"No, you don't know what it's like

When nothing feels all right

You don't know what it's like

To be like me

To be hurt

To feel lost

To be left out in the dark

To be kicked when you're down

To feel like you've been pushed around

To be on the edge of breaking down

And no one's there to save you

No, you don't know what it's like

Welcome to my life"

– Simple Plan

Chapter 3:

I ran out from my house, with Mrs. Barnes yelling after me, "Diana, you better get your ass back in this house or else you can forget about having dinner tonight!" I hated how her raspy voice spoke my name, she only called me my first name when she was thinking about murdering me. I wasn't lying about that either. I never do anything in that house, but everything manages to be blamed on me. No one likes me, so I'm always the one being in trouble or picked on by everyone else. I just wished Mrs. Barnes wasn't so gullible. That way, maybe I wouldn't hate her... as much.

I sneaked in this morning by crawling through the doggie door, and went to get a change of clothes for school. I just got finished putting on my worn out sneakers, when my door was suddenly burst open. I only caught sight of blonde hair before I was pushed to the floor. It was Catherine; she was about my age and always had it out for me since we've lived here since we were little. She started to give me snobby insults about my outfit, before she all of a sudden called out our foster mom's name. I tried to jump up, but she shoved me back down.

"Stay put, Ugly Betty!" She snapped and then when Mrs. Barnes walked in, a whole yelling match started. Apparently, someone had stolen fifty bucks out of her wallet last night and everyone in the house had obviously lied and said it was me. I knew it must have been Catherine because she was as much of a shopaholic as Mrs. Barnes was. Whenever she needed money, she would go through our foster mom's purse and say that she was just 'borrowing' it. Ha! If I was one of the devils at school, I knew I would probably believe her. But I wasn't as gullible as Mrs. Barnes.

Now I was currently running away from my foster home, while brushing my hair quickly as Mrs. Barnes' voice faded away. I rolled my eyes thinking of what she said. Who cares if I didn't eat tonight? There was always free lunch at school, that was if I could actually step into the Cafeteria without being jumped by students and I could honestly go a few days without food. Yes, it was unhealthy, but this is my life. The life I had gotten used to since the years of middle school and now high school. I had to be honest that being a sophomore sucked, but I couldn't wait til I graduated. Only four years from now... That is if I chose to live on with my life and not cut it away.

My life is based on tears, sadness, depression and survival. If I hadn't gotten used to this, then I would have been dead a long time ago. I was almost proud of my self for surviving while I didn't know nothing of the world. The school teaches us that the world is a happy place, well first of all, every one knows that is a load of bull. Life as we know it, is cold and gets even more colder as we grow older. The world is full of procrastination, with increasing homicides, genocides and suicides. And suicide is what I am mostly thinking about everyday. It's sick to know that most of our kind think its fun to watch others get hurt for their own amusement. Nothing can make the world a better place; it would be almost impossible. It's apart of humanity to get jealous, angry or sad. You can't stop doing what is apart of you, even if you tried.

Kicking rocks that were on the pavement of the sidewalk, I hummed an anonymous tune. I was almost at school when I noticed in the corner of my eye that someone's car began to slow down. I groaned inwardly, just wondering if the bullying would end. Everyday this would happen and no matter what, the same thing happened all the time. Even if I wished or just prayed silently, the torment would follow me everywhere I go. Everywhere I tried to hide. This was all at school and home, but in my hide out- that was where I could actually seek peace.

"What's up Diana? Need a ride?" A couple of jocks called out at me, in their red flashy sports car. I didn't respond and kept walking. I picked up my paste when I saw that they were intent on following me, even if I didn't want to be near them. As if they would actually leave me alone! If that happened, it would be a miracle on my part. Miracles didn't exist so these guys definitely weren't going to be leaving any time soon, unless they got a good laugh out of it.

"Answer me, B*tch!" The driver shouted in annoyance and at his tone, I flinched. I really wasn't in the mood for another beating. It always seemed to work out this way...

Whenever I would get bruises and cuts all over my body, I wouldn't get another beating until a few more days. They were cruel like that; the popular kids. They wanted me to heal and feel better, and then they brought my relief right back to pain as soon as they saw it. The jocks, along with the three devils all wanted me to suffer and that's the way it's been for the past years. I remember day one until now, and I would never forget it. How could someone have such cruel intents on another human being? What did they get out it? Oh that's right- entertainment. Watching another getting humiliated and hurt added to their amusement level. They got a knock out of it, while I got a knock- literally. Right in the face.

"Just leave me alone!" I screamed, before hanging onto my backpack tighter and I ran down a small path way that lead to the woods. They would never know where I was going because as far as I knew, I was one of little that knew where this actually lead. Not one person has dared to even find what the path was, but only few.

I glanced behind me and saw that they stopped the car and we currently piling out of it. Each of them had some sort of weapon in their hands and looked like they were about to make a run in my direction. Shit, it was a good thing I knew how to climb trees. I ran like hell into the woods where the area around me started to slowly get darker, the deeper I went inside of it. Far away from me, I could hear the jocks' heavy footfalls and their shouts of anger. If I was caught... only one thing would be my consequence of running- Death.

