(Jack's P.O.V.)


"Septiceye!" I hear yet another person shout out. I sigh, looking at the ground and trying my best to ignore the shouts and insults I get. It's been three days since Chase stabbed me, and I'm still stuck wearing this eyepatch and taking antiseptics. It's not annoying me at all, but it gives these people more to pick at me for. Plus, it doesn't help what the doctor said is gonna happen in the long run. 

"You doing okay?" I hear Ann ask. I look over at her and nod. 

"Yeah, fine. Just tired." I say. I already know she doesn't believe me. Mark's out sick, of course, so Ann's been hanging out with me at school. It's nice being able to talk to her, and hang out with her, even if Mark isn't here. Plus... She's a little more clueless to the whole situation then Mark is. So that helps. 

"So what did the doc say?" I hear her ask suddenly, probably trying to start conversation. I sigh as we reach my locker, and I open it, going to get a book before just leaning my head on the shelf. 

"Uh... He said that chances of recovery are unlikely." I say softly. Ann frowns and walks closer, so we can talk quieter. 

"And that means...?" She asks softly. I look over at her, my forehead still on the shelf. 

"It means that I'll be blind in my left eye the rest of my life." She gasps quietly, and immediately wraps her arms around me. 

"Oh, I'm sorry Jack." She says. I just shrug, hugging her back. 

"I don't mind to much. I mean, yeah it'll be annoying for a little bit but I'll learn to live with it." I say, pulling away from the hug and smiling. She smiles too. 

"Plus if you keep that eyepatch on, you'll look badass 24/7." I put a hand to my chest in mock hurt. 

"Are you saying I don't already?" I ask and she just laughs, me soon laughing along with her. 

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say." She says, letting me grab my books before we continue down the hallway towards her locker. We got to school early so we could stop at both of our lockers together. We stop at her locker, even after she gets her books, seeing as math isn't to far away for me and her first class is literally the next hall over. 

"So, what's up? How's Mark?" She asks, leaning against the wall. I lean against the wall next to her, shrugging. 

"He's doing fine. Pesky fever is keeping him up at night, but other than that he's doing fine." I say. She nods, smiling. 

"Good. I miss having him around." She says. And then she bumps my shoulder. "Unlike you I don't have an excuse to go visit him everyday." She says, and I chuckle. 

"Be happy about that. I love him, but god when he's sick he's a fucking nightmare." I laugh, making her laugh too. And then someone passes by and shouts once more. 

"Fag!" They say. Ann's eyes widen. I just look at the ground. More people pass by. Morning rush. "Septiceye!" "Gay!" "Idiot!" "Antiseptic!" "Weak!" Ann looks ready to murder them all. Another one walks by with the wonderful insult of "fag" and Ann starts walking after him, but I quickly grab her arm. 

"Don't. He isn't worth it. None of them are." I say, pulling her back. She just scoffs. 

"Do you hear the things they're saying?!" She asks, outraged. I nod. 

"I just... Ignore them." I say, staring at the ground once more. Ann's mood immediately changes. 

"Jack are you okay?" She asks, walking up to me. I nod quickly. 

"Yeah, I'm fine." I say. She doesn't believe me... 

"But those things they're saying..." 

"Words don't hurt me." I say quickly, wanting to drop the subject. The bell rings just then, and right before she walks off Ann says one more thing. 

"Yes they do." And then she walks away, leaving me thinking in the hallway.