I was in front of my yard. My thoughts were scattered as I noticed my dad's car, beat up and dented, in the driveway. Why was he home so early? He usually doesn't get home till 2 in the morning....

Oh no..

I walked in the house carefully.
"Dad?" I called out shyly.
He came out of his room slowly, looked at me, and I saw anger. He walked over to me, his tall figure towering over.

"Why are you home so early?" I asked, scared of his answer.

"I got fired." He said, and he aimed his words directly at me.
"Someone didn't wake me up on time this morning. I was late, and it was the last straw. So, since you didn't wake me up, you're gonna have to take the blame." He raised his arm and before I could back away, his fist met my face. He punched me, hard, and I collapsed.

He kicked me as I struggled to get up and away. He quit and as I was getting up to run, I felt glass cut my cheek. I screamed in agonizing pain. He stood there with a broken beer bottle in his hand. He dropped the bottle and I collapsed once more. He kicked me one last time, before he walked outside and started the car. I could hear the engine spud to life, and I soon heard it leave and head towards the bar. I slowly scrambled up, grabbing my backpack and phone. I went to the mirror to check the damage. I was horrified by the image in front of me. My cheek was scratched and bleeding, gashes forming bloody valleys across it. My right eye was already bruising over, starting to swell.

That's when my eyes let out little rain drops. The salty water stung my gashed cheek, making me hurt worse. I screamed.

I screamed the loudest I've ever heard. Soon, my cheek wasn't the only thing with glass in it.

My fist had flew to the mirror, shattering it, making little shards hit everywhere. It didn't occur to me what I had just done until I was halfway out the yard. I had left my house, with nothing but my bag, my phone and charger, and a couple 20s.

I needed to leave.

I needed help.

—_—

I had been gone since 4 o'clock. It was now 10 pm. I had crashed for a bit behind some old trees in the woods behind the park. I had been relaxing on a stump when my phone rang.

I picked it up, finding one of my few friends, Phoenixx, had begun to call. As I answered, I heard her voice, soft and comforting.

"Sky?"
"Yes Nixx?"
"You might want to check the news."
"Uh, I can't right now.." I said, suspicious of what she was getting too.
"You remember how you told me your mom was in jail?"
"Phoenixx?"
"She just escaped.."

-_-

I was sitting in a tree, looking out for possible signs of danger. My mother was a sick bastard, as was my father. My mother tried to kill me when I was 4 years old. I haven't seen her in 13 years. My dad blamed me for her imprisoning. I was scared. As much as I'd happily let them take me and murder me, it wasn't how I wanted to go out. I knew I couldn't escape death, but I knew it didn't have to be this way. As I sat in the tree, I saw a man. He appeared to be old and homeless. I tried to stay quiet, but my foot slipped.

CRACK

The man looked up at me. A grin appeared on his wrinkley face.

"Hello girly. Seems a bit late for you to be out. Whatcha doin' in that tree up dere?" He asked with a smile. I could sense it from up here that he wasn't good.

"Nothing, I am just waiting on my father to come and pick me up." I had to lie, even though my father was probably drunk off his ass.

"Aww well, do you need some company? I can protect ya from the creeps out here." He replied, that wicked grin still on his face.

"No sir." I said with as much confidence as I possibly could. He was persistent and tried to get me to go down. Hesitantly, I climbed out of the tree. My plan was to make a run for it. As my feet hit the ground, the man made his way towards me.

"Wow, girls these days can be so gullible." I gulped and backed away.

"Sir, please, I'm just waiting on my father." I said wearily. He chuckled.

"Well, seems to me your father ain't comin'. How bout we take this back to my place, I can protect ya." I shook my head and made a run for it. I could hear the old man running not too far from behind me. I ran faster, my legs aching and my chest burning. I had completely forgot to grab my inhaler at the house, so I had to find somewhere to hide soon.

I kept up a fast pace, and I soon heard no more chasing from behind me. Assuming I had lost the man, I slowed down and doubled over in pain.

"Sky?! What the hell are you doing?!" I heard the voice of Phoenixx in front of me. I fell onto my knees as I realised I was at her place.

"My dad... Man chasing me..." I couldn't form coherent sentences, causing Nixx to help me up and usher me inside. Phoenixx had graduated two years ago and lived in a tiny little house not too far from the park. I got inside, and she turned on the lights. She gasped in horror at the sight of my face.

"I-is it that bad?" I asked, tears pricking my eyes. She quickly ran over to me, hugging the ever living shit out of me.

Needless to say, I spent the night as Phoenixx's house that night. She let me sleep in her bed with her, and even set an alarm for me to wake up on time tomorrow.

—_—

I walked through the entrance to the school, not being late this time. I quickly pulled my hood up, not wanting anyone to see my wounds. I headed straight to Calculus, arriving three minutes before I had to. Only two other students were in there, both appearing to be snobby rich girls. A glare was shot at me as soon as I stepped foot into the room, and I immediately headed to my seat. I took out a piece of paper and started sketching. I don't know what I was drawing, I just let my hand do whatever.

"Miss Blake? You're early." I glanced up to see Mr. Harris setting his things up. I noticed that more kids had entered, and they all stared up at me. I pulled my hood closer and nodded, looking back down at the lined paper on the desk. I continued my drawing, and sat back to see what I had so far.

