The Bad Boy Hates Me

Chapter 1// Crazy Crucifying Witch

Chapter 1// Crazy Crucifying Witch

Turns out smack talking Rochie with no eye-witnesses results in me being in a hospital. That's right, Roach got crazy and cut my wrists and ankles, pinning me against the wall, threatening me. I felt as if I was being crucified—I don't know how Jesus did it.

My mom, although sobbing over me, is furious and demands me to look for a new school as soon as we get home. I could tell she struggled in not raising her voice because I had a roommate. She never got this mad about anything before.

So, I planned on attending my cousin's old high school. It's not very disciplined, considering there were eight girls, including my cousin, in the graduating class that got themselves pregnant. I just can't be bothered to do a full search for my last year. And my mom doesn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she's very ecstatic that I have a school in mind already. Talk about bipolar.

After my poorly done stitches on my wrists and ankles, the doctor decided I stay overnight. I tried to question his decision, but he just walked away.

Who else is required to stay overnight at the hospital after getting simple stitches? The only other damage I received, was her tackling me to the tiled floor of the bathroom. I don't think I hit my head hard enough to develop a concussion but he’s the man with a degree in saving lives.

Hours passed by and I find myself texting Mary—my cousin—about her old school, Van Couver High School. It's supposedly a big building with a lot of nice teachers and students. There are still a few stoners and soon-to-be-mommys and daddys. I almost snorted at her, knowing very well that she can't hear me. But I made sure I was quiet, not wanting to wake mom up at 1:09 in the middle of the night.

Mary says that I need to go straight to the annexed parking lot on the left side of campus. That's where all the nice people hang out in the mornings and after school. Nerds stay inside the building. Queen bees dominate central parking. Stoners at the back of the building. The bad boys and their ‘gangs’ rarely show up to school in the mornings. I guess they hang close to the popular girls, though they hate most of them, according to Mary.

Rochie wasn't even popular, she was really a poor loser. She gets money from her rich friends. How she manages to bring half of the student population confidence levels down, is beyond me. Maybe it's because she takes martial arts.

Lindsay takes martial arts. She started before Roach too. But she still tries to call Lins a lesbian.

Why?

Everyone knows her boyfriend, Max.

This is yet another flaw on Rochie's long list:

SO STUPID.

Yawning, I tell Mary that I'll talk to her after I get out the hospital which is later in the day. Without waiting for a response, I turn off my phone and drift asleep, thinking about leaving Lindsay and how I'll manage all alone in a new school.

***

I woke up to a white light.

Oh no, the doctor was right, I did have a concussion.

I'm dying!

I'm dying!

I'm dead!

I thought he was being dramatic, but it's all over. Like, actually.

I never said bye to mom or dad—Mary. Oh, Mary you were the last soul I texted. I miss her.

I just want to say bye! I just want... I just want...

To see Rochie burn in hell!

"Melissa, sweetie, stop moving," a voice like mom's spoke softly.

So now I'm being tortured. How great. Why are my eyes still—? 

Oh.

"Mom, I thought I was dead!"

It's safe to say that I did not mean the whole Rochie burning in hell thing. It was probably just a spur of the moment thought. Maybe. That's my excuse for everything.

"You're fine, Mel." She chuckled and a second later, her body tensed slightly, with seriousness. "Let's just go home."

On our way home, I noticed mom looking down at her phone more than once. I wonder what happened. Wait, never mind. I know what's going on, she told dad. She told dad that I was in the hospital and he's probably going to want to take me back because mom 'is too young and irresponsible, she can't even watch over a seventeen-year-old'.

Newsflash dad: I'd run away if I had to live with you.

And I'd run to mom.

Once home, I ran up to my room and jumped on my bed, wincing slightly at the pain from my stitches. The pain was gone as quick as it came, though. I think it's time for a nap.

No! No nap. You have to go meet Mary.

Right.

I'm allowed to attend school next week and it was Thursday already. I planned to go straight to Van Couver Tuesday after getting my locker stuff on Monday.

I called Mary.

"Hey, Mel," she greeted casually.

"Hey Mary. Come over so you can tell me more about the school?"

"Yeah of course. Ten minutes the longest."

"Sweet, bye."

"Bye."

The cool thing about Mary is that she lives less than half a mile away from here. So, I walk over to her house whenever I'm bored, lonely, or just plain sad. Today I'm just too tired for the walk. And mom won't let me outside just yet. She thinks Rochie is waiting to attack again. Or maybe that’s just what I think and she’s just enforcing the doctor’s demand that I rest. I guess we will never know.

