Page 8 of Fight for Me

CHAPTER II

JENNY- 17 YEARS OLD

It’s early spring as I lean on the wall next to the dumpsters behind the school, smoking a cigarette. I shiver slightly as the chilly wind picks up, and I try to shrink into my leather jacket as I’m only half listening to Claire’s babbling. She’s not smoking, but she always comes with me to keep me company. You can say that we’ve been almost inseparable since that disastrous night with my father and the police last year.

When Claire started to act out soon after that, I thought it had to be connected with what she found out about my family situation and about the ongoing abuse. She was obsessed with keeping an eye on me, and turned downright possessive when someone approached me. Soon, she started to seriously freak out other kids at school, and the teachers also took notice of her erratic behavior. Claire’s father was called by the school counselor, and they advised him to take his daughter to see a psychiatrist. Claire was diagnosed with a case of bipolar, just like her mother, and soon enough they started stuffing her with drugs to make her “normal”.

I won’t say that every day with my best friend is a blessing because when she’s off, then it’s fucking hard to witness and deal with, I won’t lie. But we’ve been going through everything together so far. The good and the bad.

I stomp on the cigarette and turn to Claire.

“...and I thought that cloud looked like Johnny Depp, but Ms. Miller told me I shouldn’t look at the sky during tests...”

I grin and cut in the middle of her tirade. “Hey, how about we skip our last class?”

That immediately gets my friend’s attention, but she looks doubtful. “Oh, I don’t know, Jenny. Since they've switched my medication, I’m not doing so well at school lately. It’s all messy in there.” She taps on her forehead. “Maybe I shouldn’t skip classes for now.”

“Are you sure? We can take a bus and go to the Mall or something. We could wander around shops and role-play being the hooker from Pretty Woman. And we could even go to that place that serves your favorite ice cream,” I add in a singsong voice.

“Ooh, I love that. Damn Jenny, now I’ll get stuck on all the fun I’m not getting while sitting in my history class. Staying will be pointless.” She whines, but already straightens from the wall and lifts her backpack from the ground.

A grin stretches on my face. “You don’t say. I totally didn’t know that would happen.”

“Bitch,” Claire mutters, but already locks our arms together as we head out.

We’re walking side by side through the school parking lot when I feel someone’s eyes on me. Despite my better judgment, I turn my head to the side and am met with no one other than my latest pain in the ass.

Marcus and his group sit in the grass, enjoying their break under the large tree right by the path to the school’s sports field. Most of them are chatting and not paying us any attention.

Claire and I, sort of, went our separate way last year and stopped going to the Mill and hanging around those douchebags. It might have something to do with overhearing them making jokes out of Claire’s illness and me telling them to eat shit. But also, I was just tired of the whole scene anyway.

Now, I curse under my breath when Marcus stands up, his spiteful glare focused fully on me.

Let’s just say, he didn’t deal with our “breakup” very well. And as it turns out, rejection can be a pretty strong motivator for hating someone, so now I can already predict what comes out of that jerk’s mouth even before he speaks.

“Look who it is! Queen ice-cold bitch and her loony sidekick!” Marcus calls, drawing not only the attention of his friends but also of the people heading toward school before the bell rings out.

Claire claps in fake excitement next to me. “Have you heard it? I’m a queen’s sidekick. Cool!” I smirk at my friend and decide to ignore the screaming idiot as we continue walking.

“Skipping school? What will daddy do when he finds out? It’s supposed to be hot out next week, it’s gotta be shitty covering it all up with clothes,” Marcus taunts with an evil laugh.

I stop abruptly and detangle my arm from Claire’s to turn around and walk a few steps back, my posture rigid.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I seethe, through clenched teeth.

“Oh, baby, don’t get me wrong. I know you can be wild in bed, but you ain’t exactly the BDSM type, so I know all those bruises you are always so desperately trying to hide aren’t from you slutting it up,” the fucker replies loudly for all to hear with a sick grin.

Red-hot fury envelops me on the spot covering my shame, and I charge toward him with clenched fists. The rest of the group stands up, and a girl named Ella shoves his arm. “Not cool, Marcus. Leave her alone.”

“This doesn’t concern you, Diaz, I don’t need you defending me.” I throw her way before refocusing on my target.

The bell rings in the distance, announcing the end of the break, and out of the corner of my eye, I see everyone gathering their stuff and heading to class, leaving only me, Marcus and Claire in the school lot.

I step closer to get right in Marcus’s face threateningly.“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. But if you won’t stop spreading rumors, I will make you. Don’t think I won’t use everything I have to bring you down with me. Remember, I am not the only one with dirty laundry here.”

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