Page 47

But now it’s finally lunch. I finally get a reprieve from the bullshit classes and sitting close to the assholes that torment me. The three assholes that I’m sure sent the school after me this week. The three assholes who have fucked with me every chance they get.
Except now it’s time where I can sit and eat in peace outside the dining hall. Liz went in and grabbed me a couple slices of pizza and a veggie tray for herself. I really need to work on getting her to eat more than rabbit food.
“How were classes today?” She turns to me as she nibbles on a carrot. We are sitting under a tree on the side of the dining hall. Away from prying eyes. Away from all of Darkwood’s students.
I shrug. “Hell. They just won’t stop.” I pick at the pepperoni on my pizza.
“They will, I know they will. It will get old.” Her eyes soften in pity for the shit they’re putting me through.
“Has it ever been this bad?”
She doesn’t say anything for a minute and then frowns. “No. Never like this.”
“Then it’s not gonna get better anytime soon. They have it out for me,” I sigh.
“Any idea why?”
Shaking my head, I reply, “No. None. I have no idea why they have targeted me. But they for some fucking reason want me out of this school. I mean, maybe I threaten their GPAs. I don’t know.”
“It wouldn’t matter how smart you are; money always buys their grades. Now, don’t get me wrong, all of them are smart, but no one else has ever had the highest GPA other than those three. Teachers just hand them As like it’s candy.” Liz takes a bite of her broccoli with a frown. I don’t know why she bothers eating that stuff; she doesn’t look like she likes it.
“That’s bullshit.” I bring the pizza up to my lips and bite into the soft doughy crust. The gooey cheese and robust sauce hits my mouth, and I almost let out a moan. My eyes flit towards Liz, and she stares at me with her mouth open. Almost looking a bit jealous I’m enjoying this pizza and she’s eating cardboard.
We sit there silently, enjoying our lunches. The weather has started to cool off, but it’s still beautiful outside. Soon, I won’t be able to escape out here to eat. I’m only hoping that this will all blow over by the time it becomes too cold to sit outside, so I won’t have to sit through the bullying.
I start to open my mouth to ask Liz a question, when an ice-cold bath of something is poured over me. I shriek and am stunned but before I can turn to look more liquid is being poured over my head. I brush my wet hair out of my face and look up to see students standing around us.
“Here you go, trailer trash,” a guy says before dumping his half-eaten tray of food on me. I now have spaghetti all over me, and now I’m starting to vibrate with rage. Before I can retort or beat their face in, a sticky liquid is being added to the top of my head. Fucking syrup.
Laughs are happening all around me. Liz has backed up and is standing there completely stunned. She’s too scared to say anything, and I don’t blame her. I look up and see the kings standing there, stoic and unmoving.
“Is this the best you’ve fucking got? Have your clowns do your dirty work and this is all they can come up with? This is so fucking amateur for the likes of fucking royalty!” I yell at them from across the courtyard area. The others that are here to torture me stand there stunned that I’m even squaring off with them.
Daxon nods to one of the students, and they all begin to leave. I stand up and try to shake off the excess shit that was dumped on me. The three of them just stand there and stare at me.
“Oh my God! Phoenix! I-I’m so sorry,” Liz stammers beside me.
“Just stop. There’s nothing you could’ve done.” I’m sticky and wet. The stench of the mixed smells hits my nose, and I gag. “I need to get to a shower. Thankfully I have P.E next.”
“I’ll go with you,” Liz offers.
I shake my head. “No. Just go to your class. Don’t worry about me. I really don’t need anyone.” Before I grab my bag and turn, I use both middle fingers and flip them off. I grab my bag but carry it in my hand, not waiting to get it sticky or covered in the mess I am.
As I walk across campus, heads are turning and people are laughing. It takes everything in me to keep from completely breaking down in front of everyone. I keep my head forward and try to steady my anger.
None of this is flying under the radar.
I’m so over the radar at this point; I have flashing lights and a goddamn bullhorn.
I run quickly into the women’s locker room of the fitness center and unlock my locker. I throw my bag in and look around for something to put the school uniform in. I have no idea how in the hell I’m going to get this all out. I scrape off what I can into a nearby garbage can. I definitely do not have the money for this to be sent somewhere, and God only knows if they would even be able to get this out. I don’t want to use my aunt’s money.
I find a sink and put the shirt under it and try to get off what I can. I lay it out on the bench, not sure what good that’s going to do, but maybe it will be a little drier after class.
Awesome.
I take out my gym uniform and head into the showers, grabbing a towel off the shelf first. I have no shampoo or soap, so I’m hoping I can get the water hot enough to take everything off until I can get back to the dorm and get cleaned up.
I stand under the hot stream of water, letting the heat burn my skin just enough to turn it slightly pink. Closing my eyes, I fight the urge to scream. Scream for all the pain my mother and father left me by leaving me behind. Scream for the fear that I will always be alone. Scream for feeling like I am being punished for just being who I am.