Chapter 35: Teasing And Mocking

So the weekend went by like a blink.

Great.

All I wanted to do was lay in my bed and just stare at the ceiling. Not thinking, not reading, not anything. Just staring.

But alas, school has to ruin everything and everyone. Saturday night was filled with many feelings and emotions. Like how Luke told me all about himself when our father first died. A lot of emotions.

Sunday went by as if nothing happened. Luke still held his face, the twins were tired and were beaten pretty bad- I wonder why- and so they stayed in bed all day and I acted as if I went to sleep hours before they left although Luke and me both know it's a lie. I'm sure the boys thought it was weird that I didn't ask any questions about their appearance but why would I? In my opinion they deserved it. Plus I already know the answer.

So that leaves today. Monday. Now I know what you're thinking. 'Ugh Monday is the worst day of the week' but actually, it's not. Let me explain; Monday might be the end of the weekend but so? That just gives you something to look forward to. Thursday is the real nightmare. It makes you feel as if it's Friday but then come to realize, you still have another freaking day.

So like you would expect, everyone was tired. Except me since I get little to no sleep at all and is just the same every day.

Apparently the boys were beaten so bad they couldn't go to school but I know it's because they just don't want to show how badly they got beaten. What wimps. So Zack will be driving me to school. This'll be fun.

So I got ready faster than I normally do so I don't get left behind. I know I sound a little paranoid but once I was two minutes late from getting home from school and Carl and Mom left seven year old me to fend for myself when we actually had money to go out and eat so I get an excuse.

"Woah Chica, slow down. We still have plenty of time." Zack said as I zoomed down the stairs and stopped in front of him.

Gasping I said "Umm, how much time are we talking here?"

He chuckled. "Well we have about thirty minutes till school starts and it only takes about ten minutes to get to school so I say plenty of time."

"Oh okay. That makes more sense." I agreed.

We both simultaneously smiled. "So, are you doing well in school?"

"Of course I am. I just hate math but then again, doesn't everyone hate math?" I told him.

"Well not everyone.", I gave him a curious look, "Luke's very good at math. He doesn't love it but he likes it. Caden is good at some math. Like mean, median, and mode."

"Well yeah, that's because Caden's a lawyer. That's all they ever do in math. And Luke is just Luke. What else do you expect?" I asked.

He caressed my cheek. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

We talked for a bit longer than we had to get in the car. It seems like whenever there's only one brother in the car I get to sit in the front but other than that, never.

Zack takes off and I see him take a left instead of a right turn. "Um where are you going?" I asked.

"Well since you hate math and that's your first hour, I thought we could, you know, skip it." He said.

I was flabbergasted. "Y-you skip school? Me-what huh?"

He chortled. "Yes Lidia, when I was your age I was a bit of a trouble maker myself so keep some thoughts in that enormous brain of yours."

On the way to where we would go Zack called the school and told them I would be in late. When they asked why he said 'Because her hamster that she's had for a while died.' I have never, ever had a hamster in my life. I have no clue as to where that lie came from but apparently it was good enough for the secretary because she didn't mark me absent or whatever those fat-bummed ladies do.

We pulled into a breakfast diner. "Braunch" I said out loud.

"Trust me, it tastes better then the name suggests." He assured me. Despite my doubts, I decided to trust his judgement and go in.

The place reeked of cigarette smoke among other things but the waitress was nice. She led us to a small booth and we quickly ordered. Zack must've seen the discomfort in my face because he said "Lidia, just trust me on this. The food will make you ignore everything and anything that isn't the food."

I ordered a plate on plain pancakes and eggs and hash browns and Zack ordered a breakfast burrito. I tried to keep my doubts to myself. I really did but looking around the place, it was hard not to doubt it. The food came out looking somewhat normal. Not poisonous or anything... I hope.

I cut off a piece of pancake and put it in my mouth and it was heaven. It tasted so good, better than the chef we had at the house. I don't know why or how this tasted so good but it did.

Zack looked at me amused. "So, I take it that you like it?"

I nodded my head vigorously. "Thank you for bringing me here." I said but I had food in my mouth so it sounded muffled. He chuckled and looked down and started to eat his food.

The rest of the time we ate was either in silence or a few words between bites of food. Zack paid and we got into the car. Small talk was made but we eventually ran out of things to say so we just sat in silence. It was a comfortable one, not one where you could cut it with a knife.

When we entered the bell had just rang meaning passing time began and the halls were crowded. And they were also staring at me.

This is why I hate being in public with my brothers.

Apparently we got some new kid since he started to talk to his new friends about Zack and me walking into school. Quiet but we could tell he was talking about us. Zack was unbothered by the staring though. He just kept walking and signed me in.

Once we got out of the office after about three minutes he pulled me into the hallway and began to tell me a speech of some sorts. "So Lids, if your math teacher gives you any crap about missing class you can tell her to talk to me. Okay? But don't forget to have a fun day. I love you and I'll see you at home."

I watched as he walked out of the school and into his car. "Great", I mumbled, "another day of hell."

It was third period when I got my stuff together. I guess they changed our schedules or something because when I walked in none of my old classmates were in there.

"Um, I'm pretty sure this is my class." I dragged out.

"Well our schedules have changed since one of the teachers quit so go to the front office and ask the receptionist for your new schedule." The teacher said.

I nodded my head and walked over to the office. "Back again?"

"Yes I am. I need my new schedule."

She gave me side eyes as she got up and flipped through her files. She finally found mine and handed it to me. I thanked her and walked out.

French; art; math; geography; language arts; lunch; biology; P.E. ; free period.

You have got to be freaking kidding me. The whole reason I skipped first period was to skip math and now, I have to go to it?! Just great.

