The Great Escape

Chapter One

I folded the gym shorts taking care to make the fabric neat and tidy before I set them in the corner of my locker. I turned around reaching for the matching grey heap that was my gym shirt. Just as my fingers closed around the edge of the sleeve a force from behind sent me towards the ground and the shock that ran up my legs as my knees collided with the ground was jarring. I didn't move fast enough and a kick to the ribs knocked the oxygen from my lungs.

I wish I could tell you I stood up and fought, but I didn't. I never did. Every time Robyn and her little clique decided to turn me into their own personal game I just sat there and took it. I really don't know why they do that to me, I get enough of that at home. I mean I don't like me much either but, they really don't like me.

I'm on the taller side, at about 5'6, I'm thin, like really thin it's ugly. I hate my straight blonde hair and dull blue eyes and my huge ugly nose. I hate everything about my appearance. Everything.

I'm kind of boring too, I can't draw, I can't sing that well, I can't play any instruments except a piano and that isn't much to be proud of considering I suck at that too. I'm on the smarter side I guess, I've learned to hide that I get good grades though. No sense in making myself more of a target. I don't talk much, I kind of just listen to music and, "look like a hoe." One of Robyn's favorite insults.

That one particularly stings. When I was around thirteen my step-dad raped me. I tried to tell my mom but she just beat me and said it was my fault for being such a slut. She was drunk but, she's always drunk. I still see his eyes glaring down from above me as he attacked me in my room that night. I have to see those eyes every day.

This time I kept my head down so as not to look into Robyn's eyes. Crouching on the floor I stared at the filthy tiles until she walked off laughing in that high pitched giggle of hers. Sighing heavily I stood up and examined my ribs. A dark purple bruise was already forming and I inhaled sharply before putting on my shirt and shorts.

Since I was late to squad lines I had to do sit-ups and those really didn't help the bruise situation. My hair fell over my eyes and I paused to brush it aside, "Faster Edwards! You can't get to your spot on time or do sit-ups? We see where your going in life." I groaned but sped up the sit-ups. Honestly, he acted like PE decided whether you went to heaven or hell. Scanning the gym I tried to avoid hearing the giggles of Robyn and her group, my eyes fell on him. He was sitting alone, but I got the feeling it was by choice not because he had too. He was tall with a lot of tattoos and gauges. Something about him captured my attention though. I couldn't look away.

My breath hitched when he looked up and met my gaze. He must be new, otherwise I would've seen him before. Before I could wander if I had him second period or any of my other classes for that matter the bell rang and he was out of the door before half the others even stood up. I snapped out of my trance and ran to change and grab my bag from the locker room.