CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN:

I stir, opening my eyes to a bright morning. I'm warm and comfortable under clean, crisp sheets, I take a moment to orient myself and am overwhelmed by a sense of déjà vu. Of course, I'm back at the Holiday Inn hotel.

"Shit! I'm late for school." I scream rushing off the bed and getting my things together. I have my project presentation today and I can't miss it.

I quickly grab the first thing I can find and put it on. Then I pull my hair into a ponytail and grab my backpack. I rush out of the room and out the four seasons hotel like my life depends on it. I'm glad when I find a taxi just outside and I climb in not having time to walk to school today. I pray there is no traffic today and I'm glad when I make it quickly to school. I run to the school and down the hallway and I'm thankful when Mrs. Johnson doesn't tell me off for being late.

I take my seat and take a deep breath. I'm nervous for my presentation and I hope I won't get in too much trouble.

~•~•~

My heart beats fast as Mrs. James checks her sheet and looks at me. "Anastasia and Joseph, you two are next."

We both stand up. Joseph walks to the front of the class room all confident thinking all he has to do is read the papers I gave him. Of course, he had not read them because if he had he would have known what I had written down.

I smile wickedly as the PowerPoint starts to play. "You are ugly," I read the first words of the PowerPoint.

"You should kill yourself." Joseph reads his lines, "You should of have never been born."

"You are fat and worthless," I dramatically read.

"This is a few of the words that are spread around the hallways of high schools." We both read together.

I continue to read the facts and statistics of bullying in schools all around America.

"With a show of hands how many of you have been screamed at or have been told any unkind words?"

Most of the girls in the class put their hands up and soon I am also putting my hand up, "I have been screamed at, bullied and repeatedly tormented." I admit. "Ladies we need to stand up and not let them get away with it any longer." I climb into the chair next to me, "Now with a show of hands how many of you have been bullied by this boy... How many of you have been called names by Joseph?"

He goes pale.

"He attempted to bully me into doing this project for him." I look at him as I say it.

"Anastasia, get off the chair!" the teacher screams.

"Joseph and his friends think they own the school Mrs. James."

"I don't know what's going on, but you are not making a mockery of my classroom." She is angry... really angry. "You two to the office now."

"What?" Joseph says, "I'm the victim."

"To the office now." she points to the door and I grab my things and walk out of the room. Joseph follows me irritated and I know he isn't going to handle this well.

"You are dead Anastasia." He whispers as he pushes by me.

~•~•~

The first thing I do when I get back to the hotel is check my phone. There is two new messages. I take a deep breath and before I even look at them, I already know who they are from... my mother.

My stomach twists at the sound of her voice, and its all I can do not to hang up. I want to smack myself, of course she found out about what happened at school.

Ugh. I flop down on the bed and close my eyes. This is all a mess. I should have never done what I did. Yet, Joseph had it coming and after all I didn't really get in much trouble. I have to write Mrs. Johnson a letter apologizing but that's it. I think the principal went easy on me since its almost graduation.

A knock on the door snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Anastasia?" Paisley shouts. "I know you are in there, the guy at the front office saw you come in."

I haul myself off the bed and attempt not to make noise, so she thinks the guy made a mistake and I'm not actually here. I need some time alone, I'm not in the mood to be around anyone right now.

"Anastasia." She shouts again

"I'm coming relax." I roll my eyes and get off the bed. I walk to the door and open it, a smiling Paisley strolls inside wearing black leggings and Ugg boots which I know it means shopping time. However, I am in no mood for it.

"I'm not going shopping." I make it clear right away.

"Heartly come on!" she pouts. "We need to buy our graduation dresses." she adds, and I know she is right.

"Fine, only because graduation is in two days and we still haven't found dresses."

"Well I think we will find them today, a friend told me about a great store and I have a good feeling." She smiles.

"Great," I grab my purse and sweater, "Lead the way."

~•~•~

CHRISTIAN'S P.O.V

I cover my head with the hoodie of my sweater before I exit my car. This is the address the business card Anastasia had showed had printed on it. Taking a mouthful of air, I walk towards the very pink little shop. I need to see her. I need to confront her. I glide through the people and I'm determined to get some answers today.

Yet, I come to a stop in front of the store when I see Ruby through the window. She is as beautiful as I remember. Her wavy hair is down, and it is a warm red color she hasn't changed much. She is smiling and showing something to the woman beside her. They are standing by the counter having a good time.

I attempt to build up courage to walk in however my eyes soon catch the reflection of the glass window and I see the scars on my face. I bring my hand up to my face and run my fingers through the scars. This is why I avoid mirrors. I hate the way I look and wonder every day what Anastasia sees. The fear of confronting her soon turns into anger and it overwhelms me. I enter the store with one goal in mind; telling Ruby to disappear.

"Good morning, can I help you?" the tall blond woman asks me as I look around for Ruby. Where the hell did she go? She was just here a minute a go.

"I'm looking for Ruby." I shortly say, looking around the store.

"Oh. I'm sorry you just missed her." the woman can't keep her eyes off my face, is like she has never seen someone so ugly.

I bring my gaze down, so she can't see them anymore and I don't say anything else to her. I walk out the door irritated. She was just in there. Would she hide from me? I wouldn't be surprised after the last time we saw each other.

As I stand just outside the store I take a last look around in hope of seeing her. Yet, I don't. Perhaps that's for the best.

A/N:comments please:)