Chapter 1: Trapped at School

My phone rings with its usual morning alarm. I groggily open my eyes and blink a few times to clear my vision. I grab my phone and see that's it's nearly seven in the morning. Shit! I'll be late! I throw the covers off and jump out of bed. I run into my bathroom to take a quick shower. I run to my closet and grab a pair of deep lavender colored skinny jeans and a white V-neck top with the words "Like A Complete Unknown" on it. The words are true. Whoa, after that deep thought, I grab a white washed sleeveless denim jacket and put on my favorite pair of dark brown combat boots, running my hair brush through my messy dark brown hair.

I run back into my room and see that twenty minutes have past. I need to run to school now since my dratted dad won't buy me a car or a motorcycle since he says that they're dangerous. Both of them. I grab my phone, house keys, and shoulder my bag. I fly through the kitchen to grab an apple and even in my rushed state, I could hear my parents arguing in their bedroom. Typical of them. I sigh and quietly shut the door behind me.

School is quite a living nightmare, but I'm quite a goody-two-shoes so I care about my perfect attendance and my no tardy slips record. Now that's something to be proud of. Not many students finish high school with that clean of a record. Well, technically I'm not finish with high school, but it's March of my senior year and I don't have that far more to go to be free. And technically I already have enough credits to graduate. I'm just that good.

I sigh in relief making it to the school grounds within ten minutes of first bell. Sweat dribbles on my face, but I wipe it off. I straighten my clothes and arrange my hair from its fly-away state. I pull my jacket closer around me and duck my head.

I'm light on my feet as if one misstep would cause a mine explosion. It could, metaphorically. I sigh in relief making it through the parking lot to the front doors; well, they wouldn't normally be here anyway. I scurry through the main population of the school, keeping my head down, not making any eye contact. If I do... it's hell. I duck out of the football jocks' way and weave in and out of people doing their usual morning routine of talking the day away with their friends.

Where was Trish?

She was the only person I care about in this dump of a place. Trish dela Rosa has been my best friend since like ever. Even in the hardest of times, she's there to help me. When they're here, she threatens and usually they'll leave. If they don't, it's just a deeper fix for the both of us. I have cuts and bruises from their attacks and even if I were to show it to my parents, they'd just laugh. If it were a teacher, they'd ignore because I'm me.

I hate me. I've got nothing going for me. I'm not a fashion guru. Or a model or beauty queen. I'm not the smartest kid, since Aaron Harper took that slot. I may have perfect attendance, but I'm not that smart. Just smart enough to scrape the bottom of the barrel to get into AP classes so I can get to a good college out of here. But other than that, I'm nobody. I don't belong with the jocks and the populars. I'm not a techie, or a nerd, or a geek (there's a difference between all three, believe me) or a goth or anyone. I'm a lone wolf.

Except when I'm with Trish. She has other friends of course, but at least, unlike most (which is 99.9%) of the student body, she make time for me.

I go to my locker, spinning the dial, to reveal its sad contents. I don't bother to liven it up or decorate it because what's the use? School is for learning and a locker is just to store books so one's bag doesn't get too heavy. Sure it's for personalization, but it's only for four years. Compared to a whole life that's long and well lived, it's nothing. Yeah, you've probably noticed by now that I'm a buzz-kill. Maybe that's why people hate me.

I grab my AP Calculus textbook and my AP British Literature books. I sigh. Two mentally cultivating classes in the morning on a Monday morning. Ugh, please kill me now. Then again, most of my classes are AP classes, so that's a problem. Thankfully, I have Guitar class and Spanish as an escape. I barely scrape by in class, meaning I'm like the lower than average AP student, but still smarter than most of the population, which I don't care about.

I hate my life. It sucks.

And still not being the smartest kid, the way the school student body is built, I'm an easy target.

I reach up to close my locker door when someone does it for me. Someone - bigger, better built - leans himself against the locker next to mines with a heavy thud. I roll my eyes as he slams my locker door shut, loudly, I should say. He does it so fast, it makes me jump back. I glare at him, but he just laughs, amused. What is it with these people?!

"Thought you need some help," he quips, beguiled.

I send him another vicious glare, which he laughs at. "Why thank you! I needed help after all." Please, I only need help to understand him and his daft dumbos and bimbos of friends. Speaking of which, they're coming down the hall now, made clear by the sudden shift of air. It's quieter, and a wide path has cleared, and the clearly scared faces of people like me or with similar status.