I opened the creaky door. Immediately all eyes were on me. "Miss White. I see you have decided to join us. Go take your normal seat." Mrs. Gray commanded.

I drug my feet on the floor as I walked to my seat. "So, why're you late? Doing something more important. Maybe like eating breakfast like, oh let's say, nuts?" Keith whispered to me.

I clenched my fist. I have tried so hard to forget that but seemingly, they just won't let me. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to strangle him but I restrained from doing so. Zack took me out to eat somewhere so I don't want to thank him with a call from the principal.

I focused back on what Mrs. Gray said and tuned him and everyone who isn't Mrs. Gray out. I wanted this week to be over already and it had only just begun.

After that I did my routine like normal. Go to lunch. Go to class. Have a million thoughts about wanting to die. Go home. Eat dinner. Wake up. Repeat.

It was like a never ending cycle. I now not only hate math because it's math but because Keith always pesters me about the photo that was the biggest misunderstanding of the century.

The boys weren't at school at all. In fact, on Wednesday I had to take them their schoolwork. To be quite frank, it was hilarious. I mean my brothers, The Infamous White Twins, stayed home because their reputation would go down hill very quickly if people ever saw how black and blue their faces were.

But back to the actual problem. Keith. Normally I'm very calm and collected. Normally I hate physical conflict. But Keith was changing me and not in a good way. Audrey and Evan helped calm me down whenever I was about to strike. They said 'Don't mind him. He's just a bully. All they want is a reaction.' and trust me, I know that. I've had a bully my whole life but this one takes the cake.

So I decided to do something about it.

On Thursday I couldn't take it anymore. His mocking. His teasing. His pulling of my hair. He reminded me of a watered-down Carl. Not as bad but still bad nonetheless.

Coach had decided that Thursday would be a good day to play flag football. Statistics that I made up in my head said that one-fifth of the class wanted to play it and half of the class would just stand there and talk to their friends.

Since Keith was coaches favorite for some unknown reason, he was deemed first captain. Some other sporty girl was named second captain. Obviously they picked all those who they thought were 'good players' and me and Audrey and Evan didn't fall under that category. I wonder why.

They flipped a coin or something. Honestly I wasn't paying attention until Coach McMahon blew his whistle saying that the game was starting. We got into the position our team captain wanted us to be in. Well my 'teammates' did. Since I was not a 'good' player I was a substitute player and that was fine with me.

However, one of the kids thought it would be funny to show off and do some weird ass move and accidentally twisted their ankle. I was the only one who was technically paying attention to the game so our captain put me in. May I remind you I don't know shit about football or flag football or even non-American football.

"Umm you! Yeah you. Go in for Blake." She said.

I walked out onto the field, bored already of playing. As if it can't get any worse, I was paired to tackle or block or something like that Keith Rentuck. This was going to be fun.

"Well isn't it the little hoe?", Keith taunted, "Are you here to suck mine too 'cause I would totally hit that."

I couldn't take it anymore. I just couldn't. As soon as the whistle was heard I ran straight at him and I tackled him. A little 105 lb girl tackled a huge 175 lb boy who, might I add, does wrestling.

But instead of getting up, I punched him. I made sure to do what James taught me. Square in the nose and I swear I heard something crack.

"Augh you bitch!" He screamed and slapped me.

Ha. I didn't care. I just kept punching him and punching him. All of those words he spoke to me poured through with each collision my fist made to his face. Now I'm not saying he didn't hit me 'cause he did.

I was raising first to land another blow but he caught me hand and twisted my arm backwards and I whimpered. That thing hurt like a mofo. He was on top of me and his curled hands landed above my eye, immediately busting my eyebrow.

I cried out in pain. "That's what you get for being a hoe you slut. And that", he delivered another blow to my left eye, "is for thinking you could mess with me. Your brothers aren't here to protect you now are they?"

That did it. Everybody was trying to get a grip on me or him but we kept moving so it was impossible. How dare he insult me like that?! I am so much more than my brothers shadow.

I jabbed him in the eye and this time, he cried out in pain. I straddled him and landed one final blow to his right temple before they pulled me off of him.

By the end of it we were both beaten black and blue. My right eyebrow was busted and bleeding and I could already feel my left eye swelling and bruises were starting to form on my cheeks.

His face was much more worse looking than mine though. His lip was busted, his nose was broken and blood spewed everywhere. He was stumbling around like he was high.

"I need someone to take these two to the nurses office. Make sure they're kept in separate rooms. I'm going to go talk with the principal, Dennis you're in charge." Coach McMahon yelled angrily.

Obviously Evan and Audrey led me to the nurses office. In all honesty I wasn't even thinking about Keith when they led me there. In fact, I didn't even think about how disappointed Luke and Zack and Caden and Sasha and the twins were going to be. I just didn't think.

After a couple minutes of walking we stopped and the nurse saw me and immediately rushed me into one of the rooms. "What is it with you Whites and physical contact?" She mumbled to herself.

"I really don't know." I responded and chuckled. The chuckle sounded different then my normal one though. Like a different person was inside me.

"So, even though I'm sure I know the answer, wanna tell me what happened?" She asked while putting a band-aid on my eyebrow.

Audrey started to describe it and it sounded kind of weird coming from her perspective. Like to her and everyone else there it lasted like two minutes but to me, it lasted at least thirty minutes.

"-and that's why she's all bloodied up. Did I miss anything?"

"No, I think you got it all." I muffled out since the nurse was putting ointment on my lip.

"Okay, that should be good for now. You'll need to seek professional help obviously but this should hold you off until then." She smiled.

I groaned as we stepped into the hallway. "Now we have to talk to the principal who I'm pretty sure hates me."

There! I'm not good at writing physical contact I think which is ironic considering what type of book this is. I hope you liked it and don't forget to vote, comment and obviously like :)