BESIDE YOU

Chapter 8

DEMI

The past week has been horrible for me. Each time I drove past that damned house, I felt like throwing up. Nights were the worst, I'd relive that fucking night each time I closed my eyes and sleeping pills are the thing that's been helping me the most.

I don't go to school for the entire week, but I'm sure that my parents don't know about this. They don't know about anything anymore and they don't make an effort too. Sometimes it's as if I'm also dead.

My life feels like I got on a working Ferris wheel and halfway through the ride, it stopped working. Now I'm stuck at the bottom and I'm never going up if no one mends the Ferris wheel.

I go to school on Monday and halfway through the classes, I feel really tired. Sleeping pills do that to you. But I don't care because it is better than reliving everything that makes me want to tear my hair out of the scalp and cry.

I stand in the hallway leaning onto my locker for support. Somebody taps on my shoulder and I flinch in response. My heart pounds against my chest in panic before I realize where I am.

I see a group of guys and girls standing near my locker. The guy closest to me starts to talk.

"Dude, we wanna talk to you"

"Why?", my voice trembles lightly as I reply.

"Relax. It's for your benefit. Meet us near the bleachers in 20 minutes", he says.

I don't even nod at them. They all just walk away. One of the girls stops near me for a second.

"Just come. It will help you", she eyes meaningfully at me.

I feel really confused.

Should I go?

My mind refuses point-blank. I know that it would be stupid of me to do something that I'm not sure is safe. But then I stopped caring about a week ago. So I let my curiosity get the better of me.

I'm not stupid this time. There is a pepper spray in my back pocket along with a knife. This time either I die or they die before I get touched.

I buy two energy drinks from the vending machine. By the time I finish drinking half a bottle, I feel a little awake. I slowly make my way out of the building to the bleachers.

I reach there and look around. Those people are nowhere to be found. It's been at least 10 minutes before I hear a shout. It's coming from the other end of the bleachers. I see those people waving at me.

I quickly walk to the other end.

"Follow us", a guy says as soon as I get to the other end.

I wall behind him. I notice that not all the group members have come. There are just 2 girls and 2 guys. They slip under the bleachers and then they gesture to me to do the same.

As soon as I do it, they drop a sheet to cover the open area. It is hot and uncomfortable to sit so close to people I don't know. But I decide to ignore it.

"What are-, I start to speak.

I am immediately shushed by them.

"Lower your voice"

I smell trouble, I think.

"Before we say anything, I have to warn you. This remains confidential. If any of us get into trouble, your life is screwed", one of the girls speaks.

Her voice is really low and scary.

What have I gotten myself into, I think.

I am starting to feel a little scared now