Caught between my bully and my step brother

Chapter 3

The next morning, I did what I always do. I put on a fake smile, got dressed and tried to compartmentalize the latest horrible thing they had done to me and shove it deep down in that box right at the back of my mind and tried to forget about it and move on. After years of this, it was what I had gotten good at.

I got dressed and packed up the books I would need today in my bag and left my room with my head held somewhat high. I had a full day of classes that didn't involve them two. If I was super lucky, like I had been on a few Fridays, I wouldn't see them at all today. Whatever other classes they took here seemed to be far away from mine and Fridays had become my favorite day of the week. It was peaceful. It was what college was meant to be, and that was minus the two of them. Today I could pretend that they were nowhere near here. Partially anyway, others still looked and laughed at me or made slight digs as I passed them. All because of them two, of course, they had made me an easy target for everyone else, just like at school. But I could handle everyone else, everyone else I could ignore.

Those two wouldn't allow me to ignore them. If I tried, they made sure to do something that I most definitely could not just ignore or look past. But Friday was a full day of medical studies. Biochemistry, human body and medicinal science. It sounded like bliss to me which put me in a better mood anyway.

I walked out of my block on my way to the medical studies building, Lacey I wouldn't see her all day today either. That was the only downside of Fridays. She was studying law, funny because someone so carefree and brightly dressed would pick a subject that seemed so, well, not what you would expect she would pick. You would more likely guess art or drama. I could see her now in a courtroom wearing a canary yellow dress and a bow in her hair.

I was glad I had met her. Even though we had only been friends a short time, she had already made my life a little bit brighter, she made being here with those two more tolerable anyway.

" Addie " I heard my name being called and came out of my inner thoughts to see Kyle running over to me. Kyle was in my medical classes, he wanted to be a doctor too. He was a sweet guy, on the shorter side, he was only an inch above me, and I was tiny. He was 5 ft 2. I couldn't help compare him to those two. They were both 6 ft tall and over Toby being that bit taller. Yesterday, when I had nearly bumped noses with Trent, it must have been because he had crouched or something, even in heels, I wouldn't come up to his face.

Kyle had a look about him, kind of like he hadn't lost his baby features. Boyish. He was cute, but not my type. Hell, I didn't really know what my type was. It is not like I have ever had the chance to really look. There was no point even looking back home. I knew none would reciprocate the attention. I had no flirting skills or anything. My teenage years, my teenage years, were robbed of at least that little social practice. Lacey says, I didn't know how to take compliments either. That came after I blustered like a fool after she had said I looked hot. The truth was I didn't believe her anyway. I mean if I was good-looking, wouldn't at least one boy try to talk to me back home ? The gruesome twosome be damned. Maybe I just wasn't that fanciable.

Kyle snapped his fingers in front of my face, making me blink rapidly and snap out of my inner thoughts that I was lost in yet again. I looked at him, and he was grinning at me. I automatically blushed. " Sorry were you talking to me ? " I asked him.

He shook his head, letting out a small laugh. " Yeah, I was asking if we could partner on the bio chem project ? We have to pick by the end of the week "he stated.

I blew out a breath, I had forgotten about that. " You want to partner with me ? " I asked, confused. Genuine facial features screwed up, confused, not used to being picked, and the teacher having to force someone to partner with me was the norm for me, like in the gym and such back home.

He frowned. " Well , yeah, that's why I am asking you "he looked confused, and I realized I was probably giving off weirdo vibes right now. I coughed to clear my throat and looked away from him. " Yea, I mean sure if that is what you want, yea cool" I mumbled. I had thought I wouldn't be asked and had prepared myself to be burdened on someone like always. I felt him touch my arm and that caused me to stop and look at him. He looked a little more concerned than confused now.

" Addie, are you OK ? If you don't want to partner with me, that's fine "he asks.

I shook my head side to side. " No, no, of course I do, it's just usually people don't pick me, so why are you ? " I asked him.

Again, he frowned a little. I am most definitely giving out crazy vibes now. " Why would I not want to work with you? You're at the top of our class grades wise. I heard the teacher say you're likely to ace everything at top marks. He had never seen a student who came so well-prepared who had already been studying the thing we were covering off their own backs before even starting college. He said you could even teach the class on some subjects because you already know most of them. They were talking about advancing your work to next year's stuff just to challenge you. It makes sense. I partner with the best that can make me the best, plus, well, you know your kind of pretty and funny, so that's a bonus "he smiled, and I felt my face go beet red.

" Oh well , yea I mean sure , sure yea, that makes sense, so yep partner, let's go partner " I babbled and internally sighed at my awkwardness a boy said I am pretty a boy I wasn't even into and here I was an i***t. How would I act when it was a boy I liked ?

I heard him chuckle behind me, and I was sure I heard the word cute when he muttered something under his breath.

But when I looked up across the lawn, my feet faltered a little. Stood staring at me was Toby leaned up against the library building. Tammy was in front of him talking to him, but his eyes weren't on her; they were on me, and then they flicked to Kyle. Kyle must have thought I was about to fall because his hand gripped my arm again and that when I saw Toby step away from the building and stand taller, his eyes were burning as they locked onto me. He was more than likely getting ready to hurl some insult at me, or come over and embarrass me just because he could. His anger was always aimed at me, he only had to glance my way, and he would go from happy to p*ssed. I was used to that. He was more likely extra mad today because Lacey disturbed his plans to torture me last night. I didn't want to give him the opportunity today.

I looked away and towards Kyle, who was once again looking at me with concern " I'm fine, sorry, must have mistepped. Come on, let's go, "I reached and grabbed his hand, practically pulling him along. Last thing I wanted today, on my peaceful Friday, was to deal with him. I didn't look back, but I swear I could feel his hatred burning into my back as we went. I sighed. The next thing he did would be extra hideous. I just knew it.