Page 68

PHOENIX
When class finally lets out,I silently celebrate because that means it’s time for food. And my stomach’s fully on the ‘needing food because it’s starting to eat itself’ train. Plus, I think it’s a good day for some pizza. I mean most of the chicks here are on some sort of new fad diet, which means more for me.
And honestly, I don’t know why they waste so much money on food, half the population here won’t even eat. Like I seriously hope they donate the leftovers. I’ve never seen more people lined up at the salad bars in my life.
I drop my books and stuff off at my locker and head to the bathroom quickly before I walk over to the dining hall. I slip into the closest bathroom nearest to the lockers, finding it’s empty and quiet. Locking myself into a stall, I do my business and pull out my phone. I scroll through my messages, though I don’t know why I bother. No one ever calls or texts me. No one bothers to ask me how my day was. So, it shouldn’t surprise me that my aunt is still MIA.
As I finish, the sounds of the most annoying voices known to man come squawking though the bathroom door. I freeze, not sure if I should make myself known or stay quiet until they leave.
“Did you see Mason today? He’s so yum,” Tiffany says.
“Have you noticed Dax hanging around that whore a little more than he should, lately?” Jacklyn asks.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t worry. She’ll be yesterday’s news by tomorrow. He always comes running back to me,” Bianca says in the most vile and repulsive voice. God, it’s like nails on a fucking chalkboard. Fuck it. If they are going to talk about me, they may as well do it to my face. Because they are all talk.
I slam open the stall door, and it hits the wall next to it. My eyes settle on them huddled in front of the mirror, plastering more makeup on. I wonder how many layers I can peel back until I actually get to their skin. They turn around to see the commotion, and Bianca’s eyes narrow at me.
“Who let the town whore in here?” Bianca hisses.
“Well, I think your friends probably held the door open for you, so …” I trail off and smile at her.
“Oh, you fucking bitch!” Bianca throws her makeup bag down on the counter and a tube of lipstick rolls out and onto the floor. “I’m so tired of seeing your disgusting face here at my school.”
“Hm, the feeling is mutual.” I turn to wash my hands in the sink.
“You don’t get it, do you? No one actually wants you here. You’re some charity case they are using to make themselves all feel better. All you do is trash up this school. Hell, you fucked all three kings, you’re that easy!” she screams in my ear next to me as I dry my hands.
Turning to her, I smirk. “Are you jealous that all three wanted me, and not a single one wanted you?”
I’m not prepared for it, only because I didn’t think she had it in her. Her hand comes up and grabs my hair, slamming my head against the counter. For a moment I’m disoriented by the blow and the surprise attack.
I’m shoved backwards until I hit a wall that I slid down. My head is throbbing. “What the fuck, bitch?” Before I can say more, Jacklyn kicks me in my stomach, causing me to curl over on the floor. I pull myself into a ball, the pain tearing through me.
“Leave this school, slut. Take your trash and get the fuck out! The guys used you, and that’s all you will ever be to them. A used-up whore. Someone they can talk about for years to come on how they got in her pants by just being a little nice to her.” She spits in my face. The other girls continue to kick me and step on me. One of them kicks my head and adds more pain to my already throbbing skull.
I lay there on the ground, ready for another attack. I cover my face and curl into myself. But it never comes.
Bianca and her trolls turn and walk out the door, leaving me there, beaten and bruised. I groan in pain as I try to move, but my body is just not ready to move yet. I can still feel the kicks, and my head’s throbbing from hitting the counter and wall, while every muscle in my body is tense from being on the defensive. My breathing picks up, and there’s a knot forming in my throat. My mind can’t think straight with the pain coursing through it.
And then the tears come.
I cry because I’m alone. I cry because I miss my mom. I cry because I miss the family I had. I cry because I lost and miss my father. I cry because I’m in some strange universe left to fend for myself. I cry because my heart hurts. I cry because I’m not wanted anywhere or by anyone.
Tears pour down my face and onto the tile floor. I have no idea if someone will find me in here or whether I’ll eventually be able to move. I’m so lost in my self-pity and pain that I don’t hear someone enter the bathroom.
“Shit, Red.” Mason drops down beside me, and I flinch. “Hey, Phoenix, hey. You’re going to be okay.” His hand wipes the tears from my face. He studies me, concern etched across his face.
He pulls out his phone from his back pocket and clicks on it.
“Hey. It’s me. Found her. It’s not good. Bianca did a number on her. Meet me in her dorm.” He ends the call and throws the phone back into his back pocket.
His hands come up and sweep the hair out of my face.
“Red, hey. Sweetheart, I’m going to get you back to your room. Okay?” Mason wraps an arm under my shoulders and my knees. I keep my head tucked into him, not wanting to see anyone watching me be carried yet again by a king.
“Everything hurts,” I cry into his chest.
“Shh. I know. We got you.” I feel him place a small kiss at the top of my head.