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CHAPTER 9

I woke with a start, my heart was pounding and I was literally drenched with sweat.

Gross.

I had this nightmare... It was of me at my old school. Memories of being beaten and betrayed filled my mind. The scars, physical evidence of what had happened, had faded a lot due to the creme I was using, but I could tell that they would never fully fade away.

"Christina?" MY mom called to me, though the door.

"Yeah?"

The door opened, revealing my worried looking mom.

"Honey, what time did you get back last night?" She asked, coming to sit at the edge of my bed.

I was about to answer, when I paused.

"What do you mean?"

"Honey, I got off work early, and I never saw you come home from school." She said, her face full of concern.

"I guess you must have not heard me come back, I was tired so I fell asleep right away, which I guess explains why you never saw me." I replied after a couple minutes of thinking.

"I guess so." She said, skeptical.

I could tell that she wasn't satisfied with my answer, but wasn't going to interrogate me. My mom wouldn't go to those extremes in this situation.

"Well you better hurry up and get ready, school starts soon." She told me smiling.

Right before she left the room, she looked back at me.

"Christina are you okay? You look really pale and distraught." She said, once again a look of concern filled her face.

"Y-Yeah." I stuttered, giving her a pathetic smile in hopes she would walk away.

"Whatever you say..." She trailed off, leaving the room.

1 hour later

I felt so sick.

I was lightheaded, and burning up, also there was a constant painful sensation in my arm. Annoyed, I pulled up the sleeve of my sweater, only to be surprised with a nasty looking bruise surrounding a small dot above

my vein.

What the hell?

I was quiet during all my morning classes, and instead of talking to Julia or Mandy in class, I just took notes. While walking to the lunchroom, Mandy caught up to me.

"Christina, are you okay?? You look really sick." She stated, searching my face.

"I'm fine." I murmured, giving her a weak smile.

We entered the lunchroom and saw Julia waiting at a vacant table for us. For the rest of lunch, I zoned out. It's not even like I could eat, I felt like complete shit.

Unfortunately, I had gym next. On the bright side though, I was with Julia. We entered the locker room and changed into our gym clothes. When we entered the gym, I almost screamed in frustration.

We were having a joint gym class with the boys.

Yay!

As if things couldn't get any worse, Cole and his friends just so happened to be in the group of guys.

"Alright guys, let's start out with five laps around the gym!" Coach Ryan called out enthusiastically.

Fuck you Coach Ryan. Fuck you.

Thankfully, I have always been a good runner. Just kidding. I could only run well if I was on a flat surface, wearing good shoes, and no one was chasing me.

I was in the front, almost about to lap the kid with the curly red hair and freckles. I passed him, having a mini mental victory dance inside my head as I did so. I could feel someone gaining on me, so I tried picking up the pace.

"God you are one slow runner, virgin bitch?"

"Are you kidding me? I am ahead of everyone else!" I said defensively.

Cole laughed. Not a mocking laugh, but a real, genuine, laugh.

"What?!" I demanded.

"Virgin bitch, once I pass you, it will have been my second time lapping you. You are in the back, actually, you are in dead last." He informed me, amusement clear in his voice.

"Wait wha-" I was cut off by Cole's laughter.

He then passed me.

By the time I finished my laps, everyone else had been done and were in teams for... WRESTLING. Oh and the groups? They HAD to be boy/girl.

"Coach Ryan I don't have a partner, I can just sit out-" I said

"LISTEN UP! CHRISTINA DOESN'T HAVE A PARTNER... any volunteers?" He yelled, looking around.

"I don't have a partner either."

FML.

Julia shot me a sympathetique look from across the gym, where she stood next to Ian.

Angrily, I followed Cole to where our mat was set up. Groups had already begun, and the goal was to pin

down your partner for ten seconds total.

I was so screwed.

"Ready bitch?" Cole asked, smirking cockily.

"Bring it asshole." I replied, remaining cool and collected on the outside, while on the inside I was shocked by my courage.

BAM!

I was flat on my back, with Cole smirking above me, pinning me down.

"What? No struggle? No fight?" He asked, "Hmmm, I always thought of you as a girl who like it rough."

"Get off of me. It's been ten seconds." I ordered him through gritted teeth.

Once again, we were facing each other. I wasn't going to let him win this one. Cole began circling me, like a predator would do to its prey.

BAM!

How did that happen?!

"Christina, just admit it. You are weak." He said with a smirk.

I narrowed my eyes at him, refusing to back down.

When I stood up again, I was overcome by dizzyness and almost fell, but thankfully Julia was there to help me into the girls locker room. After a quick shower, I changed back into my regular clothes, and made my way through the empty hallways.

Right now I had study hall, so I ended up sitting with my back up against a random locker, closing my eyes.

Suddenly, I was attacked by waves of nausea. I scrambled to my feet, just barely making it to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later

I washed my mouth out and stood using the sink for support. From the way I was feeling, I just wanted to curl up and die.

Slowly, I left the bathroom, only to be greeted by the sight of Cole making out with a girl against the lockers. Pain erupted in my chest, along with jealousy. I had almost turned the corner when I made the mistake of looking back.

Cole was glaring at me, after having pulled away from the girl. His eyes turned black and a growl echoed through the hallway. The girl looked up at me, and gave me a look of sympathy and guilt.

I turned and quickly made my way to my locker. Just as I got there, I felt a pair of eyes burning holes into my back. Cautiously, I turned around and jumped back in shock. Cole had only been a mere foot away. I began backing up as he advanced upon me.

With the help of my ninja skills, I fell on my ass.

This caused Cole to smirk, and continue to take steps closer. I was cornered, and on the ground.

"You know..." Cole began, crouching down to my eye level, "You interrupted a very pleasuring moment for me, and let's not forget what you did to my car, and that little talent show stunt you pulled."

I gulped.

"So what?" I replied, attempting to sound confident and unafraid, but ending up sounding like a pathetic mouse.

"So? You are vulnerable right now." He stated.

With inhuman speed, he pulled me up and sandwiched my body between the wall and his. He looked deeply into my eyes before leaning to my ear, pushing our bodies closer together. Huskily whispering into my ear,

"I think it's time for your punishment."

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