CHAPTER 3

I gulped. Cole was smirking at me, with his friends behind him.

He took a step forward, I took one back, he took another and I fell back. Nice, I thought to myself. Way to fall.

"Well it looks like this is gonna be easier than I thought." Said Cole who was now standing over me. "I'll see you guys later." Without hesitation, Ian and the two other guys left.

I started to stand up, only to be pushed back down by Cole.

"Listen virgin bitch. You are nothing but shit, and I don't need you walking around here like you own this school. This is MY school, these people listen to ME. I don't need some virgin bitch like you messing everything up." He snarled.

I sat there emotionless. I didn't even react when he grabbed my arm and forced me to stand.

"Cat got you tongue, bitch?"

I have no idea where all this confidence came from, but the next thing I did was quite outrageous.

I slapped him.

But it didn't stop there. All my anger, my pain, my hurt, it came flooding out. I threw myself at Cole, flailing my arms, hoping to inflict pain upon this asshole. This was my revenge against all those jerks who used and abused me.

I was blinded by my anger one moment, attacking Cole, then I was slammed up against the lockers. Cole used his own body to hold me there, my arms were pinned at my sides and and my legs were trapped by his. Both of Cole's hands were placed at either side of my head, making it impossible to move the slightest bit.

To my surprise, he didn't have a single bruise or even red mark on himself. He looked perfectly fine.

And angry. No- angry would be an understatement.

Cole was furious. He was breathing heavily, and with each breath, he seemed to press in closer to me.

"C-C-Cole, get away." I stuttered, fear lacing each word.

"Christina..." He breathed out, staring straight into my eyes, "I warned you."

There I lay.

Listening to his retreating footsteps, after being flung like a rag doll to the other end of the hallway. I couldn't move. There was so much pain, my head felt like a bomb went off in it, and my whole body ached.

Right before I passed out, I realized, maybe this new school wouldn't be so different.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The faint noise of a machine is what I heard as I woke up. The pounding in my head wasn't as bad, and despite the searing pain coursing my body, there hadn't seemed to be any permanent damage. I looked around the hospital room, I couldn't see much since the lights were off and it was dark outside.

Wait. Hospital room? Dark outside?

How long have I been out and how did I get here? At that moment the door opened and a nurse walked in.

"Hun you're awake!! This is good!! How are you feeling?" She asked.

"Better, thanks." I answered with a small smile, "How did I get here?"

"Well Hun, you are one lucky duck. With the concussion you have, you would have had some serious damage if this young handsome man hadn't brought you in. Unfortunately, he had to leave but he told me to give this." She replied, holding out a folded note.

I sat up and reached for it, ignoring the worsening pain that followed as a result. Before I could open it, the nurse excused herself and left, reassuring me that she would be back soon.

After taking a couple of deep breaths, I opened the note.

Tell anyone what happened and you won't be so lucky next time

I stopped breathing.

Holy shit. I'm screwed.

_

___________________________________________________________________________

After spending the rest of the week there, I was finally released. It took forever to convince my mom that I was okay to leave, but in the end she caved.

I was lying on my bed, still sore with most of my back covered in bruises.

My door opened a little, "Christina, do you need anything?" My mom asked

"I'm fine, thanks." I sighed. More pain pills would be nice, but if I had said that my mom would have freaked an taken me back to the hospital. I watched her as she opened the door all the way and came to sit on the edge of my bed.

"Christina, I know you are shaken, and in a lot of pain, but sooner or later you're going to tell me what happened." She said firmly

"Okay, later than." I muttered. She groaned, annoyed at how closed up I was being, and left my room. If only she knew that I was being threatened.

Ever since my dad's death, I have been really close to my mom, and have told her everything. I didn't tell her right away about the abuse at school, but that was when I thought I could handle it. After a while, when I broke, I told her and she pulled me from school and had us move. That is how strong our relationship is.

Monday

I had to walk to school.

My mom offered to drive me, but you all know my fear with cars... Anyways after she left I went to get my bike, when I realized how badly that would end up. I was covered in bruises, most on my back and yes, I had to wear a neck brace because of my concussion. Another reason I couldn't ride my bike.

I sighed and left the house. Maybe if I limp quickly enough, I will be able to make it to school on time. Yeah right.

30 minutes later

I was huffing and puffing on the steps on school. I probably missed at least half of first period, but I really didn't care anymore. I hobbled into the school and got a late slip- the once cheerful front desk lady now glared at me with annoyance and anger. I threw a nasty look right back at her- HA! From the shocked look on her face, I could tell she didn't expect that.

I was walking- or whatever you would like to call it, to my locker when I felt a presence behind me. Because of my neck brace I couldn't just look back, so I continued walking. The feeling followed me, but I still ignored it. I was putting away my books when I heard someone talk.

"What happened to you, virgin bitch?"

I saw red. Letting out a snarl, I turned and lunged, only to be caught in the air. I began fighting- scratching, kicking, and waving my arms around in attempt to injure my attacker. I only stopped when I was placed on the ground and pinned against the locker.

"Christina calm down." The voice ordered.

Only then did I look up and see that it wasn't Cole, it was Ian. I don't know Ian, but I don't trust him. I mean, he is a friend of Cole's... why should I?

"You little fuck! Get away from me!" I spat at him, struggling again.

"Christina. Why are you mad?" Ian asked

"Are you serious?! You friend fucking nearly kills me and I was stuck in a goddamn hospital for SIX DAYS! SIX FUCKING DAYS! And you just stand there are ask me what's wrong?!" I scream, thrashing in Ian's arms. I ended up hitting my head on the locker behind me, and then I got all lightheaded.

"You did this to yourself." Ian stated calmly.

Speechless. Despite the fatal pounding in my head and aching all over my body, I managed to stay still and not say a single word.

"He warned you and you freaked on him." Ian said looking into my eyes.

"You did this to yourself." He repeated again

I felt shattered. Was this seriously my fault?

"Cat got your tongue, bitch?"

Cole.

Standing there at the end of the hallway.

I lost it.

I pushed Ian away with all the force I could muster, and I did the only thing left for me to do.

I ran.

I ran out the school, past the gate. I ran still I felt numb. I ended up collapsing near the woods. I was breathing heavily, but still I refused to cry. I wouldn't let down my walls just because I was by myself. I had to stay strong.

2 hours later

Yup. I was still lying near the woods. I felt dead and probably looked it too. I finally sat up, and took off my sweatshirt leaving me in my sweatpants and sports bra. I began walking through the woods, the pain with each step I took was pushed aside. I was too busy thinking to worry or care. I reached a clearing, where I decided to sit against a rock and rest.

Was I really the one to blame for my incident?

Was it my fault?

I coundn't think about it. It made me sick, the idea of blaming myself never crossed my mind. Maybe Ian was ri-

No.

All this shit I have endured was not self inflicted.

Tomorrow Cole better watch out. I don't give a fuck if he owns this school, I will show him his place. I stood up, confidence and courage rushing through myself, only to be replaced by pain. Abusive much? I thought as I remember what Cole had done to me.

I reached down to grab my sweatshirt- only now realizing my neck brace wasn't on. I'm so oblivious.

Then I froze at the sound of a twig snapping.

"Virgin bitch, why so many scars?? Are you some bitchy, virgin, cutter?"

________________________________________________________________________________