The next six months had been the same, Amy would meet me at the fountain and we would sit together every class on a Tuesday, going for lunch straight after, although these days she seems to linger more after class and lunch. I often wonder if this is what it is what it is like to have a friend?

Then again I ask myself is it only friendship I want from her?

Tuesday seems to come around so fast these days; I find myself making my way over to our usual meeting place. But today is different, today would be one of those days, that the bullies would make themselves known. And all I can do is wait for it. In truth it had been building for months. Tension, coming off them in waves. Now don't get me wrong it isn't Amy's fault, but at the same time, it is because of Amy that these mean girls want to knock ten-bells out of me.

You see Amy never seems to notice them, as though she is looking through them. Her full focus on either the class or me. Now this is where I might want to point out. My social skills are still totally lacking, even after six months I still find engaging in conversation with her hard. Never the less, she doesn't even seem to notice, or she does, but she is just to kind to bring attention to it. I guess the one major break-through is that I am now starting to trust her more. That's something right?

"Oi, freak!" I can't help my shoulders slumping as I try to ignore the onset of this.

"I'm talking to you freak."

Believe me I could knock them all out, but then my secret would be on full view and I would be whisked away. To either be used as a lab-rat, or in an asylum. This is the reason I ignore them. Or try to at least.

"You think you're better than us."

Another girl hissed at me as one of them shoved me to the ground. And this would be why I find talking hard.

"Do you pay her?" I frown this time.

As my grandfather once told me if I rise to it, I am just as bad. I have to be the bigger person, and no this never brings my temper out. It remains me that no one could ever truly understand me. And there it is the first kick. I try and shield myself as much as I can, as their feet make contact with my body. It may hurt now, but the damage they are inflicting on me will be gone by tomorrow.

"I'm talking to you. She's isn't here to protect you."

The physical is never as bad as the mental side of things. Cuts and bruises heal. There is just no healing the mind. You're told something often enough it becomes true. I close my eyes as a foot makes contact to my lower back. God I feel sick.

Their voices mould into one as they call me names, telling me how much I am not wanted here. Do they not think I know this already? I close my eyes as tears start to form.

I feel anger? Not my anger.

"No one wants you here."

I heard that saying so much over the years I know they are right. Again I can feel a burning anger. One that is feral, that is full of hate and disgust.

"JUST WHAT THE HELL, DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!"

I've never heard someone shout like that, although I am grateful as the kicking finally subsides.

"Move away from her, right now. Before I make you move."

Okay maybe I should pay her? I mean, I can feel the fear now coming of these, mean, vile, nasty girls. As they back away from me. I can't look, I can't even cast my view her way. She will see me for what I am. A freak, weak, an outcast. I hear them scurry away and I am unsure what has made them flee so fast.

"Emily."

She's kneeling next to me now, her hand rests on my arm, as the other is placed on the floor. I catch a glimpse of her hand. And that's when I see it, that's when I know why they have fled so quickly. I jolt away from her slightly.

"I promise I am not going to hurt you." Her voice is so soft. But my eyes are now focused on the gun in her hand. "Emily. Look at me." There is such a firmness in her voice, I am compelled to look at her.

"Thank you." My voice is full of unshed tears, my body trembles slightly as she moves closer to me again.

"I won't hurt you." I watch as she clips her gun back to the side of her pants, which is cleverly hidden by her bag. "Come on we need to get you cleaned up."

"I'll be fine." Okay maybe if she knew me fully she'd accept that, but since she doesn't, I can only swallow and nod slightly.

"Still, I want to make sure they haven't done too much damage." I frown at her slightly as the tears slip from my eyes.

"I'm not going to judge you Emily."

I take a breath. Does she mean that? Does she truly mean that? Or is this the part where she pity's me?

"I'll be." I stop as she offers me her hand to help me up.

"Yeah fine, you said that once." There it is again that slight amusement in her voice.

I take the offered hand as she helps me to my feet. My legs are trembling. Did they really do that much damage? She steadies me wrapping her arm around my waist. I can't help the sharp intake of breath. For the first time in my life, I'm in pain!

"Can you just trust me enough to allow me check you over. If nothing more to make sure they haven't left shoe imprints on your back." There was a firmness to her voice now.

I can feel something off her for the first time. From the second my eyes fell on her, I have felt nothing. But in this second, I feel the worry, the pain. Is it because of what they have done to me that she is allowing her feelings to be shown?

"Does that happen a lot?"

I look at her for a moment as I try and supress my feelings. I nod. "Been a few months since my last."

She doesn't give me a chance to finish as her arms wrap around me tightly. I tense for a second. She pulls back looking at me, her fingers move the hair out of my eyes, I can't help flinching away slightly, but she doesn't seem to pull away when I do.

"Okay, well let's get you checked out first, and then we will deal with the rest."

Her voice holds so much authority that I double check it is Amy that is with me. "How do you mean deal?"

Can I just point out. I wouldn't need to ask such stupid questions if I could just hear her thoughts. But with her there is nothing, well aside from what I am feeling off her now, although I can't hear her thoughts.

"I mean; I am going to make them regret ever laying a hand on you." Okay there it is venom. The tone in her voice can do more damage than anything.

"I." I sigh slightly. "It'll just make it worse." I close my eyes slightly as I allow her to guide me down the corridor to where the restrooms were.

"How could it be possibly worse Emily? Five girls beating on you. Five girls hurting you."

I give her a slight smile. "Normally more." I look at her wide-eyed, before my eyes look towards the door. Damn it. I didn't mean to say that out loud.

"Pardon?" Why does her voice hold so much authority to it?

"I'll be okay," I give her a small smile. "I promise."

I close my eyes slightly as her fingers ghost down my back, I try to hide the flinch as her fingers make contact with where their boots hit.

"Lift your top up Emily." I swallow slightly. "Please." Her eyes seem to speak to me this time. I close my eyes as I lift the back of my blouse up. "My god." I hear her whisper. "This isn't okay."

"Told you, I'm a freak." This time my resolve breaks as I try and hold on to the sink.

"No you're not a freak. My sweet girl." There is a softness in her voice as she speaks.

I close my eyes to regain my composer "Thank you." I whisper as she wraps her arms around me. We stay like that for a while. I feel safe. For the first time in my life. I feel safe.

"What are you doing for the holidays?" she asks changing the subject as I pull away so I can wash the blood off my hands and remove the tear stains from my cheeks.

"Nothing," I pause. "Was just going to stay here and do some studying." I say honestly.

"Fancy coming away with me? Instead of being alone?" I shake my head slightly.

"I don't have any money." I let out as a whisper.

"Well I have a holiday home in Florida. So it won't cost you anything. Plus, I'd like to get to know you better, somewhere away from here. Somewhere neutral."

I frown slightly. "You have a job to go to." Yes, I state the obvious again.

"I do, and they also allow me to have time off, so I can go on vacation." There is a lightness in her voice as she speaks. "Unless you really want to stay here." I watch as she takes a breath. "I want to get to know you Emily. I want to know the real you."

God that smile.

"And besides I have a promise to keep." I look at her puzzled for a moment.

"Okay." I take a breath before I speak again. "I'd like that." She looks at me amused as though she is waiting for something else to be said.

"Maybe once we get back, your social skills will be slightly better." I can hear the laughter in her voice as she speaks. I blush slightly.

"You're not funny." I chuckle slightly.

"Made you smile though."

She says softly, although now she catches me completely off guard, her lips ghost along mine. I don't pull away instead I allow myself to lean in more. I allow her to pull me into a soft kiss.

"My sweet, sweet girl." I hear her whisper as she pulls back slightly.