He sees me as I walk past him and stops me, I can see him trying to make a decision, isn't it too early to get beaten up, I wince internally.
He doesn't say anything for a while, he just leans on his car with a hand in his trouser pocket like a model posing for a lifestyle magazine, his hair a shade of gold and brown.
I get tired of the staring and speak up, "if you're going to hit me just do it already, I have a maths class to attend"
He scoffs at me, "you seem to enjoy being pounded "
"Not as much as you enjoy doing the pounding I can assure you".
He smiles derisively now taking a step towards me, "you have a pretty big mouth for someone this weak" I roll my eyes at him, "I'm a girl, sorry if my strength level doesn't meet your expectations ".
The corner of his lip twitches in a smile, he doesn't look as angry as he usually is, he even seemed kind of excited?
No, I have to be overthinking his body reactions, what is there to be excited about.
He grins wickedly at me, "well it seems you got your strength back, see you after school" and he turns and walks away.
Maybe it is true that I make things worse with my mouth, maybe I should behave like other students behave when they are being picked on, I should whimper and cower in fear, maybe it will make Zachary go easy on me.
I sigh out in frustration as I take my seat and get ready for maths.
Zachary is sited on the same row as me to my far right, he doesn't pay me much mind in class, so I also do not give him any attention, whenever there isn't a teacher in class, I insert my earphones into my ear and go to sleep with my head on my desk.
Some weeks ago, someone had thought it would be funny to stick a piece of paper with one of those funny drawings on my back while I was sleeping, but that day, I had only inserted my earphones without actually playing any music like I sometimes do.
I heard the girls giggling at their genius idea, I heard feet shuffling while I pretended to be asleep.
Just as the perpetrator was getting to me, I heard a low snarl, a hiss and someone scream out in pain, then I heard that sweet melodious voice threaten to maim and kill anyone who so much as dares to look at me. The whole class fell into a silent trance and as I pretended to rouse from sleep, I saw the disbelief and hurt and shock in all the peers of eyes.
I look over at Zachary and his crew now, besides their daily routine of making my life hell, they are a rather mysterious bunch, they are the most popular boys in school, the most good looking even, they are all from wealthy homes and they pretty much keep to themselves.
I watch as they bicker amongst themselves, laughing and teasing pointing at something, a cellphone.
A boy on glasses with black hair and a scar below his right eye, suddenly looks up at me and smiles, his smile draws the attention of the entire crew to me including Zachary, our eyes lock for a moment and then I look away.
What was that weird feeling, like electricity was being pumped into my body, why did my heart jump the way it did, why did it suddenly seem like I cared for that split second.
Like I cared about the way the corner of his eyes danced with mischievous ness, like I cared about the brown warmth of his eyes.
Like I cared about this classroom and all its hidden secrets and why did the world suddenly possess such beautiful colours for that split second we locked eyes.
I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts but they refuse to disperse, gripping on to my head stubbornly, I sigh and begin drumming my fingers on my table. Did Zacharys bullying mean something else, or was it pure hatred.
I remember when it all started, it didn't used to be this severe, it started as mere teasing and bumping into me, but I didn't care.
I would pick up my books and continue like nothing happened, then eventually he started stopping me in the hallway.
There are times I have spied him looking my way, there are times I have seen a hint of worry in his eyes, and even now, he didn't look at me like someone who was capable of feeling the level of hate he sometimes exhibited, so what did it all mean?
The bell signifying the end of the day rings, this would probably be the last bell I hear if Zacharys threats are to be taken seriously.
I pack up my books and leave the class, casually scrolling through my phone in search of the song I would die to, if I can't choose the way I die I can at least choose the last tune I hear.
I don't see him waiting by my locker like he always does, I look behind me and he isn't there as well.
I feel my heart drop to my stomach, why do I feel disappointed isn't this a miracle?
I walk past my locker heading for the door walking a little faster, little firmer unable to believe my luck, maybe he has grown tired of it, of me.
A hand grips me just as I am about to step out the door, I draw my hands back on impulse, (I hate human touch or contact) I look up and meet a pair of amused eyes on a well sculpted face that could have belonged to an angel in a previous life but not in this life because in this one it belonged to Andre the right hand man of the devil. I sigh, my luck did seem to be too good .
I step back and continue watching Andre as he let other students pass through but me, what are they upto, will they really kill me, wait till the school was empty and butcher me to pieces.
I walk back the way I had come and sit cross legged In front of my locker waiting.
Some minutes pass by and I am engrossed on my phone, oblivious to the now empty hallway. Someone hits my hand hard and my cellphone falls to the ground.
I look up and meet an angry pair of black eyes, that didn't match the face.
How are his eyes suddenly black, didn't they used to be brown?.