Page 31 of Caged in Flames

Chapter Fifteen

Sophomore Year:

I'm exhausted. Classes are so fast paced here. At least in class it's quiet. The students might be ruthless, but I've noticed that classrooms and lessons are apparently neutral territory.

When they're over, all bets are off again.

The taunting kicks back off.

Last week Molly Vandenberg put gum in my hair to remind me that I'm a human dumpster. Like I could forget. I spent two hours on the phone with my mom asking her how to get it out.

The sad part is, it’s getting harder to tell myself it isn’t true.

Of course, I lied and told her I fell asleep with gum in my mouth and it must have fallen out while I was sleeping. I'm not sure if she believed me, but she told me to grab the peanut butter she sent in the latest care package she sent with me last weekend.

It didn't work.

Luckily, Molly put it near the end of my hair, so I only had to trim about two inches off my hair. Instead of showcasing that today, though, I wrapped my hair in a low bun. She was waiting at my locker this morning to check it out.

I couldn't even bring myself to rub it in her face that she didn't do a good job. I don't want to antagonize her into something else. I've got too much to deal with schoolwork and music wise right now to add other stress.

I'm not sure why all the bullying advice online says to ignore them. They don't care. Instead, they keep bringing more and more. They want me to break.

I won't though. I can't. I have to get through this. Eventually this will end. Charlie will realize that we can be in the same school and I won't bother him.

Making my way through the building, I head towards the cafeteria. Normally the doors are wide open and you can hear all the kids inside talking.

Today they're closed. And guarded. Two guys that I know are on the football team have taken up sentry in front of them.

My stomach sinks. And growls. They’ve been told to do this. I know this isn't going to be good for me, but still I try.

"Excuse me? Can I get through?" My voice is meek. I hate it, but I'm too tired and hungry to add energy behind it.

They look at each other and laugh. "Not a chance." One of them says in between chuckles.

The other one has to pop off, too. "Apparently trash isn't on the menu today."

I sigh. Great. I wonder how long I can survive off peanut butter and Oreos and the other random snacks I can find in my room.

Turns out, a whole week. For seven days I hid in my room during mealtimes, rationing my small stash. I wasn't allowed back in the cafeteria until the next Monday.

Now:

The second week of school has the staff of Blisshaven Academy ramping up the curriculum. Getting to work at my own pace last year was a breeze compared to this. The homework, the projects, the quizzes. It's a lot to handle.

Especially since I have friends. I have people I can hang out with. I'm smiling to myself thinking about it when Jane bounces up to my locker.

She boops me on the nose with her pointer finger which makes me laugh. "Now what has you grinning like that? And can it be me?"

I laugh at her again. I swear the girl flirts almost as much as Sawyer. Not that he's been doing much of that. Come to think of it, none of the guys are doing much of anything. They go to class. I assume Sawyer and Charlie are going to practice. But that's it.

Sure, people still flock to them. Probably waiting for the next person marked with their target. Fucking idiots. The guys aren't entertaining them though. Not even the prissy pussy patrol. I snort to myself. What a mouthful.

I remember that Jane just asked me a question, but before I can answer her, I am suddenly pushed against my locker by another body. The air is forced from my lungs and I hit the metal hard enough that my shoulder will be bruised.

Some assholes playing around in the hall without watching where they're fucking going. "Fuck, sorry, babe."

Oh hell no. I'm about to set this dude straight when someone else does it for me.

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