Honor Student

Chapter 6

Ever since Regina and I stopped talking, school seemed to have gotten so much harder. I was falling asleep in all my classes and it had been a couple of weeks since our last after school session. Every time I walked into her class I wanted to cry, the worst part about it was that I couldn't even confide in anyone. Ryan was always busy with baseball since it was in season and since me and Regina weren't on the best of terms...I had no one to talk to.

I stopped eating because I never had an appetite anymore, every time I saw food I wanted to throw up. At night I would just reminisce over her beautiful smile and her magical laugh. I was completely broken without her. I never thought I would need someone the way I needed her...I didn't know if I would be able to make it much longer. I thought about what would happen if I really just decided to end it all...would she even care? Did I mean anything to her?

The bell rang for first period and I got up to leave. I'd been so numb lately that somehow I'd forgotten about the picture, even though it had been all everyone else could talk about. Before even getting through the doorway, my butt was groped. I winced a little but for the most part felt nothing; I was numb. I heard laughing behind me and in the hallway I was cornered in front of the lockers.

"Hey, you know you can't just ignore us." It was a tall kid in a letterman jacket, I think I'd seen him at the party but I wasn't sure. His eyes bore into mine challenging me to fend for myself but I just sat there and stared into space. I was pulled from my zone when I felt a sharp pain on the side of my head, apparently he'd been screaming just moments before. He slammed his fist into the locker, but not without nicking the side of my cheek with his class ring first.

I sensed a warm stream of blood run down my face granting me some sort of freedom. It felt like the universe had heard me crying for help and finally decided to come through.

"Thomas!"

Regina had apparently heard the commotion going on outside her door and stumbled out to find Thomas and a bunch of his friends huddled around a bloody me...great. "What the hell do you four think you're doing? Office. Now!" She was livid. I'd never seen her get so mad...ever, and Regina could be quite the firecracker sometimes.

Once the boys were out of sight she gave me a sigh and said, "Here, come in my room and I'll have you cleaned up."

"Actually...I'm fine, I can just go to class- really, it's no big deal." I tried my best to convince her but unfortunately my best wasn't enough.

"My room. Now." She walked inside and brought out a small first aid kit that all teachers were required to have on hand. "So, you wanna tell me what happened out there?"

"Not really." I kept my answers short hoping she wouldn't pry...and she did.

"Oh my bad...did I make it seem like you had a choice?" She spoke with sarcasm but there was a hint of hostility in her voice, I could tell she was getting impatient.

"Nothing...okay? Just some guys being idiots that's all..." I glanced up to see her eyes searching mine for the truth.

"Your shirt's all bloody...do you happen to have a spare on you?"

"Nope."

"Alright then", she sighed and got up.

"Where are you going?" I asked baffled that she'd gotten up and tried to leave mid conversation.

"Well I'm not going to let you run around with a blood-stained shirt...I have an extra in my car, I'll only be a moment." She walked out and was back in no time.

"Here...it's not the greatest but it should do just fine." She handed me the white dress shirt and I looked up, confused at what she expected me to do.