Problems With The Hierarchy

#22 Unbreakable Relations

This Alex was like a dog of Kelly. He does everything Kelly instructs. He was like Kelly's backup. Kelly must have done something to make him to obedient.

I just wanted to attend the last few weeks of school peacefully. I didn't want to get involved into trouble. It might not matter to Alex. But a good record is essential for a mediocre like me.

"I'm sorry, Alex." I pleaded, with puppy dog eyes to get his sympathy.

"That doesn't work for me." He laughed again. "Cut it out."

Someone shouted from the side, laughing, "Alex you're so long-winded. Quick or I'll do it for you." Annoyance was written all over Alex's face. "Shut up!" He shouted back, before he punched me, in the stomach.

"Ouch!" I shouted. It did hurt a little, but the ouch was fake. I just wanted to flee right away. He gloated.

As he gloated, I ducked down and ran away from his clutches. I sprinted, huffing and puffing.

I didn't look back.

**

Lunch came rolling before I knew. To prevent from running into the bullies again, I hid in the library. I snuck in peanut butter sandwich I made in the morning and a packet of skittles. I found a place in the library that was being hidden behind the mountains of bookshelves. The school had a grand library I would admire. This used to be my favourite place; I read a lot of books here and accumulated vocabulary. Of course, before the beautiful secret hideout I had found.

I browsed through the first shelf that I came across. A book named ‘The Giver’ caught my eye.

Munching on the sandwich, I read for the whole of lunch. The book had me engrossed only after three chapters. I figured I should borrow the book home and read it; before I get caught up reminiscing again.

Lunch passed in a blur now that I was indulged in reading. I was more than elated to know nothing happened during lunch, nobody harassed me.  I walked out of the school library; I was glad that it was Friday already. That meant I didn’t have to try avoiding them tomorrow.

**

I dashed out of the classroom as soon as Calculus ended. Kelly shared a class with me. I was avoiding her as well.

However, lady luck doesn’t seem to be shining on me because she soon caught up with me.

I yanked to an abrupt stop when she dragged my bag. People from the in-crowd liked pulling bags, huh. I mocked. 

“Richard isn’t in school today.” She said.

“So….?” I dragged.

“He didn’t come because he didn’t want to face you. You little.” You knew what she meant didn’t you. I shan’t quote it.

Wait, really? She swayed her butt as she walked away.

I let her words flood my thoughts. If you’d link it, Richard was most likely the one who told her. It was all their schemes. When I needed him most, he wasn’t there. When I just needed him to tell me he hadn’t told them, he wasn’t there.

Isn’t that all clear to me? He moved on. Now it was my turn. I need to stop reminiscing. I need to stop thinking of him.

But I can’t! Once I shut my eyes I see him.

His image; his smile; his stride; his breath; his face. Everything just comes back like a photo stream. An unstoppable one. I never realised how much I missed him.

But now, it was time to wake up.

They were there again. It was my last class of the day and they were waiting outside the classroom, it was obvious they were coming after me. I just don't get it, why me? She doesn't usually get them to disturb me, but she thinks I've crossed the line. I sat with Richard during lunch, and talked to Richard and Bryson. How can they be such possessive animals? They can always talk to them. Don;t they realize it was their problem? I knew exactly what the guys are planning to do.I flinched at the thought. 

I watch as they grab my violently by the shoulders.Alex, the ring leader, dealt a powerful punch right on my nose. Blood gushed out of my nostrils relentlessly and instantly. He and his group of delinquents rained blow after blow until my little body stiffened. "You've got guts." he menaced, a malicious grin flickered across his face."I already pity you, Elizabeth Watson." his voice was cold and hard, he didn't even sound like he did. "But Kelly made me clobber you. just your luck. You're not even a worthy opponent, you don't fight back." 

"That's because I don't want to leave a bad record! After I graduate, I hope I don't see you bunch of idiots again. I hoped I have never met you idiots!" I taunted, challenging him. And so he began to rain torrents of abuse on me, punctuating his sentences with profanities. Honestly I felt like that wasn't the only reason I didn't fight. I was just tired, really tired. I knew they would strike me blow after blow. I'll end up bleeding. I use to put up a fierce struggle, pummeling him angrily on the chest. Not anymore, because I knew that was exactly what they wanted. They would just continue. Nothing could stop them. They stopped whenever they liked. I was glad that they only made a move when I wasn't with Richard, when they knew I was going to go home alone. I kept them all to myself. Joey didn't have to know. I was glad I could forget these things easily, I was glad I was used to it. I used to have trouble finding excuses explaining my bruises. But now I have my concealer with me. They hid the bruises perfectly, or at least I think so.

I hid the truth from Richard as well, he didn't have to know what his friends were doing to me. I knew they would come back if I told on them again. 

After Kelly left, they were there again. They tailed her like they were dogs. They had no dignity and I despised them. I knew Kelly was a delinquent, and that explains her slaves. Her followers. They were all pea brained, no thoughts of their own, but they might be forced to join the gang. I knew Alex was the ring. I think it was a treat for me, because they decided to let me off after dealting me a stinging slap, which sent me reeling across the hallway. "This slap is for Richard, not for Kelly." Alex said as he slapped me with his might.

I fled once I knew they were done. When I reached home, I was tired. I was truly tired. I was both emotionally and physically tired. I was so tired I kicked the bin over. I was so tired I threw the cushions on the floor. I was so tired. On the jerky ride home, I didn’t stop thinking of the sentence Kelly said. Payback's truly a bitch, I should have seen all those. They still pestered me. 

I wasn't going to cry over this though, I'm not weepy. I was used to it. It was a dumb thing to cry over because I've taken so much blows. So much of them, it wasn't time to break down now. I fumbled around my bag and located the book I borrowed.

Just as I was going to continue, I heard a knock on the door.

Somehow I hoped it was Richard. I hope he would just come and say, “I didn’t do it.” And I would have believed him, no doubts at all, despite it being so hard to believe.

Maybe it was Joey; she could come and give me some company.

I opened the door. It wasn’t whoever I have expected. 

A/N There are like 5 or 6 more chapters to the end, so... *weeps* Anyway, I hope you can  picture the bullying scene it's supposed to be threatening but I don't havve violence in my guts so I guess, this is the best I can do?