What startled me, was even the students I believed to hate me snapped at him. “The only whore here is you, Kyler!” “Why did you say that!? That was a beautiful performance!” “You wish you could sing like that, let alone handle a young woman so beautifully. Hell, you wish a young woman that beautiful would look at you!” “Leave Angel alone!” “Stop it, Kyler!” Within moments, the cafeteria became a seething pit while every student glared at what was their golden boy mere minutes before. What happened?
“You should have realized it would happen,” Riff sneered with his eyes on the still glaring Kyler. “Just because you fight it, doesn’t mean everyone else does. Hell, half the school doesn’t know how. Congratulations, Kyler, you are king of nothing.”
His voice was quiet, I almost didn’t hear him over the crowd, but the widening of Kyler’s eyes shocked me. How the hell did Kyler hear Riff over the din from across the room? No. I will not think about it since I plan on leaving. It’s neither my problem nor my business.
However, Mr. Renard stepped forward with a stony expression and announced, “enough. I didn’t want to do this, Kyler, but I’ve had enough of your bullshit. You bully Angel, hit her, and tear her down every chance you get. You make up lies about where she came from and why she speaks of leaving. So, here, let’s put those questions to rest.”
Oh no. He didn’t. Please tell me Marcus didn’t do what I fear he did. Riff’s angry frown warned he did, and I shuddered. I’d prefer answering those two hundred texts again, since Riff decreed them part of my homework last night. Hesitantly, I walked with Riff, sitting at our usual spot while a large white screen descended in front of the stage. Someone set a laptop on a table, and I hunched in my seat, hoping to disappear. Mr. Renard stuck a USB into the computer, and I trembled. I didn’t want to hear this, let alone watch it. Riff turned his head, and his lips moved, albeit I didn’t hear a sound, but in the next second Char knelt beside me. Riff pulled me onto his lap, with Char taking my seat and holding my hand while murmuring words of encouragement.
As soon as the screen came to life, and I saw my apartment, a soft whine escaped my throat. “What? Afraid we’ll learn your dirty little secrets?” Kyler taunted, and I curled into a ball on Riff’s lap.
I smiled, however, when I saw my little brother waiting for me to open the door with a grin. Seconds later, he barreled into my open arms, and we looked so happy together. Shortly after, it showed us hugging goodbye, with Matty yawning before asking Tammy why she thought I coughed up so much blood. But then I crept out of my apartment with wary eyes. This time, I saw where they came from and scowled.
I closed my eyes when he came on screen and tuned him out. I didn’t want to hear his words, not again, not so soon. Several loud gasps caught my attention, and I peeked, discovering the bastard raised my shirt to expose my bruises and reason through my hospital visit. I tuned it back out, shuddering when Riff’s chest vibrated with a silent growl.
However, after the loud outcries from around us, I glanced up, watching the bastard take his jacket from my doorknob. He was such a dick. Not too much later, Marcus barreled on screen, slowing to creep into my apartment without making a single noise. There weren’t any raised voices like I expected. But what felt like forever later, the goons backed out warily after the jackass, all of them pale. I stalked after them with an ominous expression, and Marcus followed me, appearing amused. After musing that Marcus understood me in a way he couldn’t, he promised to visit for Christmas wherever I was. Then, the bastard left like Marcus said, and I sighed with relief. Once he snapped me out of my trance-like state, I tuned out the video again. I didn’t need to hear our discussion.
After the screen went dark, I kept my eyes low, hunching on Riff’s lap to appear small. “I would like to go home,” I whispered to Riff, and he made a soothing noise. I didn’t want to be stared at like a freak. I didn’t want to come to school at all. Why? Why did Marcus do this? They aimed it at Kyler, from what Mr. Renard said. But why? What’s going on? I didn’t look at him when I scurried out of the cafeteria, hell I didn’t look at anybody. I didn’t want to hear the laughter, them mocking the orphan on the run. God, if they said anything nasty about Matty, I didn’t know what I’d do, but it wouldn’t be good. He’s my little brother and all I have in the world.
Marcus waited outside like he did my first day, and I stopped mid-step when I saw him. Tears filled my eyes, and he tutted, moving to pull me into a hug so I could cry into his chest. I didn’t want to, but he enabled me to. I felt betrayed, and yet I didn’t. I didn’t understand. Some part me of believed he knew what was best, and I needed to accept that. My soul knew this to be correct, but my mind rebelled against the idea. I’ve been in charge of my life for years. Who was he to think he knew better? Why did he believe it was the right thing to do? Why couldn’t I hate him for it?
“I’m sorry, Angel, but if he keeps behaving the way he has, he will kill you. He almost did on Sunday. Not to mention what