Well not death, but a kicking and pounding that would almost feel like it. I didn't want to go through any more pain, if running would keep me from getting hurt at all, then fine. But if I was captured, I would learn to never run from a car full of guys. They were all fast on their feet, but I was the one with the advantage. I could climb and I was small. I could fit into small places that they couldn't. My disadvantage was that, one- I was low on stamina levels. Two- they were jocks. Jocks are athletic and I don't think I can beat a jock in a race, even if my life depended on it.

"You know you can't hide from us Diana! So stop running!" Their shouts sounded closer than before, but I didn't dare look back. I wouldn't want to slow down at a time like this, with the woods so dark, there had to be a place to hide. I wouldn't be able to climb a tree in time, so I had to do something else. I just hoped I didn't trip over something while running because my ratty shoes started to come untied and soon I knew with my clumsy self; I would eventually trip over the laces. Please. I begged in my mind, not really putting it out for anyone else but my luck to hear.

"Once we catch you, you'll be in the hospital for weeks!" Their threats had stabbed me multiple times in the chest and I tried as best as I could not to tear up. I wanted my vision to be clear for as long as it possibly could. Who knew how long I had been running? Probably for a straight fifteen minutes now and I knew if I went on any longer, I would throw up my insides. The jocks' threats had become worse and I wouldn't be able to hold in my tears any more. It hurt too much. Everywhere. Both mentally and physically. How long can I keep up with this pain?

As I started to gradually start slowing down, I was abruptly snatched by the arm and yanked behind a tree. I cried out, but not loud enough as a hand covered my mouth to muffle out any sounds. This was it, I was officially dead. How did I manage to get caught? How did they catch up to me that fast? Oh well, wasn't this what I was waiting for, death? But it wasn't death. It was torture... torture that made me think of death and how death would be much better than this.

"Bloody hell." I heard a deep voice that sat right beside me, their breath inches away from my neck. It was their hand that was wrapped around my mouth. I screamed even though no one can hear it. Did I really want to be killed and possibly raped today?

"Stop screaming! Those guys are gone, you're safe now!" The mystery guy tried to say soothing words that would try to calm me down, and soon after about a few minutes, my body stopped fighting him. I heard him sigh behind me and for some reason I had a sudden thought that wanted to see his face. His identity. Did he really save me, or was this some plot to hand me over back to those cruel jocks? I hoped not...

"What's your name?" He asked, once he finally let got of my mouth. I sighed in relief, thinking to myself that I was finally free. I turned around panting from my earlier run and was met with violet, mixed with indigo eyes. My own had widen as I gasped in awe. Never before had I seen eyes so beautiful, so... interesting. The guy had seemed sincere when he asked the question, so I answered still looking deeply into his eyes that my name was Diana.

"Well my name is Jackson, but call me Jack if you want... Why were you running from those guys?" His eyes were full of concern as he asked me this. Was he actually, worried about me? This stranger, who I must admit was very good looking was worried about a poor clothed, ugly faced, thin girl like me? This must have been some sort of fairy tale dream that I have always wished for. Before I replied to him, I made sure to pinch myself. Ouch! Okay, definitely not a dream. This was real.

An amazingly attractive guy was concerned for me. Never in a million years would I think that my prayers would be answered. Though, I asked for someone to love me- just meeting this guy was probably the most happiest moment of my life. And with that, I smiled while I started to tell him exactly why I was being chased. I only told him small things like, how they hated me so the jocks thought it would be fun to chase me around... with bats...

"What the hell? Are they nuts? Why would they chase around a girl in the woods with weapons?! The next time I see them I'll be sure to knock some sense into each one of them!" He exclaimed, his fist started to clench at his sides and I flinched away when he raised them.

I whimpered, now a couple of feet away from him. When Jackson saw the state I was in, his fists immediately dropped to his sides. His facial expression softened and his eyebrows furrowed together in confusion, "Are you okay Diana?" I almost gasped when I heard my name being said in a sentence without anger behind it.

"I-I'm fine." I whispered and lowered my hands that were in front of my face. I thought he was going to hit me or hurt me... After being around so much people that were always abusive my whole life, I couldn't help but respond in that kind of demeanor.

His eyes scanned my body, noting how I was once curled up in a ball. I could see the suspicions in his eyes, but somehow Jackson knew that I didn't want to talk about it anymore. He sighed before rubbing his hand up and down his face. The confusion and frustration faded away quickly and a huge smile replaced it. "So tell me about yourself Diana!"

"Um.." I said hesitantly as he stared intently at me. I saw him start to pull out something from behind him and it was keys.

"Come on! I saved your life so now in return I want to know about you."

"Alright."

Never before had I shared this kind of information with someone. The only person who knew all my secrets from second grade and below were Daniella the devil. I will always regret being friends with that witch. It was pretty shocking when Jackson told me he wanted to know about me. Does this mean he has taken an interest in me? Is this a joke? This just wasn't the norm for me, I needed time to think but I couldn't leave Jackson hanging. Just as I was about to open my mouth again to say simple things about myself, that only myself knew, Jackson stopped me.

"Shh, not yet. I can tell you are pretty cold, so lets go to my house. My parents are there, so there's no need to be afraid. I'll protect you from any danger from now on."Jackson smiled, standing up and giving me a hand.

Since when had my life spun around 180 degrees?