Things have gotten weird since returning from the summer break. Zeke and Sandra unexpectedly broke things off. About two weeks into school starting. Just as I thought things were escalating for the both of them.
Zeke wouldn't tell me the reasons why. After the break up, Zeke was back in that dark place again, but not nearly as bad as last year. His heart was hurt. Zeke was probably scared of telling me what happened because I would be mad at him. Since I gained a friend out of Sandra too. Only for it to feel a little awkward once school returned.
I also noticed that Zeke had gained a lot more attention to himself. Other students stared him down the hall. Gossiping about him. Somehow the news that he had a girlfriend probably leaked through the filthy halls of this school.
It surprised me with how well Zeke was taking the break up. And the gossip and rumors that spread. I didn't want him to sink deeper like he had last year.
Currently, I was walking down the halls to go back to the same locker I had from last year. Same with Zeke. I was grabbing my lunch, as I closed my locker I saw a crumpled piece of paper at the foot of Zeke's locker. I was curious and uncompressed from its balled up form. It turned out to be a note for Zeke to meet up at a specific place. The person had horrible printing.
I ran down the halls in anger. Worried about who was asking Zeke to bring things. Or what he was asked to bring. I knew in my gut that I should of gone straight to the office to report this but, stupid me decided not too. Going against his wishes even though I shouldn't care if he gets pissed or not but something nagged at me not to report. I can't just give the office a note. I needed to be a witness.
It must have been fate because the lunch bell just rang. I had to stay clear of Zeke's locker and wait for him to walk by. Seeing if he gets anything from it. I hid around the corner, trying to not look suspicious. Eventually I saw Zeke walk straight past his locker. Heading to the gym afterwards. He didn't even bother to look at the note that I placed back at the foot of his locker. He already knew where to go. Zeke's bag also looked like it gained quite the weight due to the contents in it. It looked heavier.
My concern riled up more so I followed behind quietly. Zeke sensed another presence behind him. I had to act quickly by leaning against a wall with my back against him. With my phone to my ear. There's lots of girls with long brown hair so I was able to look like a random background character of the sorts. I could see Zeke through the reflection of my screen as I lowered it from my ear. His eyes revealed he was a little rattled up that someone may be following him. Carrying on seeing that no one was following.
Once Zeke got a little ahead of me I quickly stuck my green sweater in my bag as he would recognize it in a heartbeat. He'd know for sure that someone was following if he checked behind him again. I decided to make a detour and take the other way to the gym doors. There was a better place to hide and spy out of good reason.
I made it to the corner that I could hide in just as Zeke made it. At the gym doors was Charlie Love and his pack of mutts. Beside him was a girl with dark blonde hair. I couldn't see her face.
"Did you bring it?" Charlie asked in a sneery voice.
"Yes." Was all Zeke simply said and opened his bag to reveal a bag of food and drinks.
Charlie took the bag from him and gave it an inspection. And looked at the drinks. Just simple fast food and bottles of pop. Enough for Charlie and his friends.
Charlie looked back at Zeke and raised his hand. Zeke flinched. So did I. Worried about him. I was about to interfere when all Charlie did was pat Zeke on the shoulders.
"Good job. You got everything we asked. You keep up with your end of the deal and do a good job. Then no physical harm comes to you. We'll continue to leave your chick alone. You make a good bread shuttle. Now get out of here." Charlie said and gave Zeke a harsh push. To get him to leave the jocks to their meals.
Zeke stumbled and quickly made his way out of the area. My two questions about this was: Why did Zeke make a deal with Charlie Love? What the hell is a bread shuttle? That was a term I never heard of before. I knew it meant something bad at least.
I went back up the way I came to try and find Zeke. I somewhat rushed down the halls until either me or someone else accidentally slammed into each other. The girl landed on her ass. I felt bad.
"I'm so sorry! Here let me help you up." I offered an apologetic hand.
The girl waved my hand away rudely. "Back off bitch! Watch where the hell you're going." She said in an angry tone.