Yep, it's that bad. I sigh and lean against my locker, waiting for this to be over.

They are the reason my life at school is hell. They make it so hard for me to live a normal life, they make Voldemort look like a nice guy, er, wizard. And that's a pretty accurate simile. Voldemort may kill every person in his way, but they... they probably might be capable, if they were older. So one could say they're Voldemort(s) in training. And so far, they've excelled. They are one reason I hate my life.

Austin Moon and his Crew. They are his selected group of "friends" who are the most annoying, and the biggest players (even though they have girlfriends), sluts and whores. Austin, gang leader and Mr. Pretty-Boy of the school. He's also Mr. Badass, Mr. Jock, etc. I prefer to call him Thing 1, since his girlfriend is Thing 2 and that'd be Cassidy Arce. They have a complicated relationship - an off-again, on-again relationship, and everyday is a surprise where one doesn't know where their relationship status stands.

Then there's Elliot Keller and Dallas Walden. And their girlfriends, Brooke Stallings and Kira Grantt. The guy next to me and who slammed my locker door is Elliot. And guess what? I actually used to like Dallas then Elliot at one point of my high school life. Sad, I know, but at least every girl has fallen at least once for each guy. Austin? He's complicated and so is life and so are my feelings for him. I really don't know how to explain them, they're just there. And it bugs me that I actually like him! But he wasn't always a jerk; he was actually my friend once. I know, hard to believe, but it's true.

I sigh and watch them walk toward me. Elliot leans against the lockers next to me, serving as a flag marker on to my location. It's like that every morning. One of the guys - Elliot or Dallas - are told to look for me and right before first bell, as they strut around campus as a pre-morning stroll, they come out to me - their target.

They stop in front of me, and I just stare at them, expectantly and cross my arms. Austin looks like delicious eye candy as usual, but I can't help but notice his arm loosely draped on Cassidy's shoulders. They must be back together after their dramatic break-up yesterday. "Yes?" I say.

Brooke's eyebrows goes up in shock. They usually acknowledge me first, so I turned the tables on them. They get over it soon enough. "Where's our Algebra homework?" They're the same age as me, but not as mature and mentally developed like me.

I open my binder to find their homework. I knew now to write in their handwriting after quite some forced practices. It's an inside joke between me and Trish that AM and his Crew are so busy screwing each other, that they don't have the time and right mind to do basic Algebra.

Oh, fuck. I forgot their homework was sitting in my other binder that I left at home. Ugh, how could I have been so careless and so forgetful?! Now I'm in deep shit. I look up from my binder, fear written all over my face. "Um, I... I..."

"Well?" Cassidy impatiently taps her foot on the tile flooring, creating a sickening beat. Who knows where could this lead?

"I uh, sorry," I whisper so softly that they probably couldn't hear me. "Forgot it."

Cassidy breaks away from Austin and gets up in my face. "YOU FRICKING FORGOT IT?!" She inhales, exhales rapidly. Now I'm in deep shit. "All we ask is for a few hours of your time. You couldn't do that?!" I look up at her, terrified, and my height of 5'2" doesn't help. "What?! Were you too busy with your prostitutional job that you couldn't do it?"

I steely stare at her, standing my ground. For months this has happened and I'm just about to break. I was hoping to keep myself together until graduation, but I guess I just can't keep it in anymore. My hands fold themselves into fists and stare her down.

"How about you?" I dare ask. "Why can't you do your own homework?" The whole hallway is silent, listening to this showdown. "Are you not smart enough?" I continue on with my rant. "I'm pretty sure that's the case because more than half the guys here, heck, most of them - you've been able to land to bed. I guess that's just too much with homework, is it? Or you just don't have any brains at all? I'm not the slut nor ninny here, you are. Or do you not understand those words? Do I have to baby you?"

Cassidy's mouth drops. "You... I can't believe..." Then she purses her lips and a striking pain follows through my temples. She slaps me, hard. So hard one could compare it to giving birth. I gasp in shock and fall to my knees in pain.

Cassidy crouches down to me. "You'll receive hell later. This doesn't end here."

No one bothers to help me up. No one bothers to ask if I'm okay. They only bother to keep a wide berth from me. So I fall back against the lockers and try my best to keep the tears in. But I can't.


