AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was too much.
I made it to the laneway leading out of the school, feet still pounding against the concrete, when the heel of my shoe got wedged in a crack in the middle of the road and almost caused me to fall headfirst onto the wet asphalt. Thankfully, I managed to right myself in time to save myself from another concussion.
Aware that several students were openly watching my mini meltdown, I slowed to a brisk walk. Hobbling over to the footpath, I waited for a large crowd of boys to pass before falling in step several feet behind them.
Jesus.
Were Helen and Shelly right? Was Bella going to come after me? Because Johnny gave me a spin home?
Oh god, my heart, my poor, frazzled heart was battering my rib cage.
My stomach was rolling. I felt like I was going to be sick.
No, rephrase that to I was going to be sick.
Climbing over the low fence that separated the path from a wooded area, I ran into the bushes, dropped my bag on the wet grass, ducked behind the nearest tree, and vomited violently. There was very little in my stomach, but the apple I’d eaten earlier came up in glorious fashion. Shuddering in revulsion, I remained in a crouched position, inhaling several calming breaths, while I attempted to calm myself down. My entire body was trembling violently, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the rain pelting down on me or the sheer terror in my heart.
I suspected both.
Several minutes later, when I was sure I could move again, I stood up gingerly and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Pressing a hand to my stomach, I exhaled a ragged breath and looked around. Thankfully, I had managed to position myself out of sight from the lane.
This time.
I reached into my schoolbag for my water bottle only to realize that, in my haste, I had grabbed the wrong bag. My schoolbag was back in the P.E. hall.
“Crap,” I croaked out.
Shoulders sagging, I slung my gear bag onto my back and made my way back to the road. I didn’t bother running this time. I was all out of energy.
I was all out of everything.
If Bella wanted to hurt me, then no amount of running away would change that. She would find a way. They always did.
The worrisome thing was I didn’t know what she looked like. I didn’t know who to watch out for.
Everyone, my brain insisted. Trust nobody.
With the rain pouring down on me, seeping through my clothes, I walked slowly back to the P.E. hall with my head down and my flight mode deactivated. There was a steady stream of fast-flowing water running down the road, and the grassy dike to the left of the path was underwater so I was careful to avoid them when I crossed over toward the P.E. building.
Unlike earlier when I had been running and not taking any notice of the weather, I was achingly aware of my surroundings now—and the shitty Irish weather.
God, if it didn’t stop raining soon, the town would be put under flood alert.
It wasn’t an uncommon thing for Cork in the winter and sometimes early spring. Hell, it could even flood in the summer in Cork.
Without the protection of the coat I had left in my locker, my clothes were soaked right through. My feet were wet, my socks drenched from scurrying around trying to find a spot in the woods to vomit. The sensation of my wet uniform clinging to my equally wet skin made me feel both icky and cold.
Everyone was gone when I eventually returned to the hall, the earlier noise and bustle from my classmates noticeably absent.
Grateful for the temporary shelter from the monsoon outside, I went straight for the girls’ changing rooms and breathed a sigh of relief when I spotted my schoolbag on the bench where I had left it. I was still getting used to my things not being touched in this school.
I walked over to my bag and picked it up, only to notice a torn-out page from a copybook flutter to the floor.
I ignored it.
Soaked to the skin, I grabbed my emergency pouch, trudged into the bathroom, and quickly brushed my teeth, gagging when the brush poked the back of my throat. When I was finished cleaning my mouth, I rinsed off the toothbrush and tucked it back inside the small ziplock bag with the paste and walked back to my get my bag.
Checking my watch, I noted that it was four twenty-five.
