Page 59 of The Monster I Am
“Oh, yeah?” He taunts. “Prove it, Spencer.”
Large hands with accompanying sausage fingers shove me hard in the chest, sending me flying. My back hits the lockers with a bang and I spring forward, delivering my own rough push into his torso.
“Don’t fucking touch her,” Archie growls, trying to put himself in between us.
We’re being ambushed. It’s obvious. And immediately, all my prior statements are thrown out the window as I’m forced to take a stand against this dickwad.
Perkins grins to one of his buddies, giving a short nod. Arch is suddenly grabbed by a pair of footballers and I see red.
I thrust my burgundy red nails into the jugular of one guy’s throat, pleased when he lets go of Arch and stumbles back. But before I can reach for the other jock, someone grabs my arms and yanks me away.
“Get your fucking hands off me!” I snarl, jerking my head back blindly in an attempt to hit someone.
It’s futile. Someone holds my wrists, pinning them to my back as more bodies swarm on Arch as well.
Normally I’d confidently say that they wouldn’t take it too far in an open hallway and this is just a scare tactic, but the sight of bodies blocking either end of the hallway screams that this was premeditated.
It’s not a warning. This is a downright attack.
The bell rings overhead signaling next class is about to begin, and before I can decide if it’s a good thing, I’m thrown like a ragdoll in a hurricane straight into the lockers.
I have no chance at finding my footing or catching myself, rolling down with a crash. A pained cry escapes me when poor Arch is tossed on top of me, followed by a nauseating smell hitting my senses.
Something else topples on us and I resist the urge to puke as curdled chocolate milk spills down my arm while empty food wrappers and fruit skins land on my head.
“Wolves, bitch!” Perkins cackles, the group dispersing in various directions as the sound of approaching students heading to classrooms grows louder.
I’m in shock at what just went down, barely registering the rushing footsteps that come toward us.
“Shit! Bex, what the fuck happened?” Sophia asks, leaning down.
Gazing around, I grit my teeth together as I spot some raised phones, people giggling as they snap photos.
I quickly spring to my feet before helping Arch up. Parker pops into my line of vision, his face twisted in anger, and I don’t even have it in me to clutch onto the fact that the two of them must have been together.
“Fucking jocks,” I finally answer, dangerously low. “Attacked us out of nowhere.”
Soph’s mouth pops open in disgust. “I’m calling Tai,” she announces, but I hold my hand up, stopping her.
“Don’t,” I reply angrily, hoping she realizes my tone isn’t directed at her. “This has nothing to do with them.”
She purses her lips, eyes darting over to Parker for guidance. He stares at me, then Arch, before slowly shaking his head.
I hate the hurt that flashes over her face at being outnumbered. It makes me feel sick, repulsed even, but it’s obvious that whatever just went down is a reflection of my situation with her brother and his best friends. Calling them will only make things worse—make me lose my credibility.
I don’t need the Willowbrook Kings to save me. I never have. And if I start now, it’s only going to fuel these bullies into upping their tactics knowing it gets a rise out of me.
My body throbs painfully as I flick garbage off, spotting the discarded—now empty—trash bin in the middle of the hallway.
“Are you okay?” I ask Arch, inspecting him from head to toe.
“No,” he responds without hesitation. “You?”
I scoff. “Not even a little bit.”
Soph takes a tiny step forward, unsure how to approach me. But bless her heart, she’s still trying anyway. “What can I do?”
I make a deliberate effort to soften my face despite hurting all over, both physically and mentally. “Nothing, Soph. Please don’t worry about us. We’re used to this and it will be dealt with.”
