I groan as the annoying beeping of my alarm continuously goes off. I turn over to slap the button on my phone but I hiss in pain. Nate sits up and grabs my arm.
"Woah, careful you're still in a lot of pain Rillan." He helps me sit up and reaches over to click the button on my phone, turning off the annoying alarm.
"God that hurts like a bitch." I groan resting my head on the back board.
Nate gets up and grabs a glass of water from his dresser, handing it to me. I slowly grab it and take a few gulps, "Thank you." I mutter and try to slid my legs off the bed. He helps me up, taking the glass and I bend down to grab some sweats out of my bag. Nicky must have packed it knowing I would want to wear sweats instead of jeans. I walk into Nates closet and slowly work my clothes off. I hiss as the pain in my ribs increases with every movement.
"Do you need some help hunny? You're making a lot of sounds.." I hear from outside of the door.
I sigh, "Yes please.."
He walks in and closes the door behind him, "Don't need my mom walking in on this," He laughs.
I chuckle but hiss at the pain it causes in my chest. Nate reaches over and grabs the end of my shirt, I hold my arms up and he pulls it up over my head. I hear him hiss and I look at him confused until I see him looking at my torso. I glance down and see the large bruises already forming on my sides and stomach.
"It doesn't look that bad.. does it?" I mumble looking away.
He doesn't say anything, instead he Grabs my sweatshirt and helps me put it on. I pull down my pajama pants and pull on the sweats. I give Nate a sideways glance, He looks extremely pissed off but also concerned. I place my hand on his arm and he looks up at me.
"I'm okay, I promise." He looks down sad and places his hand on top of mine, squeezing it reassuringly.
"Let's finish getting ready so we can head to school." I say picking up my pj's and walking out of the closet.
I hear Nate rustling around in the closet, probably getting dressed himself and I throw my old clothes on top of my bag, pulling out a pair of converse and slipping them on.
"Hey Nate? Can you tie my shoes?" I ask, as I give up trying to bend down.
He walks out in a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt with the words "Shut up." Written across the front.
I smile, "I need to get me one of those t-shirts."
Nate laughs, "Here let me help you."
I watch him tie both my shoes and get up grabbing both our backpacks, "uh.. did you do the homework sheet for government?"
I stare at him and he laughs nervously, "I'll just do it in first period.."
I nod, indicating the right choice. He cares both our backpacks to the kitchen and we both grab random things in his fridge and pantry for lunch.
"Oi pass me the chips." I demand as I throw my sandwich in my lunch sack.
"So demanding." Nate laughs tossing the bag.
I scrunch my nose up and stick my tongue out catching the chips. We finish out lunches and head out to the car. I nod realizing Nate's mom has already left for work. I jump into Nate's Jeep and click the radio.
"Oi! Hands off my station women!" He swats at my hand and I giggle.
"My bad your highness." I say half bowing in my seat.
He rolls his eyes and pulls out of the driveway. I glance out the window and watch the scenery change, slightly smiling at the way the houses and cars blur together. I see the school com into view and my chest immediately closes up. I grab onto my shirt trying to keep my breathing stead, trying hard not to panic. I feel Nate pull into the closest spot and park, grabbing onto my arm to turn me.
"Hey.. hey.. breathe. You're okay Rillan. Look at me you are okay."
I nod slowly, repeating over and over again in my head, 'I'm okay.. I'm okay.'
"Can you go inside? If not we can be a little late so you can calm down."
I shake my head, "I'll be okay."
He gives me a sad look and I try my best to smile, "I'll be fine, let's just go in."
"Rillan if there is even a second where I think you're not okay, I'm pulling you out of class and I'm taking you out of school today."
I sigh, "Nate your not my dad, you can't just pull us both out of class."
He laughs, "Ri my dad is the principle."
"Oh. Right, I forgot about that."
We both unbuckle and jump out of the car, I suddenly get dizzy and have to grip on to the car door to balance myself. Pain in my ribs has me close to tears. I feel a pair of soft hands on my arm keeping me steady.
