"Hazel , right?" Bennet said coming closer to me . I didn't reply , I couldn't . I stopped dead in my tracks . My lips were moving but nothing was coming out . My eyes felt glossy and stung as I refused to blink . "Cmon , don't be like that" he said taking a few steps closer
"Get away from me, asshole" I said clenching my fists . A smirk formed on his face reassuring me, I didn't intimidate him.
"Oh I don't think so sweetheart" he said stopping right in front of me "Are you , scared"
"Of you? Please. I'm more scared of whats under my bed" I snapped at him
"I think she is" One of his bimbos said as him and the others approached me. I probably did the worst thing I could have done given the situation.
Swing.
I stepped around the boy in front of Bennet and wrapped my fingers around his neck, pulling him down to the floor. He was quick to attempt to get on his feet, but before he could I sent my foot down on his chest pushing him back down before squating over him. I got more then one very effective hit on him before I was yanked up by my hair, viciously.
"Hold her" Bloody nosed Benny demanded in a husky growl .Within a second , two of his over sized bamboos held my arms in place behind my back and liftedmy feet from the ground. Bennet smirked in victory , but it was soon replenished by a look of determination.
"Don't take this personal" He said before sending his fist directly to my stomach multiple times. I winced but the pain didn't keep me from sending many kicks at him, missing occasionally.
He backed up, but someone else took his place. After a few hits the next one took a turn. Then the next, and so forth. Once they were all done, the boys dropped me to the ground with a loud thud. Normally that would have hurt, but right now my entire body was aching with every small movement. I spat blood to the floor feeling like a grenadine had exploded inside me.
"Tell your boys, we said watch out" Bennet added. And with that, they were gone.
You know what they say, out of sight out of mind? Yeah, I wish. The moments before me were playing over and over again in my mind. What I could have done differently. How I could have changed it. My thoughts were interrupted by small foot steps trailing into the pathway. The sun was setting, it was about six or seven.
"Where could she be?" I heard a faint voice shout in frustration, followed by a loud bang.
"If I knew, do you think we'd be here looking for her, jackass" a familiar husky voice snapped back, the voices getting closer.
"Okay, but I don't think shed be down here- wait is that, blood?"
"Oh no" A vioce I recognized easily as Dakota stuttered
"Ma-Maybe its not her blood"
Then the footsteps turned into heavy runs. My vision turned blurry, black spots engulfed my eye sight.
"Oh my god" they said in sync. I could barley make out the people standing before me, but it was defiantly who I proclaimed it to be. Dakota, Aaron, Alex, and Zach.
"Hazel , Hazel" Aaron said shaking my shoulders .
"I'm going to kill them" Dakota said through gritted teeth . His knuckles were white with anger as he paced around us .
"I-i" I trailed off my eyelids dropping
"I what , Hazel , you what" Aaron said his grip growing tense . And then , my vision went black .
*
I woke up sore , with a heart wrenching head ache . I turned on my side not daring to open my eyes . As I snuggled farther into the soft bed , I wrapped the soft blanket further around my body not ever wanting to get up .
"Did he answer?" I heard Dakota say anger in his voice
"Does it look like he answered?" Aaron snapped back
"Look , I'll just go to there place . Okay?" Zach said dumbly . I opened my eyes to slits so I could barley see them . Aaron what harshly dialing in a number . Dakota , was pacing around tugging his hair while Alex and Zach were getting their keys .
"I'll go with" Alex butt in
"I can't believe we pulled her into this" Dakota said sounding like his head was going to explode
"We knew they wouldn't leave us alone" Aaron said throwing his phone
"Bennet just wants revenge for Alec ." Zach said shrugging
"But we did what we had to do! He wasn't going to kill my-" Dakota said his eyes locking with mine "Good morning hazel" He said sending me a half smile
"What time is it?" I said rubbing my eyes
"Exactly - four AM" He said as they sent me nervous smiles "How long have you been awake"
"For like , a minute" I said lying
"Well go back to sleep . You have school tomorrow" Alex said flicking my forehead
"Shut up" I said feeling tired "Wait , where am I?" I said looking at my surroundings
"We are currently in a hotel room" Aaron said sending me a small smile
"Why?" I said hoping to get the least bit of information from them
"Because we felt like it" Alex added shrugging . I sighed and whipped my forehead . I felt dirt and crusted blood on my face .
"Well I'm going to shower then go back to sleep . Okay? okay?" I said sitting up . I winced as the same pain from earlier hit me . Once I removed the covers from me , my eyes went wide at the amount of dried blood and bruises that colored my pale skin .
