Friends are just known enemies

Chapter 4

I walk through the door and the first thing I see is a hand, coming towards my face. And there we go, he slaps me before I can say something.

I’m holding my cheek, while my dad yells at me. I’m not listening clearly, but it’s something about me coming home late.

“I’m sorry” I mumble, hoping he’s going to let me go. But he holds me back. “You better obey me young lady or you can live on your own” He threatens, his breath smelling of alcohol.

My mom just stands in the kitchen, pretending she didn’t hear it. I just nod and then go upstairs to my room, trying to hide my hobbling, since it would just make him angrier.

I lay on my bed, ignoring my mom’s calls for me to come eat something, She stops eventually and I think about the boy from the coffee shop, Kyle. He seemed nice, but I was wondering why he wanted to talk to me.

I’m not the kind of person you think “hey, I want to get to know her!” about. I’m more of a “Ew she looks awkward, let’s avoid her” type of girl, hence my lack of friends.

Thanks to my social awkwardness I had no idea whatsoever on how to react when he started conversation with me. And the moment we both reached for the book, god that was embarrassing and awkward.

And the way he stared at me, it felt like his eyes were piercing through my soul. But in a good way. I shake my head, trying to forget about it.

He was just a stranger, nothing more. I put on my pyjamas, brushed my teeth while contemplating my slightly swollen cheek and then got to bed.

My thoughts kept trailing off to Kyle and also sometimes Marco, but I forced me to forget about it all the time. Eventually, after hours of trying not to think about it, I fell asleep.

I’m sitting in the back of the bus, trying not to jump up and punch the stupid kid throwing paper at me. Yes he’s here again.

The built up anger and frustration inside of me is just waiting to spill out and this is the perfect opportunity. But I can’t let it happen. I am not like my dad.

Fortunately I have to get off now, but not without throwing him another glare. I walk through up the stairs leading to the entrance as when I want to open the door, someone on the other side pulls it open.

But when I try to go through, it swings back and hits me, straight in my face. I feel blood dripping from my nose and silently curse. I hear laughter and know that it was Jason.

I go to my locker, without even looking at them and at least they don’t follow me. “Are you okay?” Shit, someone followed me.

I turn around and find Marco, holding a tissue. Angrily glaring at him I take it and wipe away some of the blood. “What happened to your hand?” He asks and I just stare at him, contemplating whether he was pretending to not know or whether he honestly didn’t know.

“Why do you care?” I hiss, I’m sick of this. I hate this school and everyone in it, I don’t need people looking after me. He looks at me with a hurt expression and I push past him, but he grabs my arm.

“Look, I’m just trying to help” He says, but I shake his hand off my arm. “You can help me by staying away from me” I spit out and walk down the hall, to my classroom.

Well I was still more limping than actually walking but you know what I mean. Then I remember: I have Spanish today. And I’m pretty sure Mr. Brandon won’t let me change seats so I’ll have to sit next to Marco.

I go to sit in the back while the few people that are already in the room throw insults at me. I just sigh and fall on the chair, hiding my face behind my hair and the hood of my sweater. I hear him sit down next to me and hold in a sigh.