She stood up again and was taller than I as well. Unexpectedly her group of three other girls show up. The girl I shoved was obviously the leader.
All of a sudden I felt something quickly come into contact with my face. More specifically my eye. It made me stumble back in pain as I held my face in my hands. The girl I knocked down threw her manicured fist at me.
Then before I could completely evaluate what happened, I was shoved again sharply by the other girls. Making me smash my face against the hard floor. I cried out and curled up to hold my face once more.
"That's what happens when low life bitches like this come knocking me down. The push was genius but, next time don't do that. It brings so much attention that we don't need." The leader commented.
. She pressed one of her feet down onto my side and leaned in closer. "You just earned yourself a spot on my list. Mess with me again and what happened now will only seem like a minor paper cut. Watch where you're going next bitch." She sneered and walked off.
I held myself and cried as they walked off. My complete right side was going to bruise in some way. This was the first time I've ever been hit by another female. I've been hit by a male before which is far more scarier. Which leaves such a damaging feeling on one's soul. Especially if you thought you loved that person. An unknown stranger decided to attack me. All due to me accidentally knocking her down. Just goes to show how shitty some people are.
I found some power to push myself back into a sitting position. After a few moments of recovery from the blows. Then eventually feeling the pain striking mostly in my right side. I hobbled down the hall into the girls bathroom to examine myself. Bruising on my side and leg definitely formed. I also had a bloody nose and a cut under my eye from the blow. My eye was also going to have a small shiner.
A little makeup would cover it. It's not the degree of Ashley Jensen's makeup skills, but I could do something minimal. I went into my makeup bag, grabbing the products I would use and covered up the bruised areas. Just enough to not get weird looks. I couldn't do much for the cut I had. Luckily my nose stopped bleeding and didn't bleed on my shirt. I couldn't do much for my leg, it was the area that hurt the most. Minus my side.
I hobbled more as I left the bathroom. I wiped the last remnants of tears. Careful about the makeup. I limped down the hall, returning back to my locker. I was going to map out places he'd most likely go for the time being.
I grabbed a notebook from my locker and jotted down the areas. I looked quickly in the first three areas. Walking slowly as pain shot up my body with every step. He was nowhere to be found so far.
I went to the hill and just collapsed on the ground. My legs hurt too much. Defeated and tired inside. I couldn't keep track of Zeke. It wasn't my job to babysit him but, he certainly made me want too.
I caressed my sore leg. Sighing deeply. I just wanted to look out for him. Even doing that attracts trouble for myself and him. As I sulked I heard footsteps closing in and heard a thump on the ground. Someone decided to join me on the ground.
"What's with the sad sighs?" A surprising Zeke said. Startling me. I couldn't even attempt to hide the small scare.
I covered my mouth as I sucked my breath in. Careful about my face. I sighed in relief. Zeke was utterly confused and concerned. I couldn't even speak. Of course he would show up just as I accepted defeat.
Zeke noticed my anxiety was up and scooted closer to me and wrapped an arm gently around my left shoulder. His touch was always soft like a feather so it wouldn't hurt my right side much. Something about Zeke managed to calm me down.
"It's ok Pattie. I'm here." He said, filled with worry.
I scoffed a little. "You can say that again. It's not like I was running around the common areas looking for you." I mumbled.
"Wait, you were looking for me?" He asked.
I nodded intensely. Letting him know the message was clear. "You've been distant since the break up. It hasn't even been that long since you and Sandra broke up. You've sunk low again." I confessed.
My head drooped forward. Feeling odd that I actually told him that. Zeke had me face him as he held his hands on both of my shoulders. Making sure I looked him in the eyes.
"Thank you for being worried about me. I really appreciate that from you. Best be reassured, I'm telling you that I'll be alright. I just need to heal at my own pace. Sorry for being distant too. Can you believe that for me?' Zeke asked directly. Staring into my eyes with his beautiful green ones.