"Here let me help you up" Alex said him being the only one who wasn't as red as a tomato , and fist clenched turning their knuckles white . I nodded gratefully and slung my arm over his shoulder . He held my waist tightly with his arms and helped me wobble to the small bathroom , being separated by a thin white curtain .
"Thanks" I said sending him a small smile as i turned the faucet on .
"Me and Zach are going to the - gas station . Dakota and Aaron will still be here"
"Alright" I said sending him one last wave before he headed out of the small bathroom .
*
After my short shower consisting of the little bits of body wash they provided , I felt ten times better . Pinning my damp hair in the towel , I looked at myself in the full length mirror . My cuts , and bruises were still noticeable , but I didn't look as bad . My eye was swollen and my opposite cheek was busted , but I'll live . I changed into the black v neck provided to me by Zach , which went to my lower thigh . I pulled on my underwear , and yellow Sophie's that Alex had with him for whatever reason .
I stepped back onto the cheap blue carpet to see Aaron sprawled passed out of the floor , and Dakota sitting on a old desk chair tapping his foot impatiently his phone smushed into between his ear in shoulder as he faced the other direction
"Did you wake him up yet?" He asked trying to contain the annoy in the voice "Okay good . Bring them back here so we can talk about it" "yes she's still in the shower" "no" "bye idiot" he said clicking the long red button on his screen rubbing his temples .
I opened and closed the curtains giving him the impression I just got out of the bathroom
"Hey Hazel" he said not turning around
"Goodnight" I said dropping onto the double bed .
"Goodnight" he said chuckling a bit .
After a minute or two of tossing and turning my eyes went heavy and I drifted into sleep .
*
I woke up to the soft beeps of the cheap alarm clock to my left side . I squinted my eyes just enough to see the fuzzy letters of 6:30 . I sighed and sat up looking around for any sign of human life . None what so ever . I got over and walked to the closed window my feet not picking off of the rough carpet . I ripped the curtain open and immediately went stumbling back from the amount of sunlight bursting through the cheap glass . I squinted my eyes and looked around the poor scenery . I spotted a dumpster with two cats roaming freely in and out of the over flowing garbage . A broken and rusted fence lined right in front of rapid vines , and trees blocking the road from view . I looked down to the parking lot and spotted exactly who I was looking for . All four of them were down there , chatting freely with some other boys seeming to be the same age , if not older . They seemed to be talking about something serious from the straight looks on their faces . I silently cracked the window to try to see what they were saying , but it was no use I was on the second floor while they were in the parking lot . I sighed to myself and watched as they ended their so interesting conversation . They shared one last smile before exchanging bro hugs . Once I saw they were turning around , Zach made eye contact with me . I quickly slammed the curtains together and rummaged through the small bag that was thrown together for me sloppily .
The door clicked open as Dakota took the key out of the scanner .
"Oh , your awake" Aaron said as they entered the room
"Well you did set the alarm for 6:30" I said pointing to the clock which now read 6:39 .
"Oh right" Aaron said with a small smile . I sent him one back and dumped the bag out on the bed reviling a pair of gray skinny sweat pants , a red hoodie with the number 3 sewn into the back with my last name on top (It being my old football hoodie) , a black and blue bra , and yellow panties .
"You guys seriously didn't bring me school clothes?" I said looking dumbly at the four retards .
"Alex that was your job fuck tard" Dakota said shoving his shoulder
"Yeah and who's job was it to get my lingerie" I said raising a eyebrow
"Mine" Zach said proudly a toothy grin on his lips . I sighed and rolled my eyes grabbing the provided clothing and walking to the bathroom .
After about 10 minutes I was ready for school , looking oh so slump . my hair was flopping in a bun hanging freely on my head while I wore then same vans as the previous day . Was I ready to face today? Hell no . Band-Aids and concealer will cover enough bruises and cut for people not to question me . Right? I hope so . I sighed and added the final layer of makeup to my body before tugging the clothes back into place .
My body ached as I struggled to walk from the previous day . I stumbled to the bed feeling sore as if my bones were to break apart beneath me .
"Ready?" I said looking at them for assurance
"Yeah" Alex , Dakota , and Aaron said in sync . Zach hadn't stopped looking at me all morning , probably from when we made eye contact .
"Wait" I said as they were about to exit the door "Who were those people earlier?"
"People? what people?" Dakota said with a nervous chuckle
"She's talking about Javier and them , dumbass" Zach said looking frustrated
"Oh" Aaron said unsure "Friends" He replied before they all shuffled quickly out of the room . I sighed and made my way out of the room with them walking to the parking lot .