Red Leaves Falling

Chapter Eight

I took a step forward only to have a searing pain rush through my skin. I crouched against the wall and wrapped my arms around my abdomen, throwing away all thoughts of looking fine.

From the corner of my eye I saw the girl pull out her iPhone. She was going to take a picture and post it on her social media. I turned my face the other way to ensure she didn't get a clear shot of my face. Then I would have at least a little hole to worm my lies from.

But instead she placed the phone against her ear and tapped her foot impatiently.

"There is an injured person at St.Xavier's school. It's an emergency. He's bleeding-" She said.

Realizing what she was doing I hastily stood up, ignoring the pain, and knocked the phone off her hands into my right hand. I placed it against my ear.

"Sorry for the inconvenience. It was a prank call." I said into the phone. The man on the receiving end muttered some words that made my ears twitch and then cut the call. I sighed with relief and sank on the floor.

I slid the phone to the girl and pulled out my own. I had to inform mom that I would be coming home late. I recollected my dictionary of excuses. I mentally cancelled out the ones I had already used and geared my brain to think of a good one. But I was rudely interrupted when my phone was knocked out of my hands by the girl. She was furiously tapping her fingers on the screen.

"What are you doing?" I asked, confused. She shifted her gaze to my face.

"If I call 911 again from my number, I doubt they're going to pick up." She said. I stared at her for a moment before letting the words register in my brain. My eyes widened.

"You are not calling them again." I stated. The girl grinned at me with what seemed like a challenge and pressed the dial button. I gave her a defeated look and stood up.

My bag was on the floor beside her locker, the contents spilled out. I stuffed them back inside the bag, leaving out only a navy blue sweater. I pulled the sweater over my shirt to hide the blood and then I slung my bag over my shoulder, ready to leave.

I stretched my hand out to her, gesturing for the phone. Suddenly, the bag was roughly ripped off my shoulder and urgent hands tugged at the sweater.

"You're insane." The girl said,"You need to disinfect your wound right now, not heat it up with layers of clothing, you fool." I placed a hand on her wrist and tried to pull her away from me but I couldn't.

The world seemed to be revolving and I happened to be at the center of all the chaos.

My vision blurred and my eyes drooped.

My limbs failed me and I collapsed on the cold floor.