My heart dropped almost as soon as we got to the street crossing to the school, and I snapped out of my daydream.
I swear, this school was my own personal hell.
I put my head down, trying to cover the sides of my face and neck with my long, tangled brown hair. The last thing I needed today was another concerned phone call from the principle to dad about the marks on my body.
"Hey, it's gonna be okay Sandra. just one more year of this hell hole and we'll be free!"
I smiled at Casey, trying to share her enthusiasm. Unfortunately, I didn't think my prison sentence would end after high school did.
...
It was freezing in Mr. Dunbolt's classroom that first period, and I couldn't stop thinking about how I should've grabbed another sweater. I could've snuck in and out.
That morning had been a hard one. Dad came home from a long night shift and a couple hours at the bar angrier than ever at the world. I didn't know what it was this time, it could've been anything. Dad had a very short temper, and I didn't stick around long enough to find out.
Mr. Dunbolt was a short, skinny man with large round glasses. I didn't mind him too much, he allowed me to sit at the back of the class and didn't bother me. Chemistry was definitely not my favorite subject. As I sat and listen to Mr. Dunbolt drone on about chemical balances, I suddenly began to feel exhausted. I hadn't gotten too much sleep that night; nightmares haunted me once again. I laid my head on my desk for just a moment and closed my eyes...
*BAM*
I woke up startled, jumping up so fast I slipped. My feet got caught on the seat and I tumbled to the ground. I felt my face grow hot with embarrassment, and looked up to find Colby Dom smirking devilishly down at me. somehow I wasn't surprised by the culprit.
Colby had slammed his hand so hard on my desk it startled me awake. Not his worst prank so far. He had made it a goal in his 6 foot 1, 100 pound life to torment me non stop. He had been my greatest enemy since the fifth grade, when he chewed a whole pack of gum and smushed it in my hair. I had to get a pixie cut that summer.
"Someone's not paying attention," Colby sneered at me, followed by a snicker.
the whole classroom was giggling at what he had done. Mr. Dunbolt attempted to calm the laughter while I scrambled back into my seat.
I thought about what Casey had said earlier in the halls on the way to class as everyone quieted and the teacher began again with his lesson.
Just one more year.
..
The rest of the morning dragged on until lunch, and I was relieved when the bell finally rang. I practically ran to my locker, knowing Casey would be there waiting for me. ever since the second grade when we met, we've always had our lockers right next to eachother.
I opened up my locker and began throwing my things in there. Casey came up to the lockers shortly after. "Can you believe how much homework Mrs. H is giving for biology? I mean seriously! The only reason I took that class was cause I thought all we were gonna be doing is, like, cutting pigs open and stuff."
I smirked at that. "Dissecting pigs is a part of teaching you biology Casey, not biology itself." I shook my head and winked at my simple friend.
We closed our lockers and continued to talk as we made our way to the cafeteria. the cafeteria was my least favorite place in the whole school, but Casey insisted on eating there. I waited in line as Casey went to grab our trays; Casey had been buying my lunch since we were in elementary school. My father neglected to make one for me, and she was too good of a person to let me go without.
I was watching Casey walk towards me when suddenly I felt a hard smack from something flying on the side of my head.
"Yo! you okay? sorry, these guys are idiots."
I felt two strong hands lifte up off the ground where I had fallen, a football rolling around next to me. I looked up straight into the eyes of the person I fear most in the world.
Bryce Gamp.
I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I couldn't breath. I was paralyzed.
I felt a hard jerk, and was relieved to be out of his grasp.
"Man this little string bean is great! she just got her first male contact!" Colby was shaking me around like a ragdoll, laughing with his little pack of hyenas at the joke only they got.
suddenly, Bryce shoved Colby so hard he went flying into the tray table.
"Don't touch her you freak," he growled at Colby, who was lying in a pile of trays.
"It was just a joke man. Lighten up.. "
Bryce turned to me again, looking back into my eyes, and I felt the breath once again leave my lungs.
"Are you okay Sandra?"
I tried make the words come out. any words. but I was stuck in his stare and I couldn't move. I managed to not my head, and a huge white, toothy smile grew over his face. He squeezed my arms, and turned and walked away.
I still stood there, unsure of what to do or say. I finally snapped out of my haze when Casey grabbed me and gave me her curious excited look. "oh. my. GOD. Bryce Gamp just touched you!"
I shrugged my friend off and started half walking, half running to the door. I could hear her calling out to me, confused. I didn't care. I couldn't stay in there. Not with him. How could they be so blind? How could they not see the monster?
Because no-one ever notices a wolf in sheep's clothing.