I nodded again. "Good. I promise to let you know if I'm not alright ok? Or if I'm too stubborn then do what you need to help. I trust you. Thanks for believing in me." Zeke says. His eyes narrowed, staring deeply at my eye.
I sucked in breath again as he noticed the small gash. "What the hell happened Pattie!? And I'm the one who needs to be worried about? I think you need to be watched over more too. How did you get a bloody gash there?"
My heart sped up. Not rethinking how I'm going to explain that. I swallowed nervously. Trying to come up with the best excuse. "I kind of came into contact with someone opening their locker quickly as I was about to leave mine. Just a minor accident." I shrugged. Trying to sound convincing.
Zeke wasn't buying it. "If that's true then why do you have bruising more specifically under your eye and on your jaw? The locker would have caused some bruising and a bloody nose even, but not a gash in that spot. It was purposely striked. I can see it through the make up." Zeke told me as he examined my face more.
My body was telling me to flee and hide. While my mind froze and made my mouth go dry. Zeke's face suddenly became more serious. He thought I got hurt in a more ridiculous accident. Well that was before he had a new change of assumptions. Zeke saw how he was in many situations like this in myself. My actions brought a reflection upon himself. The expression on his face concluded he pieced together the real reason my face was bruised.
"Did someone hurt you Pattie?" Zeke asked sternly. Never seeing him as serious as this before.
I looked away in shame. I made the tiniest attempt to stand up to scurry away. I only made two steps before I was stopped by Zeke. As well as the pain in my leg.
Zeke still held me by the shoulders lightly, as he stared me down to get the truth. All I could do now was nod defeat. "Who was it? You need to tell me Pattie. Who it was and what happened." He requested.
I quickly told him what happened. That it wasn't anyone who I suspected to have any relations with Charlie either. Just a really shitty group of girls.
"Still Pattie, you should report it. I know that would make me a huge hypocrite but, you're also someone who's never caused trouble to anyo-" I quickly cut Zeke off by shushing him by placing my hand on his mouth.
"I will not say anything unless you report what Charlie does to you. I know he pins you against the lockers and shoves you. I bet he was the reason for those many bruises you are so good at covering. Or that shiner from Homecoming. I'm not blind, I'm not stupid. I don't get how everyone else is so god damn blind around here? Especially the teachers and adults! They are trained to see the signs of a kid getting bullied! I won't stand to watch you get bullied any longer! I know about the deal too. I followed you today. No more of this 'protecting me' shit! You better tell me what the hell is going." I huffed out, My chest was heaving.
Zeke didn't seem as surprised about my confession as I thought. I was expecting to see him panic. Especially because I followed him today. Or knowing the truth that Charlie Love has been physical. Zeke looked more relieved than anything. Like some weight had just crumbled off his shoulders.
He placed his head on my shoulder. Holding onto the one person who saw right through everything. Right now, Zeke Jensen needed nothing more than a friend who he could trust and would understand him. While also being well aware I needed it too. This embrace wasn't just for him, it was for me. Zeke knew I was hurt today and made attempts to be gentle with my sore body. We needed each other.
Taking a lot of strength from Zeke, he told me the truth about what happened with his ex. Confessing that Charlie Love has laid his arms on Zeke. Zeke wouldn't go into detail to the extent Charlie has gotten. Or tell me how long it truly went on. All I knew right now was Zeke and I made progress. He made progress within himself to open up today. I also had to fight the urge in my body to not beat the shit out of the bitch Chantel, or Sandra. Whatever her name was. She and Charlie exploited Zeke's privacy by sharing those screenshots.
I was going to continue to help Zeke no matter what now. I wasn't going to be his savior. Or else he would never get the help he truly needed. Vice versa. Both of us knew our darkest secrets would be revealed to each other. I was going to know what happened to make Zeke Jensen. Zeke knew I would find out eventually too. He'd also be learning about my traumas too. It was nice for both of us to finally find someone who's willing to stay. Stay at last, no matter how dark or grim things may get.