Hidden Tears

Chapter Seven - Won't Tell

John
After school I go looking for Alex but I found Cross Gang instead, walking down the same hall. They realize me and make their way towards me. Fuck.

"Lost puppy eh?" Chase laughs and pushes me.

I fall on the ground to be kicked in my abdomen. I grit in pain. Damn it!

He pulls me back up by my collar and pulls his arm back ready to strike. I smirk, "You know what I heard?" I ask stopping his punch in mid air. I couldn't take the pain.

"I heard that your sister doesn't want you to bully but she's afraid to stand up to you." I cough and grunt looking straight at him not wanting to hide my smile.

"Where did you here that?" He growls in my face. Wow he has bad breath. "How did you know?" He slams me on the wall, a hand on my throat.

"Tell me!" He yells as he pushes me up against the wall. I guess he doesn't want anyone to know that Lace is his sister.

I take a hold of his hand trying to break free, air not being able to make it to my lungs. I choke and gasp for air.

"Dude, you're going to kill him!" Gran warns Chase looking worry.

Chase lets go of me and I hit the floor with a thump. I cough and gasp for air. I see Chase slap Gran across his face.

"So what?! We've done it before!" He yells at him then turns back towards me.

He walks away though, not even a kick or spit on me. His sister, she can help. He must care for her or something.

I get up and make my way towards the bathroom, not a sight of Alex. I hope he's gone home. I don't want him caught up in this. I wash my face and neck. I clean it all trying to cover the bruise with make up that I took from my mom.

Once it's unnoticeable I walk out. My sister taught me how to use make up when I was younger for some reason. Well at least I can use it. For now.

I walk out of the room and make my way home. My parents took a notice of me and eyed me up and down. They smile once everything looks good.

They'll believe me like this. I walk into my room and about to shut the door but it's stopped by my sister's foot. I let her in without saying a word. Must've figured it out.

I sigh and sit on my bed waiting for her to ask.

"What's really going on?" She leans on the closed door and crosses her arms.

"I don't know what you mean. "

"Liar." She whispers and pulls out a cloth making her way towards me. She uses the cloth to wipe my face and I let her. Of course she knew.

She sees the bruises and leans back. "What going on? " She snaps.

I laugh with a grin. "Nothing to do with you."

She grits her teeth and sharply glares at me. "Tell me."

"Only if you can keep a secret." I smirk. I won't be able to pass by her, she's tough.

She stands there with arms folded, waiting. I sigh and look at her.

"Yes. I'm getting bullied. Yes. I'm keeping quiet. And yes. I don't want you to tell anyone, but no it's not for me, it's for a friend. He was the one getting bullied first and I got caught up.

"If I was the only one being bullied I would've said something and yes I've thought about it but I made a promise to him that I wouldn't so I'm hiding it." I take a deep breath after that speech.

Paula sighs and sits on my bed. "Why not? He's scared that he'll die?"

"That and because he doesn't me to die. The bullies have killed before, his friend, for telling. And they killed him right in front of him so he made me promise not to tell." I stare at the floor under my feet.

"So you're just going to let your friend suffer? I never call that friendship." She laughs lightly. "It's better losing a friend than keeping up on this. "

"So you want me to die?"

"Not what meant." She says right after. "I don't want you to die but I don't want to see you like this either!"

The mood changed quickly without noticing. She's trying to help and yet I'm sitting here having an argument with her.

"I'm sorry." I whisper quietly.

Shighing she stands up. Without looking at me she says, "Just think about it, ok?" I nod in response without looking at her.

As she was about to open the door she turns back to me. "Don't worry. I won't tell Mom and Dad. For now."

"Thank you." I answer her quietly.

She nods and leaves the room. I fall back on my bed and close my eyes.

I don't want to die but I don't want Alex to suffer anymore either. What do I do?

On the way to school the next day I think of what my sister said. Maybe I should say something and we both can stop suffering. If I died at least Alex will be ok but then again I don't want to die and I promised Alex.

I sigh and walk up the stairs not really paying attention of where I was going until someone pulled me back.

I was met face to face with Lace. She didn't seem very happy. She glare at me with evil eyes as she hold my collar slaming me on the wall.

"You don't know how to keep your mouth shut, do you?"She growls through her gritted teeth.

Though when I looked in her eyes she seem that she could break down any second. I could feel her fingers shaking through my shirt.

"You can help Lace. You just need to talk to him." I say softly.

She looks away with an annoyed face, lets go and pulls back. She looks down. "Mind your own business not someone else's."

Before I could say anything she walks away.