"Woah there princess, are you okay?"
My eyes widen and I look to the side to see Iyvan standing right next to me with a mixed look of confusion and concern. Nate then appears at my other side grabbing my arm and pulling me towards him, my backpack in his other arm.
"She's fine, her blood sugar is just low she hasn't eaten this morning, we were in a hurry." He says quickly.
Iyvan looks to me and I nod slightly, leaning my weight on Nate, "Y-yeah, I was in a hurry. Silly me, I forgot to set my alarm and ended up sleeping in again."
He narrows his eyes for a second before going back to his laid back attitude.
"Alright, cya later then." He turns and starts walking towards his friends.
Nate squeezes my arm a bit, "That was close. Are you okay Rillan?"
I nod, "Yeah, my ribs just started hurting and I got a bit dizzy from the pain."
He lets go of my slowly and digs around in his pocket, "Here, I brought some pain medication. I thought you might need some more."
I smile, "Thanks Nate, What would I do without you."
"Probably be in pain?" He jokes.
I punch him in the shoulder and take the bottle shoving it in my backpack and tossing it over my shoulder.
"Alright let's head to class before we are late."
He sticks his tongue out, "Well we wouldn't have been late if you had just let me take the shortcut like I wanted to!"
I roll my eyes, "Nate you have a horrible sense of direction."
I hold the door open for him and we both make our way to first period. I walk into the classroom and we sit down at our desks right next to each other.
"Right cause you're any better?"
I mock hurt, "Ouch, I'll have you know that I mapped out the entire trail Forrest without once getting lost."
He rolls his eyes and crosses his arms, "Right, cause a Forrest is the same as a town. We both know your part animal."
He shrug, "What can I say, it's my natur-." I gasp in pain as a bag is connected with my shoulder.
I look up to see Lina Gardner, the popular head cheerleader. She had swung her backpack at me, pretending it was an accident.
"Oh I'm sorry did that hit you? I was just trying to put my backpack on." She snickers.
I glare at her and reach up to grab her long ass, blonde hair when Nate's arm on my shoulder stops me. She laughs and walks back to her desk and sits down next to all her bimbo friends. I growl under my breath trying really hard not to get up and beat her to a pulp.
"It's not worth getting in trouble Rillan, you know she could twist the whole thing and make everyone believe that it's all your fault and she would never get in trouble." Nate explains.
I glare at her behind me, "Your dad is the principle! Why can't you just tell him she started it."
He shakes his head and pulls out a binder, "Because you know Lina is a 'model' student in the eyes of every teacher, plus her daddy is rich and donates thousands of dollars to this school. My dad worships the ground her daddy walks on."
I roll my eyes, "That girl hasn't worked a day in her life."
He nods snickering, "I bet you she probably couldn't even get a job if she tried, she's too dumb. Imagine her trying to work a cash register!"
I snort, "Here's your change sir! Hands him 20 dollars more then he's supposed to get. Fired on the first day, no first hour she's worked!"
Nate burst out laughing, holding his stomach, "My gosh I would pay to see that. She'd probably bedazzle her uniform!"
I cover my mouth trying to keep from laughing too hard, "Stop making me laugh, it hurts."
Nate stops suddenly, "Oh my god are you okay? I'm so sorry."
I wave my hands in front of me, "No no I was trying to joke around about it, I'm fine. Speaking of that I should probably take those pain meds real quick."
I reach into my backpack and grab the bottle, before I could open it its knocked out of my hand. I look up and see Iyvan reaching down to pick it up.
"Sorry I didn't mean to kick you- Wait.. these are pain meds. Why are you taking pain meds?"
I freeze trying to find an answer and end up blurting, "Cramps!"
Nate snickers beside me, and I turn to glare at him. I turn back to reach out for the bottle and Iyvan slowly hands it to me, I look up at him and he gives me an unsure look. Almost like he knows something is up.
"Oh, my bad." He says before walking back to sit next to Lina and her bimbos. Lina immediately gets up and sits down on his lap, I roll my eyes and open the bottle.
