Separate But Not Equal

Chapter X

I unsteadily lift my head, staring into the cold, gleaming eyes of Lauren Dagger, stood in front of a very impatient looking Laura, and a smug Leah.

And Surprisingly, No Lottie?

I try to get past Lauren in one move but at the same moment she decides to stick her foot out causing me to stumble slightly across the floor, my reflexes suddenly slowing down as it take me about twenty seconds to balance myself.

I try to move again but this time Lauren stands in front of me, shoulders crossed with an angry look across her face.

Beginning to wish I wasn't so small, Lauren's height hovers over mine blocking everything in my view.

"Lauren, what are you doing?" I hear Christopher hissing at her back.

"Just giving the girl a long due visit."

Although Lauren is quite tall, Christopher is a lot taller than her and I can still see him clearly past Lauren's head.

"She didn't do anything, leave her alone," he growls, pushing Lauren out of the way, firmly enough to move her but not hurt her.

Lauren looks back at Christopher with an expression which makes it clear she did not expect him to try to get in her way.

"Why are you even around her, Christopher I mean you're risking being seen with... her kind. She's not good enough for that," Lauren states, as though everything she's saying sounds completely reasonable.

I glare at her loathingly, gritting my teeth attempting not to say anything to her

"What are you talking about?" Christopher raises an eyebrow impatiently, his eyes starting to swirl like a storm, again. "Lauren, just leave, please."

Lauren gives me an aggressive one over before slowly nearing Christopher, seeming slightly more annoyed.

"No, I won't just leave you alone like that, not until you leave that thing behind" She jerks her head in my direction, "then you can come with me."

I scoff out loud, angrily.

Immediately after Lauren hears the sound of derision come from my direction, I see her stepping away from Christopher and taking back her position right in front of me.

Waiting for her to insult me or degrade me in anyway it takes a while for me to realise what happens next.

Until I feel a sharp hand come around my face, the impact of the slap registering a few seconds later when I feel strong stinging spreading on my cheek.

"What do you think you're doing?" Christopher shouts, pushing her out of the way - not gently this time - and pushing me behind him, my body hidden behind his much taller and broader one.

"Look at her, Christopher. LOOK AT HER. don't you understand. I mean we all know it. God, even the law knows it. Everyone knows it, but you. They're inferior. They're not allowed to talk to us like that, and you're making them think it's okay. I'm just making sure that she knows her place. Come on, Christopher. Let's just go."

Christopher grabs my hand from behind his back, his cold hands somehow adding heat to mine.

"No"