Were you Even Mine?

Chapter 2: Bullies (and how to not deal with them)

I show up to the school gate and look towards the bike rack next to the door. As usual, the school jocks and bullies have to hang around there and sometimes bar people from going inside.

I guess today they decided to wait for me specifically.

I walk towards the front door and try to blend into the crowd. Big mistake. I looked like an even bigger target because I kept glancing over at them.

Suddenly, some guy that looks like he took about 15 too many steroids this morning walks up to me.

"Hey, kid. Why do you keep looking at us like a creep?"

"..."

"Ah, so a man of few words..." He takes 2 steps away and starts to turn back around. "...Well then I guess I'll have to knock the words outta your mouth!"

The boy delivers a jaw-rattling punch to my face that knocks me down, then he picks me up and throws me against the wall while I'm still reeling.

"Ya got anything to say now, punk?" His friends started walking over to jeer at me and chant that he should hit me again.

"Go to he-"

"Jacks, that's enough." A cute girl interjects with a sharp tongue. The boy instantly backs down.

"Uh... Sorry, Rae."

The girl, probably a cheerleader judging by her looks, gives the jocks the motion to go away. When they do, she offers me a hand.

"Hey, you alright? He hit you pretty hard."

"Wha- Ah, no I'm fine. I get hit like this a lot." I tried to sound all tough and cool but it turned out to be a feeble attempt.

"You look like you're about to black out. Here, let me take you to the nurse. It's the least I can do."

"Yeah... Thanks..."

She holds out her hand and I take it. She pulls me through the crowd of still jeering jocks and guides me down the hallways of our school.

"I'm Rachel by the way. My friends just call me Rae though."

"...Michael. My friends call me Mikey."

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Mikey."

"Yeah... You too, Rae."

We walked in silence for a moment before she said:

"Hey, sorry about Jacks. He's got a stick up his ass most of the time so don't feel bad."

"Thanks. Not many people would stick up for me like that."

"Hey, no problem! I'm happy to help!"

We walked in dead silence for the rest of the way. When we got to the nurse's office, I had to fill out a paper and sit down. Rachel decides to stay and see if I'll be okay.

"I brought you all this way. I might as well." She said.

So there I was, sitting basically shoulder-to-shoulder with probably one of the hottest girls in the school. Sure, I was about to pass out, but hey this isn't so bad.

When it was finally my turn, the nurse called me back. Rachel told the nurse that she was coming back too. She confirmed that it was okay.

After that, all I remember was that I was laid down in a bed, the nurse said she would examine me, and I saw Rachel one last time before I finally blacked out.