Page 68 of Fighting the Odds

I can see her body tense as we pull into the parking lot at school. This place has been hell for her and I regret not standing up for her in the beginning.

“We’re here for you today. Any time we can one of us will be there to walk you to class. We’re not going to let them keep fucking with you, Sierra. You have my word.”

“Our word,” Colton and Braxton say in perfect twin unison.

“Okay.” She doesn’t even fight us, and that right there tells me this place is breaking her soul.

I hate it.

I pull into a spot in the student parking area and turn off the jeep. We sit there for a little while longer, finishing our breakfast as we watch cars come in and park around us, ignoring the stares from those who pass by us.

“Guess we need to go in,” Sierra says as she takes the last bite of her doughnut, then wipes her hands with a napkin.

She holds on to it, before I reach out, taking it from her and putting it in the bag along with my trash, then pass it behind me to the guys.

“Yep. Guess so.” I open my door and get out, walking to the back of the jeep and getting my book bag. The guys exit and Braxton goes to open the door for Sierra, only to be too late as she is already stepping out.

“Can I carry your books?” he asks.

“I’m good.”

We form a protective barrier around Sierra. Me and Braxton on either side of her and Colton in the front. No way are they fucking with our girl today. Not if we can help it.

As we approach the steps to the front of the building, I see Savannah and her cronies hanging out, evil smiles on their faces as they glare at Sierra. She hasn’t noticed, though, her head facing the ground.

We pass by her, heading inside only for her to move from their spot and fall in line behind us, laughing boisterously.

Something doesn’t feel right.

Buzzing erupts in the hallways as students pull out their phones, opening them.

I can feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. But I don’t reach for it. My eyes are focused on what’s going on around me. Sierra looks up just as a group of guys start pointing at her and catcalling.

“What’s happening?” she asks in a whisper.

“I don’t know.”

“What a fucking whore,” Savannah says loudly from behind us. “Guess you’ll fuck anyone no matter how old they are, Sierra.”

Sierra spins around to face her. “What are you talking about?”

“Just ignore her. Let’s go to class.”

We take a few more steps, as the finger-pointing and name-calling continue. It’s not until I look up do I see Wesley standing at the end of the hallway. He’s looking at the phone in his hand and his face is white as a ghost.

“Sierra,” he calls out painfully, but it’s as if he’s frozen in place.

She looks up at him, stunned that he’s calling her name.

“Let’s get her out of here.” Colton shakes my arm as he holds up his phone, showing me the video on the screen.

Oh shit!

“What is it?” she asks.

“Not here, babe. Wait until we get out of here,” I whisper in her ear.

“No, show me what you looked at. I want to see it.” Her voice rises.

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