CHAP 2- Signs Of Belief

Just before history class, I took a brutal beating from Ron leaving me a sore (and probably bruised) arm and scar next to my eye. I stopped in the boys bathroom to check and see how noticeable the scar was. My arm was covered by my quarter length sleeves, so I didn't have to worry about that injury being seen. The scar on my cheekbone was plain as day and there was no use in even trying to THINK OF A WAY to cover it up. I'd just come up with an excuse. Yeah, that's what Id do. I headed to class and sat in the empty seat next to Kendall. Luckily, class didn't start for a whole 5 minutes. Phew!

"Dude, what happened to your eye?" Kendall looked at the injury on my face with concern in his eyes.

"Uh…I was closing my locker and I uh…got too close and um scraped my face.. no big deal" I lied through my teeth.

"Oh ok.."

I cant believe he bought it. I started to talk to kendall, asking him how his day was so far and what class he had just come from; when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Ron shoved him to the ground and shouted, "Move your fat butt!" Kendall helped me up.

"Are you okay?" Kendall asked looking concerned again. He sorta stood close to me, holding me back as if he thought I was about to go and beat the snott out of him. I just nodded my head.

"He had no reason to shove you or call you fat. Typicall high school bully. Don't let him get to you, Los." Kendall said the exact same thing James had said. History went by pretty fast. I enjoyed sitting down and eating lunch with my friends, until I ran into Ron in the hallway on the way to my locker to leave some things behind to make room for the books I would receive for my next class; Math/Algebra. Ron gave me the brutal beating that I deserved for getting in everyones way, being a useless Mexican, being a stupid piece of crap, etc. etc. etc. The intensity of the beating made me sick to my stomach, and I went to the bathroom and lost my lunch that I hadn't even had time to digest yet. After Math/Algebra class, I stayed behind a few minutes for Logan and the teacher to explain some things to me that I didn't quite understand about the lesson.

"Why are you staying after class? Oh yeah! Because youre STUPID!" Ron laughed as he left the classroom. Logan heard him, but the teacher didn't seem to because she had been on the phone.

Logan reassured me, "Typical highschool bully. Don't let him get to you Los" same thing that the other 2 guys had said to me. I kinda found it funny that they all thought that much alike. "Youre not stuid at all, Carlos. Youre just having trouble understanding." He patted my shoulder. I hissed at the pain that I felt when he did because of all of the injurys Ron caused that side of my body during all of his many brutal beatings.

"You ok, 'Litos?" Logan looked concerned. Uh oh. Lying time. I hated lying to my best friends, but if I told them about what was going on; A: It could just get worse for me or even worse B: Ron would start hurting my friends too. I would lie all day to keep them physically and emotionally safe.

"Uh… Yeah I uh.. accidentally hit my arm on my locker today. Its just still sore." I said hesitantly

"Oh gosh really? Lemme take a look" Logan wanted to check on my ingury being the doctor he is. CRAP. He's gonna know it wasn't my locker that got my arm injured. I hesitantly pulled up my sleeve letting logan look at the bruises and cuts near my shoulder.

"That's pretty bad, buddy! I'll doctor it when we get home ok?" Logans eyes more concerned now.

"Okay. Thanks, Logie" I knew he didn't buy it. There were knuckle prints and nail marks all over my arm. I knew he was suspecting something. Next Class was Home Ec/Cooking and It was hard to concentrate with Ron calling me names every 2 minutes. Then I had choir/music with the guys, a quicl study hall with them and then off to Hockey it was! We got home very soon after hockey practice was over.

"See guys? Nothing to worry about! Right, Carlos?" Kendall tried to prove that he and I wer right thst morning, but I was starting to believe that we had been wrong.

"Uh.. Yeah.. Nothing to worry about.." I pretended to agree. There WAS something to worry about now. I was becoming miserable. Slowly. The guys were getting ready to head to the pool and I told them Id rather stay behind and study; of course Logan approved the idea and they headed to the pool.

"Alright spill it Calros" said the eavesdropping Katie as she jumped from behind the couch

"What?" I played dumb.

"Don't play dumb with me Carlos. It wont work. I read you like an open book." She said still demanding answers as to why I was staying behind. I told her all about the bullying and she told me the EXACT same phrase all the other guys had told me.

Then she said, "Also, don't let him take your happiness away; the happiness we all know, love, and need more and more daily; the Carlitos that we couldn't bear to loose to some stupid bully. Ive been through this too, Litos. I know what youre feeling and what youre going to feel if this keeps up. I need you to be strong for me Litos. I love you. Don't let me down." She smailed at me after her speech of enovuragement. I was in awe of Katies mature speech. Maybe she was right. Maybe they were all right. Maybe he was just a typical high school bully. Or….Was HE right about ME?...