I realised I was drawing an eye, and sighed at how it was the only thing I could draw. The bell rang, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Good morning class, today you will be doing a group project." A series of squeals and gasps we're heard. "Ah ah ah, before you start getting in groups, you can only have a group of 2-4 people. You can also work alone if that suits you." He started handing out papers, and I ducked my face down when he got to my row.

Mr. Harris was about to hand me my paper, but cleared his throat instead.

"Miss Blake, you know the rules, hood down." I gulped, hoping he hadn't noticed. I glanced around and saw everyone looking at me. Some girls were smirking, as the jocks looked at me with disgust. I looked back down and hesitantly took off my hood. Luckily my hair was down and fell into my face. Mr. Harris sat the paper onto my desk, muttering a "thank you." I just nodded, wanting this all to be over.

I quickly got to work, realising the work for today was something I actually knew for once. I raced through it, and soon I was done. I looked at the clock, and realised we still had fourty minutes left.

"What?" I murmured, not knowing that only twenty minutes of class had passed. I groaned and layed my head down.

"Miss Blake, I am assuming your work is done." I looked up and squeaked out a small, "yes Sir." I don't know how but he heard me.

"Oh well please, come demonstrate number 7 for us on the board." Number 7 was the one I had a bit of difficulty on, but I still went with it. I slowly stood up with my paper, and walked to the board. All eyes were on me as I walked up.

"W-well a-s you c-c-can se-e." I stuttered, my anxiety getting the best of me. I looked down in frustration. I glanced over at Mr. Harris, expecting to see him laughing like everyone else. I could hear the maniacal laughter of my fellow peers. But when  I saw him, he just stood there with his arms crossed, a confused expression on his face.

"Well, we're waiting." He said. I gulped and just started writing the equation, quickly demonstrating how I solved it.

After I finished, I turned around. Everyone stared at me with confused expressions. They started muttering to each other.

"That's not right."

"She got the wrong answer. Stupid."

"Oh god that's embarrassing."

"Idiot."

Tears pricked my eyes as I heard everything.

"Actually," Mr. Harris started. "She was right. I'd like to see what everybody else had." He said. I turned to the man, and he looked at everyone with a pissed off expression. The corners of my lips tugged up, and I looked down, my cheeks flushed.

Woah woah woah. What the hell is that Skylar? Don't be blushing over that you fuhking idjit.

I started to make my way back to my seat. On my way, I felt something on my ankle. I tripped over something, and I hit the floor. Everyone laughed, and I looked over to see the jocks fist pumping. They had tripped me again. Tears started to fill my eyes, and I looked down to see blood on the floor.

"Shit," I mumbled. I looked back up to see Mr. Harris walking my way.

"Woah, what happened?" He saw the boys laughing. "You, get the fuck out of my room!" He yelled at the boy who tripped me. The boy stared wide eyed at him, and quickly jumped out of his seat and left.

Mr. Harris knelt down to help me up, but I backed away, and tried to cover up the blood on the floor.

That turned out to be useless because he moved the hair out of my face to see if I was alright. I whimpered as his hand brushed my cheek. He pulled back and saw blood on his fingers. I stared at him like a deer in headlights. I backed away, causing the blood on the floor to appear. I wiped the sleeve of my hood on my face, and stood up with a bit of struggle. I quickly went back to my seat.

I immediately sat down and buried my head in my arms. The whole class was silent.

"Miss Blake, please see me after class." A few snickers were heard but Mr. Harris instantaneously shut them down. I sat for the next 30 minutes silently crying my eyes out. Soon, the bell rang, and the moment I dreaded arrived. I heard everyone gather their things and shuffle out the door, and soon heard footsteps nearing me. I felt his presence before I saw him, still looking down, my hood was back up.

"Skylar, are you alright?" I stayed quiet.

"Skylar please answer me. I need to know if something is wrong." Again I was silent.

"Miss Blake," His voice went deeper, making me blush. "Answer me." I felt a heat wash over me at his words. I reluctantly looked up into his eyes. I noticed how close he was to me at that moment, causing my to go red. I realised how brown his eyes were, and boy were they pretty.

Mr. Harris reached up, his hand grabbing the hem of my hood, gently pushing it down. He backed away slightly, and I noticed his eyes go wide.

"W-what happened?" He asked.

"I tripped." I replied half-heartidly. He shook his head.

"You have a gash in your cheek. Skylar you need to get that checked out."

"It'll be fine." I sighed.

"No, come on I'll walk you to the nurse, I have a free period." He persisted.

"I said it's fine." I breathed out in annoyance. He looked taken aback, but then his eyes darkened.

"Miss Blake," His voice became hard and stern, "if you do not go to the nurse I will have to call home." I gasped and looked at him in horror. I shook my head in terror.

"No. No no no no n-no! You can't call home!" I replied, my voice cracking, eyes filling with tears.

"Then I am taking you to the nurse." I was quiet for a moment, and reluctantly nodded.

"Yes Sir." I could've swore I heard a growl, but I wasn't thinking right at the time.

"Good, and then you can tell me what happened on the way there." He said as he stood up.

"I'm sorry Sir, but I-I can't." I replied quietly. I then quickly grabbed my stuff and darted out of his room. I heard him call my name behind me and try to go after me, but I ignored him and sprinted to my locker. Thank Chuck it was on the other side of the school. I arrived at my locker, grabbed my Spanish book, and ran for class.