Page 26 of Behind the Bars

It happened immediately—the attention shifting from the horse tome.

My stomachdropped.

My armpitssweated.

But I didn’t regret speaking up, not if it meant helping the defenselessanimal.

“Who invited fucking Bones?” Toddhissed.

My chest tightened, and I tried my best to avoid all eye contact.Be invisible.I hated anyone’s attention on me. I hated how I felt them judging, staring, belittling me for the simple fact that I looked the way Idid.

“Leave that horse alone,” I said timidly. I was always so timid; I hatedit.

They hurried over to me and started shoving me around, just like they alwaysdid.

“Who said that you could come to my place, freak? Huh?” Toddbarked.

“J-J-Jasmine said I could come with her?” I answered, unintentionally saying it as aquestion.

“Jasmine?” Ted questioned. “That bitch isn’t your friend. She probably brought you here for us to have a goodlaugh.”

“No. She’s my friend,” Iargued.

“Oh?” Todd started walking toward me and cocked an eyebrow. “What, do you have a crush on her or something, Bones?” He laughed, and all the others joined in with him. “Dude, you think you have a shot with someone as hot as her? Come on, man. You couldn’t even get any ugly pussy if you tried, let alone a hot one likeher.”

I swallowedhard.

Pussy.

I hated thatword.

I hated how they talked about girls. My sister would’ve hated how they talked about girls, too. My father, he wouldn’t have cared. They reminded me of him sometimes—most times, really, so heartless, cold, and angry for no realreason.

I hated myfather.

I hated them,too.

“Listen, Bones, let me do you a favor.” Todd wrapped his arm around me and gave me a sheepish grin. “I’m gonna go inside and fuck the living hell out of Jasmine Greene. I’m going to screw her until she can’t walk straight. I’m going to screw her until she stutters like your dumb ass. Shit, we’ve all been screwing her for weeks now, the damn whore. Then I’m going to let her tell you to your face how you’re so far from her type. It will be a great lesson in teaching you to stay on your level and not try to hang out with the big dogs on campus. I’m going to make the bitch mybitch.”

My hands formed fists and I stood up a bit taller. “She’s not ab-b-bitch!” Ihollered.

I didn’t realize what had happened until the stinging set in. I didn’t notice my reaction until my fist came back down and I saw the blood on my knuckles. I hadn’t known I had it inme.

“Motherfucker!” Todd shouted, stumbling backward, holding his hand over his nose. “He fucking broke my nose! I’m going to ruin you,” hebarked.

“Get him!” Ted hollered, and three of the guys grabbed me by the arms and started dragging me across the stable. I tried my best to get out of their grips, but I wasn’t strongenough.

They were stronger. They were alwaysstronger.

I’m not strongenough.

I’m not strongenough.

“Toss him into one of the stalls!” Todd ordered, blood gushing down his face. “Your life is about to be a living hell,Bones!”

Ted pushed me into a stall and I slammed against the ground, terrifying the horse that was in it.I’m sorry. I stumbled to my feet, but before I could get my footing, they locked meinside.

No.

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