I toss it back in my bag after taking them and grab my binder. The teacher walks in and starts class, talking about who knows what. I zoned out almost immediately.
"Rillan Hallows!"
My attention snaps to the front, my teacher looking directly at me
"Oh- uh yes?" I say lamely.
"You're being checked out."
I freeze, my head snaps to Nathanial next to me, we look at each other worried. I look back at the teacher and shake my head.
"I'll just stay here, thank you."
The teacher gives me an annoyed look, "Rillan you don't have a choice, please go to the principles office."
I begin to shake my head again when Nate stands up suddenly, "I'll make sure she gets down there, I have to speak to my dad anyway. Come on Illa we will go together."
My eyes wide as golf balls, I stand up and grab my back slowly, following Nate out of the classroom. I turn my head just in time to see Iyvan's worried expression before walking out into the hall. Nate wraps his arms around my shoulders, pulling me carefully into his chest.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to my dad. I'll make sure you don't go home with them." He says gently.
I nod, still very frightened at the idea of going back home so soon. We walk to the office and I soon see my mother standing at the counter talking to the receptionist. I freeze in place, not able to tell my body to move. Nate grabs my hand and pulls me towards the back entrance to the office and down a small hallway to his dad's office.
Principle Becker looks up as we enter his office, "Oh Rillan there you are, your mother is at the front you can go ahead and leave, she's done checking you out."
I don't say anything, I just stand frozen in place. Nate squeezes my hand reassuringly.
"Dad? You have to let Rillan stay at school and come back to our house."
Principle Becker looks at his son puzzled, "Rillan stayed at our house last night.. I heard you guys come in. What's going on Nathanial?"
Nate looks at me slowly, I nod my head. "Rillan's parents are being very nice. They've been kind of abusive recently and she just need somewhere to stay right now, you can't let her mom take her home right now."
Mr.Becker puts down his paperwork and stands up coming over to us, "Rillan is this true? Have your parents been hitting you?"
I don't say anything for a minute, Not sure how to explain what's going on without the police getting involved. Nate squeezes my hand again and I look up to meet Mr. Becker's eyes.
"Well, It's not bad.. but they've been in a bad mood this week and it's gotten to a point where they might end up doing something if I even look at them the wrong way. I just need a place to stay until they calm down. You know how my dad gets when He's stressed out from work, and my mom kinda feeds off from it." I explain as best as I can without revealing too much.
Mr. Becker nods slowly, processing what I've told him, "I understand what your saying Rillan, but unfortunately my hand are tied here. You are still 17 and until you've turned 18 I can't let you stay when you're parent or guardian has come to check you out. Unless you are willing to testify to the police that your parents have been putting their hands on you."
I nod, "I figured as much, but I really don't want to get the police involved."
Nate speaks up then, "Dad come on! There must be something you can do?"
He shakes his head sadly, "I'm sorry Nathanial I can't do anything, my hands are tied. Now come on Rillan, I'll walk you out and explain to your mom that I was just talking to you about some tutoring for other students."
I look down at my hands and will myself to hold back my tears, and follow him out to my mother.
"Finally! There you are Rillan! I've been waiting for ages, Are you ready to go hunny?" I try not to scowl at the fake mom act she's put up and I nod to her.
"I'm sorry for the wait Mrs. Hallows, I was just asking your daughter if she'd be up for tutoring some students who are a little behind in their classes." Principle Becker explains.
I look up and my mother is smiling and nodding to the Principle, "Oh that's great! My sweet girl has always been so smart. You told him yes right Rillan?"
She looks directly at me, an evil glint in her eyes. I gulp and nod my head.
She claps her hands together, "Wonderful! Well we best be off now, don't want to be late for your appointment Rillan."
I follow my mom out of the office as the bell rings for the next class. I look behind me to wave goodbye to Nate when Darius catches my eyes. I see him staring at me intensely, his fists clenched. He looks ready to rush over here and pull me away. I turn back around and walk out of the school, getting into my moms car.
I glance over at the doors and see Darius rushing out of them before we drive off..
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