Escaping Reality...With My Enemy

Part X ~ Jumped

I made a few turns here and there hoping that they would veer off in the other direction, but no such thing ever happened.

I ducked into an alleyway and watched from behind a large industrial trash can as the Lexus slowly moved past. I took a deep breath and decided to wait at least a few minutes before walking again... just in case.

Just as I peeked to see if it was clear, my backpack was held back, preventing me from moving forward. A senior was holding onto my backpack while his other friends got out of the car. I looked back to see the Lexus parked on the other side of the alley so there was only one way to escape unless I wanted to climb into the car and out the other door.

The reality of the situation was becoming a little too much for me and my flight or fight kicked in. In a panic, I shook off my backpack but the freedom only lasted for a few seconds. Though the one senior, who I now realized was Theo, was knocked to the ground by the sudden imbalance, one of the other boys, Velin, practically tackled me as I attempted to run and held me up against the brick wall. I opened my mouth and before I could even yell out "help" my mouth was covered, and I guess he didn't realize how hard he clasped his hand over my mouth because my head knocked into the wall.

I saw spots in my vision until Theo shouted "Fucking piece of shit!"

"What?" the third senior I recognized as Nolan said.

"The fag broke my phone!" All four of them turned to look towards me, all with enraged expressions

"I hope you can pay for that, bitch!" Velin taunted.

The fourth senior, Evan, whispered something to Theo. A smile crept onto his face and he nodded.

"Evan's right. I hope you have a way to pay for it," Theo said stepping closer to me.

"What?" I squeaked.

"You broke my phone. It's only fair that you pay for it."

I trembled, my anxiety running off the charts. I didn't think they were even serious at first. I only understood the severity when their expressions didn't change. I had to say something, though. They didn't expect me to pay for an $800 iPhone, right? Even through the fear I managed to get out, "If you wouldn't have chased me you wouldn't have broken it!"

I glanced at the phone in his hands. It wasn't even completely broken. It had a few cracks on the screen but if he showed it to his parents they would think it was the end of the world for their poor child and bug him another one.

"What the fuck did you just say?" Theo replaced Velin's hold with his own which was more aggressive and got close to my face. "You're gonna pay for my phone and for what you said." He quickly added, "In more ways than one."

he nodded his head at the other three boys. Before I knew it, they were holding me against the brick wall, while Theo went through my backpack.

" Theo, please! Don't!" I shouted.

Velin slapped his hand over my mouth. I tried to scream at Theo to stop, but the hand muffled my voice and, of course, they wouldn't stop even if I pleaded with my whole soul.
Suddenly, Theo pulled out a few bills in my backpack totaling $40. Maybe it was a mistake to keep extra money in my backpack.

"Look what I found!" he said, tauntingly. "Only $980 to go!" He laughed, and almost as if prompted with a title card, the other three joined.

"Got anymore money?" Theo rummaged through my groceries.

I shook my head violently No, no, no. I pleaded to anyone who is listening. Stop him, please.

His eyes flicked up to me with a devious smile. I knew he found them. Just one look – I knew.

His eyes move to his friends, who looked at him, confused as to why he stop talking and rummaging. All he did was hold of the box of condoms, and all four boys purse it out with intense laughter.

My cheeks turned pink – no, my whole face was on fire. I avoid eye contact with all of them, angling my eyes down and to the right.

"XL," Theo read out, stilling choking back laughter.

"Oh? How big are you, Georgie?" Evan taunted.

"Maybe they're for his boyfriend," Nolan said, fake gagging.

All the guys made an "ew" expression. "I don't think anyone would – or could – love George," Velin said, pushing me up against the wall harder. "He's unlovable."

I felt a lump in my throat.

"You're right," Theo said, letting the box of condoms drop to the ground. he stood up. He towered over me like dream, although I was way more scared of all the seniors than dream. Over the past few weeks, I could tell dream at least had a heart, even if he didn't always use or listen to it.

"This fag is actually unlovable."

"Aw, no one loves you," Velin added in a baby voice.

"So sad, Georgie."

I was frozen in fear. I physically could not move. My voice had packed up and left too. What could I even say if I could talk? I would come out muffled anyway. My body seem to shrink behind all the seniors. I thought I had heard everything from my bullies, but they never said these words before. Was I unlovable? Would Dream ever call me unlovable? Does he see me as that right now? As they kept throwing insults towards me, I absorbed them, taking them directly into my heart. I mean, if they could keep going, and keep saying these things, they were probably true. My step-mum had called me unlovable, and now others were saying it. My class peers were undoubtedly, thinking, something similar, right?

I was so deep in thought at the first fist coming into contact with my face jump, scared me. The underwater voices rose above the current, and we're now shouting in my ear. The blows to my face, torso, legs, and even arms were more deafening than any word, yelled into my face.

The pain continues long after they leave. I watch the sky turn dark before deciding to push through the pain and go home.