As promised, ten minutes later the bell rang. I got up from my bed and slowly walked downstairs, trying hard not to put too much pressure on my feet. By the time I got in the family room, mom and Mary were sitting on a couch talking. Seeing me boosted Mary's excitement, because we barely see each other. She rushed over to me and carefully hugged me tightly letting her firm hold linger.

"Hey Mare," I breathed.

"Mel! You look terrible!" She exclaimed.

I gave her a flat look. "Thanks."

"Not being rude but your hair is matted, and you have bags and raccoon eyes. Go clean off the mascara. Now." Mary was like a mother, but in a weird, fun, like-a-sister way.

Mumbling incoherent mimicry, I walk/limp to the first floor's bathroom and start to scrub the stained mascara off my face, instantly eliminating the raccoon eyes.

I walked back to see Mary sitting in an arm chair. I seat myself next to mom, slowing resting my legs next to me.

"Talk to me."

With those three words, four hours and five coffee cups later, mom and I are filled in about the school. Everything about it when Mare was a senior which was three years ago, to about all the seniors now. Two of her friends are related to people in the senior class—one is Sammi and another is Alex. I heard Sammi is really nice and friendly, and according to Mare, Alex is the school's bad boy who recently quit his g**g, or something another.

Surprisingly, mom didn't quite care. Or maybe that's because she fell asleep three hours ago but I don't blame her.

After Mary left, I thought it was a good idea to check out the school.

It was 11:00 AM.

I left a note for mom saying I'd borrow her car to check out the school even though she’d probably be against it. I would walk to get the feel of it, but I keep wincing and limping.

I got there in a matter of fifteen minutes and walked in the building. I met the principal who happened to be Principal Hoffins, Georgi High School's old principal. He always helped me with Rochie, made her back off a bit but our new Principal couldn't care less about what happens to us.

"Mr. Hoffins! Long time, no see!" I smiled.

"Ahh. Miss Knight. How have you been? Rochie laying off?"

"Oh, I wish. She actually sent me to the hospital yesterday," I explain, showing him my wrists and ankles. "I actually was hoping to transfer over to this school," I said with a voice full of hope.

"Just have your principal sign this and your schedule will be ready for you on Monday." He handed me a blue slip with a frown etched on his face.

Did I tell you that freshman year I had been attracted to Mr. Hoffins? No, well I meant to. Totally over it though…maybe.

I'm actually starting Tuesday," I say hesitantly, “I hope it's okay that I start Tuesday.”

"That's fine. Just deliver that back to me either later today or tomorrow."

"Thank you," I said before leaving.

***

I came home after presenting the slip to my principal. She wasn't too happy I was transferring, but she agreed, for the sake of my health. Feeling too tired to return it to Mr. Hoffins, I wobbled over to the family room. Mom must've left for work because dad was now home. I think she used his car.

I turned on the TV and decided Disney—they were playing movies all day, and currently I'm watching Cinderella. I wonder what it would be like to live Cinderella's life.

I started to stare at the bandages covering my stitches, thinking back to what the doctor said. "You may remove them in ten to twelve hours." I was discharged at 6:00 this morning, and it was currently 12:13 PM. Another six agonizing hours of these tight bandages.

My dad happened to storm into the family room at that moment and gave me a bone-crushing hug.

"Dad. Hi." I squeezed out, struggling to breathe.

"Sorry. How are you? Feeling better? Where did you go? Who did this to you? Melissa, answer!"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine. Yes, I'm feeling better than I did yesterday. I went to a high school to ask if there was space to transfer, then I went to my school to have Mrs. K sign me over. And… Rochie did this."

He was in the middle of studying my bandages when his head suddenly shot up. Was it something I said?

"You're switching schools?"

I nodded.

"About time." He rolled his eyes. "I'll be in the guest room, sleeping. Only for an hour. I just got off work and your mom asked me to stay with you until she gets back."

"Okay, can Lindsay come over? I didn't tell her about me switching schools."

"Of course."

When Lindsay came over, I seated her on my bed while I stayed glued to my desk chair, swinging nervously.

"So... What did I miss at school yesterday?"

Yeah, I didn't tell her about any of it yet. 

"Rochie got me alone and basically tried to crucify me," I said flatly. I lifted my wrists and pointed to my ankles. The bandages were still on. "And I'm starting a new school on Tuesday. Yesterday was my last day."

Lindsay wasn't a readable person, but she actually looked like she was fuming.

Needless to say, Lindsay was furious.

"We need revenge," she stated, terribly stiff from the anger. I thought her back might snap in two.

"I know," was all I could respond.