I was woken the next morning by Amanda. My entire body was beyond sore, it felt broken. I was also dead tired, my eyes sleepily open and closed.

  “Good morning.” Amanda said politely. I tried to make myself wake up, but failed for the most part. Even moving felt like a nuisance.

  “Morning.” I said lazily.

  “You need to go to school.” Amanda spoke. A spark ran through my brain remembering the entire previous day, and what I had to do now.

  “Yeah, what time is it?” asked, being a little more focused now.

  “Let me see… It's 6:43.” She said, I was going to be late!

  “Can you drive me?” I asked.

  “Sure, but you need to eat something first.” She said while looking around us. On the ground were very colorful rags, the most morbid of which were stained red.

  “No time, we need to leave now.” I exclaimed. I tried my best to get up, just to find myself in underwear and covered in bandages.

  “Where is my backpack?” I asked with a hint of embarrassment. Amanda directed me to my backpack, and I painfully changed into my spare uniform.

  Once I was finished changing, I tried my best to walk normally to the door. Waiting for me was Amanda with a small brown paper bag, which was a little humorous.

  Amanda walked me down the stairs before driving. I ate silently, readying myself for what came.

  “You can drop me off here.” I said, feeling slightly better.

  “Are you sure I can’t drop you off at the school?” Amanda asked with worry in her voice.

  “I'm sure, it won’t be good if anybody sees you with me.” I responded. Amanda stayed silent.

  “What time should I pick you up?” she asked.

  “You're picking me up?” I asked back.

  “Of course, you're not going to leave me now that we can actually talk.” She said slightly sarcastically.

  “Here at 4:00.” I told her before walking off.

  I walked to the school gates, and was already exhausted. However, even a sliver of weakness could ruin everything. The more you give the more they will take away.

  I had covered my bandages with my uniform, and forced myself to walk normally despite my injuries. To top it off, I had a slight smile on my face.

  Everything would end once Johnny walked himself into my trap.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  The eyes were different today, and I assumed the rumors had already spread.

  ‘How is he walking like it was nothing?’

  ‘Must have been a false rumor, a person wouldn’t be able to walk like that after what they say happened.’

  ‘He seems different today, more calm, but also more viscous.’

  As usual the rumors narrowly missed the mark.

  I continued with my school day, and at first nobody messed with me. It gave me a chance to take a break before what came next. Lunch passed by and Johnny did not show up.

  The bullying resumed, they didn’t use paintballs, but went back to airsoft guns. Every shot on my back felt like a wasp stinging, every time my face turned cold and I gritted my teeth.

  I told myself not to make a sound, I looked back and glared at the possible suspects.

  “You seem fine.” Kaede said suddenly. I looked at her and started to rest my face on my desk.

  “I assume the rumors aren’t true then?” Kaede asked.

  “Which rumors?” I asked in response.

  “There is a rumor that you got ambushed and shot a couple hundred times.” She said.

  “I see.” I tried to push the original question away.

  However at that second somebody let out a burst of airsoft rounds. Most of them hit me in the back, however some seemed to hit Kaede in the leg.

  Kaede’s response was delayed, about two seconds after she was hit she grabbed her leg and knelt on the ground.

  I turned again trying to see who had shot, but they were already hidden.

  “You should go back to your desk.” I said willfully.

  “Why should I do that?” she asked.

  “You will get hurt.” I told her. I really didn’t want her to be hurt because of me.

  “You seem to think that you aren’t worth it.” She responded strongly. Her words surprised me.

  “Whether I am worth it or not, you should stay away.” I said weakly, in truth I did not want her to leave me. I wanted her by my side, and to comfort me. She really is something special.

  “Why?” She asked, and showed she wouldn’t give up without a good reason.

  “Just for a few more days. It will all be over then.” I added. Kaede seemed to accept this, but she definitely did not leave in a good mood.

  School continued, and so did the bullying. Luckily I was able to prevent any damage to my uniform, but it was taking a bigger toll on my body than I originally thought it would.

  School was over and there was no sight of Johnny. Tomorrow it will definitely be tomorrow, I told myself over and over again. It might be that I was fooling myself. The next day was Friday, and if it wasn’t tomorrow I would have to wait for next week. I had forced myself to hope.

  Amanda picked me up in her car at the park she dropped me off at. We talked about ourselves, but my part was especially short. I didn’t have much to talk about, my likes and dislikes were too few.

  However, I did enjoy hearing Amanda talk about herself. She talked about her favorite types of music, the current shows she liked, her favorite books, and her hobbies.

  “You sure like a lot of things.” I commented shortly.

  “You make me sound childish.” Amanda said with a pout.

  “It’s not like that.” I responded.

  “Like what?” She said suspiciously.

  “It’s just, you seem like a very adult person, you have so much passion.” I said truthfully. Amanda stopped looking at the road to stare at me, but only for a second.

  “I never thought of it like that, but I don’t think liking so many things is that good. I mean I spend so much time with my hobbies or at work that I feel like I have nothing else.” Amanda responded.

  My mind wandered to the previous night's talk. Amanda was obviously going through some identity crisis. It seemed like the place I had lived in for years. At least I would be able to give her advice about it.

  We finally parked in the small parking lot, and I was helped up the stairs. My body and mind were so tired I passed out the second I closed my eyes.