I sigh and lean back in my seat. AP Biology sucks. My teacher goes on and on about human anatomy that he had explained yesterday. Sure it was a review, but we all couldn't study at home? Ugh, it just wastes class time that is crucial to learn something new.

I stare up at the ceiling counting the cracks. One. This is boring. Two. I hate my life. Three. Cassidy is out for me. Four. She's going to kill me. Five. This is stupid. I close my eyes, put my feet up and sink into my thoughts.

Where is Trish? I haven't seen her at all today? Hmm, maybe she's at home sick? But then if that was the case why didn't she text me? Or maybe she got grounded? But still she'd be at school today. What if she was sick and grounded? Maybe that's why I haven't seen her or heard from her.

"Ally Dawson!" someone snaps. I shake my head and nearly fall to the ground. I look toward the voice to see an unhappy teacher. "What is school to you? A place to catch up on your sleep? I think not. Stay in after class, I have to talk to you."

I just want to yell at him, but I thought the better of it. Right after Biology was lunch and the fact that Cassidy is out for me and the rest of them are too, maybe it was better to stay in here. She won't find me. Yeah, that's the best. So I nod my head and slump against my hand, staring blindly up to the front of the room, pretending to be intrigued by the material.

I seriously was nodding in and out of a nap. But the bell rang jerking me from my sleepy state, but then I remembered my plan and the order to stay back so I watched the steady stream of students to the cafeteria, waiting for the class to empty. Some days like the school's horrible pizza it's like madness to get to the front of the line. It's the hunger game. I smile to myself, puns are the punniest. There they are again! Ah, I love puns. They're one thing that won't turn away from me.

"Miss Dawson?"

I look up to see my teacher at his desk, sitting and waiting. I close my eyes and sigh. Slowly I walk up to his desk because I want to burn as much time as possibly before I'm excused.

"Yes? You wanted to speak with me?"

Mr. Larson inhales deeply then exhales and takes the glasses that balances on the bridge of his nose off and places them on his desk. He scans the room with his eyes before landing on me. "Miss Dawson, this is your last year here at Marino, isn't it?"

I nod in reply. "Yes."

"And you already have enough credits to graduate, I assume?" I nod again as he continues, "Have you ever considered the half day that the counselors recommend for students who already have enough credits. It's not that I don't want you here in class, heck you're the only one who pays close attention, but why don't you make use of your time? We could arrange to have your days cut in half so you can get a part-time job or something."

I heave. This again?! "I know what you mean sir. But my parents don't approve nor do I need a job. After I turn eighteen and get sent off to college, I plan to cut off my parents. My college has already been secured as well as the first years of my life after college."

You know this is the only thing I feel certain about. My future. I know who I want to be. What I want to be. Where I'll be. I know all the answers.

Mr. Larson's eyebrows jump up in amazement. "Really?" he asks. "All set? Wow... that's just... wow!"

I nod. "I know. Thanks." Now the talk is about to be over. Ugh, I need to stall him. Stall. How does one do that? "So... uh..."

He waits for me to say something, but I got nothing. So after a minute more of silence he says, "Well if that's it, you're excused Miss Dawson. I have to go eat my lunch." Of course he does. No teacher wouldn't want to be stuck in a class, in awkwardness, with a student. I nod. "Okay. But no more sleeping in class!" he warns.

I laugh. "I'll try not to, sir." I grab my bag, and with nothing left for this room, I leave first. Concentration leaks back into my face as I scrutinize the halls every now and then seeing that no one is following me. Well, at least not them. I sigh in relief and tip-toe to my locker where I hurriedly enter the combination and deposit my textbooks and grab a few for my afternoon class.

Someone clears their throat behind me as I was just about to leave. Crap! I scrunch up my face in defeat, blaming myself. I slowly close my locker and turn around to see all six of them accounted for. Oh my God, here it comes. "Well, well, well," Cassidy starts.

Should I make a run for it? I look to my right, no one just an empty hall, to my left, a door leading out-side to the courtyard. But I don't want to take this outside. If that happens Cassidy and all of them would he delighted with an audience. I don't want to make a bigger fool of myself. I look around and I see a bathroom. Hmm, maybe I could lock myself in there, at least in one of the stalls. Plus only the girls could enter, except if the guys... ugh. I shake my thoughts and look at Cassidy. "What?" I spat.

"You're a bitch, don't you know that?" Cassidy conjectures. "An ugly, worthless, stupid bitch."

