quickly hopping out of the car.

He looked thuroughly confused. Just minutes ago we were singing together and now I was giving him the cold shoulder.

"Um...no problem. Do you have everything?" He asked me.

"Yeah, thanks," I told him again before turning around quickly, getting ready to walk away.

Just then, Jeana turned the corner and appeared infront of me. "Well well well, what do we have here?" She asked me, smirking as she came closer to me.

"Wait...what are you wearing?" She asked demandingly, glaring at my shirt. Well, Landon's shirt.

"A shirt?" I told her, avoiding what I knew she wanted me to answer.

"You little skank!" She screamed before leaping towards me. Her hand went up and came down, going across my cheek. Her manicured nails went across my face.

I fell backwards, Leah landing ontop of me. My hand went up to my face. The cuts stung against my fingers, and they were sticky with blood. 

Leah grabbed the back of my neck, pulling my head up to her ear. "Never will you again go near Landon again, do you hear me?" She said.

"Whats going on?" A voice said from behind me. Landon.

I didn't want to turn around. I didn't want him to see me this weak.

"What's going on here?" He repeated. I didn't want to answer. Thankfully, Leah and her 'minions' found more interest in Landon than me on the ground, so they rushed over to his side.

"I'm fine Landon, and thanks again for this morning," I said, my back still turned to him. I could feel the sticky blood running on my forehead, but I didn't want to wipe it away with my arm since I was wearing his sweatshirt, not mine.

I started walking down the hall, guessing that Landon was too busy with Jeana.

"Wait," He called out.

"Let her go, Landon," Leah purred, attempting to seduce him but failing. "Stay here with me."

"Let go of me, Leah," I could faintly hear as I was walking, their voices getting smaller and smaller.

I just needed to find some napkins and I would be fine. It was probably one of Leah's rings on her finger that made me bleed.

I saw a bathroom on my right and hurried into there. I walked to the mirror and looked at myself. My hair was now a tangled mess from Leah pulling on it. the blood on my face was just below my cheekbone and was running down my cheek.

Suddenly, I heard the bathroom door open and shut quickly. For a second, I thought it was Leah or Jeana, but there was no sound of heels clicking on the ground.

"I know your not okay," A deep voice said as the person showed themself. Landon.

He could only see the side of me, I was still facing the mirror. My face wasn't something I wanted to show him.

"I'm fine, Landon. You've taken care of me enough in the past 24 hours," I told him.

"It just means I care," He said softly before walking up to me and gently grabbing my chin, turning my face towards him. I was too shocked to do anything.

"Did Leah do this?" He asked, eyes looking at my cut. I didn't respond. "Did she?" He asked again, a little louder. I could tell he was getting angry.

All I did was nod slowly.

"I'm going to fucking kill her," He said, turning around and running and hand through his hair. Then he turned back to me with    in his eyes.