Their Voices

part 6

Hurrying out of the classroom I ran down the hall trying not to fall from my nerves. Finally making it outside the front doors I ran straight to the bike racks. Letting out a deep breath that I was surprisingly holding “what is wrong with me I don't understand this at all” I said to myself. Shakily I unchained my bike hopping on ready to get home and rest. When suddenly I see some familiar faces. Lillian Smith, Stacy Conwell, and their ruler Jain Evans. “Hey weirdo” Jain yelled rudely, Stacy and Lillian standing next to her smirking. Keeping quiet I kept my eyes down afraid of making eye contact “HEY FREAK” she yelled angrily. Startled I slowly opened my eyes nervously looking up to face them “finally you look up at us” Lilian said “yeah you need to listen to your superiors when we are talking to you and that includes looking up at us” Stacy said laughing “but your not my superiors” I said hushed “what was that?” Jain asked astonished “oh wow she really is dumb” Lillian snickered as Jain walked up to me her hand on her hip looking down on me with a smirk “try saying that again freak I don’t think I quite heard you correctly” she demanded “you are...you are not really my...my superiors” I stuttered the group of them laughing “wow I can not tell if she is just brave or just plain out stupid” Lilian laughed “please let me leave I just want to get home to...” --SLAP-- falling off my bike I fell to the ground “you think you’re good enough to step up and backtalk us. Well sorry to break it to you hun but you're sadly mistaken you are not even fit to eat the dirt off the bottom of my shoes. You better watch it and be grateful that we are keeping your little secret” she threatened swinging around. Fear hit me realizing what she was threatening. “Get out of my sight, I can no longer stand to look at a freak like you anymore,” Jain said pointing to the gate of the school. Getting up I picked up my bike hopping back on. Slowly I started pedaling past until Jain stuck her foot out in front of my bike making me swerve as to not hit her. Flying into the school fence I covered my face. Protecting myself as I hit the fence, having no time to keep my bike from crashing down on top of me. Laughing Jain, Lillian and Stacy all circled me, Jain smirking proudly “that should teach you to never step out of place again” Jain said as they walked away laughing. Leaving me on the ground with my face already showing signs of bruising and swelling. My eyes became tearful as I took small breaths so the pain would ease up. “I am not going to cry Momma will worry and I do not need that...I...don’t want that,” I said to myself as I got up climbing back on my bike wincing from the painful throbbing coming from my face and neck.

The rest of the night went by as normal and on Sunday morning I locked myself in the bathroom so I could start practicing how I was going to put the makeup on without anyone noticing the bruise. All before I left for work nervously awaiting the next day.

“So, you got home late Saturday night. I didn’t get a text from you until around nine at night. What took you so long” Sophie said curiously “yea sorry about that...the paperwork took longer than I thought. Plus I had work yesterday” I said turning away slightly “and I needed to get groceries so I was late getting home,” I said nervously “that does not sound right? I thought you canceled” Sophie asked. “I did but I had some paperwork to finish so I went and finished it,” I said as I started walking “ok but weren't all the stores closed” Sophie said stopping me “yea most of them but one was open.” “I thought they usually close around seven, maybe Eight.” Sophie questioned as she tried to look me in the eyes. “I got there before that,” I said, turning away more. “That still doesn't sound right.” Sophie said getting aggravated “haven't you heard of a twenty-four-hour open store they are all over town,” I said, turning further away. “Hey you okay,” Sophie finally asked worried, “yeah of course I am, just tired,” I said forcing a yawn. “Okay I can respect that but why are you not looking at me,” Sophie asked “I don’t always need to look your way” I fronted. “Ok, but why are you walking away from me?” Sophie said jumping in front of me “I am not walking away from you” I tittered as I turned away quickly “wait what was that on your cheek” she asked stopping me. “What happened to you? Are you wearing makeup again?” she asked dabbing at the makeup. “No...I’m not...stop that I am completely -ow” I squeaked wincing in pain “oh my god what happened to you? You have a huge bruise!” Sophie said worriedly. Anger filled her eyes as she bawled her fists. Grateful for her concern I gave her a small smile trying to hide the pain within it. “I am fine. I just ran into the school fence because a cat ran in front of my bike, I swerved trying not to hit it but before I could stop my bike from crashing down on top of me it hit me in the face. Really it could have been worse but I am fine really” I said trying to reassure her, “No way you could just get a bruise like this, from falling off your bike” Sophie said angrily trying to see my face. “I am fine,” I said pushing her hand away. Trying to avoid seeing her angry eyes “look I am your closest friend and I can be worried about you. So please! I can help you but only if you talk to me. This is not the first time I have caught you trying to hide bruises with make-up.” I sighed my heart sinking to my stomach all the while trying to avoid looking her in the eyes. When suddenly Sophie leaned down instead looked me in the eyes “Jas tell me please.” Seeing her sincerity and all the worry in her eyes it broke my heart “was it Jain again” she asked, hitting the bullseye. I froze tears forming and my anger boiling. My emotions got the best of me “I...I can not do this anymore” I said painfully under my breath. I balled my fists trying to calm down my eyes, tearing up more. At the same time, Sophie looked at me. My eyes showed Sophie the hurt not just physically but emotionally. Causing her worry to turn into anger worse than she had ever felt before. “C’mon let's go somewhere better so we can talk,” she said, grabbing my shoulders leading me out the school doors.