I sneer. I'd think again Cassidy. "Oh, yeah?" I refute. "Are you sure? Aren't you the ugly, worthless and stupid bitch here? Well with your entourage of bitches and bastards, aren't you all?" I stand against the lockers, crossing my arms. They all hate me and that's never going to change so I might as well have some fun with this and make them more angry. That might not be the smartest thing to do, but what have I got to loose?

I smirk when I notice the guys stiffen at being called what they are - bastards. Yep, that's right. I'm dangerous. All guys hate having their egos hurt, so that's how I can target them. The girls are a bit more difficult to break.

Cassidy is silent for a moment, thinking of a comeback and where to head this conversation. "Grab her," Cassidy suddenly says.

I gasp in surprise and groan in pain. Dallas and Elliot grab me by my arms and shove me toward the lockers I was standing in front of. They pin me against it with such force so hard, the locks dig deep into my back, causing horrendous pain. I try to keep myself composed, but it hurts. My breath is ragged and uneven as I take in deep breaths and tears well up in my eyes.

"Not so courageous are you now?" Cassidy smirks. I just want to slap her silly she'll regret doing this to me. But instead I keep my voice quiet and look around. Brooke and Kira stand a few feet away backing Cassidy with slight rueful smiles. Austin is further back, across the hall, leaning against the lockers there. He watches the scene unfold with sad eyes, sometimes cautiously glancing across the halls checking to see if anyone will round the corner. Unfortunately for me, no one comes. So I look to the guys pinning me. Maybe I could get some sympathy from them?

"I can't believe I actually though you two were nice. I actually liked each of you at one point and another," I say so softly that only the two can hear me. But it doesn't work. They stare at me with such deep rancor, it breaks me.

"What'd you say bitch?" Brooke challenges. "I heard you say something. Don't deny it!"

I scowl at her, but like Cassidy who must be rubbing off on her, she stands her ground. So I lie to anger them. "I asked if they wanted to be laid tonight. If you're busy, then maybe they could-"

"Enough!" Kira exclaims. Hmm, it worked for one. I look at the other two. Brooke seems a bit perturbed by the statement but Cassidy, she looks at me with a delighted expression, but Kira goes on, "That's not something to be made fun of, slut."

"You sure?" I contradict. "I'm not the one sneaking out at night to sleep with a different guy every night." And for that, I receive a slap from her, as if the one I got in the morning didn't hurt.

Cassidy holds up her arm to prevent Kira from murdering me. Well then, she must be saving the goods for later. "Wait," she says. "I have something to say before you can punish her." She looks down at my shirt. "The 'complete unknown' huh? Well, we'll completely make you unknown. I've always had a score to settle with you Dorkson."

"And what's that?" I harshly reply. "You're the foul, loathsome swine here."

"Shut the hell up stupid," she says. Then she walks up to me and grabs a fistful of my hair. God, that hurt as I whimper. "Oh, did I hit a chord there? You feel the pain? Well, that's nothing compared to the pain I've felt!"

I want her to let go. But I know she won't. "What do you mean?" I ask.

"You know what I mean!" she refutes. "Don't play dumb with me! Of course, you could fool anybody." I still had no idea what she was talking about. I sigh in relief when she finally lets go of my hair. "She's all yours." Then I watch her walk to Austin who seems to be uncomfortable by the situation. Why? But he doesn't do anything and just watches the rest unfold with his "girlfriend". Dallas and Elliot still have me pinned, but that doesn't hinder them from throwing a few punches at me.

I groan in pain. One after the other they hit me. Finally, the two guys let go and I don't have enough strength to hold myself up so I sink to the floor. Cassidy just laughs as I look at her trying to catch my breath. Then one of the girls kicks me in the stomach while the other pulls my hair. I land on the floor, bruised and scraped. But it doesn't end from there.

"You lowly sons and daughters of bastards!" I gasp.

The guys haul me up, holding me and throw me against the lockers. But I manage to use some strength to prevent myself from hitting the ground. I try to stagger away, but they only shove me to the ground, tripping and kicking me. Now it hurts so bad, tears form and silently they begin to fall. It's no use to say words.

Seriously, I hate my life. What did I ever do to deserve all this?

A/N: This is a different story from my usual romance stories and usual writing style. But it's a pretty interesting experience not being in my comfort zone.

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