Somewhere in Between

By: Broken Shadow Dragon

Chapter 2

The last bell of the day rang throughout the empty halls. In a matter of minutes the halls had filled with students. They didn't seem to be in to big of a rush, except Helga. Her long golden hair flapped wildly behind her as she ran to catch the bus. It pulled off just as she reached it. "No! Wait…wait! Oh great I have to run." She took off. In her haste she collided with Arnold. "Oh! I am so sorry." She said quickly handing his books to him.

"It's all right Helga. Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"I was supposed to have met Frankie at the Noise Café ten minutes ago. I need to go. Sorry for bumping into you like that." She shouted taking off. She burst through the café doors puffing and wheezing. "At least I am getting plenty of exercise," she thought, settling into a booth. Once she was settled she ordered her usual cherry soda. She took a long sip of her drink as she listened to the careless chatter around her. She was about to take another when her head snapped back. "You're late." Frankie whispered viciously in her ear.

"I'm sorry Frankie. I had to take care of something. I got here as quickly as I could."

"I don't want to hear your excuses. I said be here at exactly 3:00."

"I know. But school let's out at 3:00. You can't expect me to…" her explanation stopped abruptly as she gently touched the hand print that blazed her cheek. Helga was sure people had seen him hit her but no one dared to go against Frankie. "Let's go. I'll deal with you at home." He grabbed her wrist and dragged her out the door. As soon as they arrived at home, Frankie pounced on Helga. "How dare you waste ten minutes of my time!" he yelled punching her hard in the face. Helga staggered backwards, her vision temporarily blurred. He grabbed a handful of her hair and threw her against the wall, pinning her wrists down he spoke, "You know I dislike tardiness." His voice was harsh and emotionless. He released her and turned his back to her. Helga stood and made her way to their bedroom. She sat on the bed and looked in the mirror. She touched the swelling spot on her face. Tears gathered in her eyes. Life wasn't fair. She was only 17 years old. She was supposed to be worried about whether or not to go to prom, not if she could get through another day without getting her neck broken. Spying her duffel bag in the corner she began debating with herself. "You could leave right now. You don't have to put up with this." Her mind whispered. But then the fear took effect. What if Frankie caught her? He would go absolutely mad. She got up and walked to the corner. Lifting up the bag she turned around. Frankie was leaning against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I just saw the bag lying in the corner. I-I." she began to shiver.

"You weren't planning to leave me where you?"

"N-No…I wasn't. I swear."

He began walking towards her, his eyes fixed angrily upon her. "Haven't I told you what would happen if you ever try to leave?"

"I wasn't trying to leave…"

Frankie balled up his fists. She backed away, her eyes watching his hands, "Frankie please." She whimpered. She backed into the wall and closed her eyes. His blows came sharp and fast. And soon Helga no longer felt the pain of his hands on her skin.

Helga dashed down the empty hall toward her homeroom. She was late as usual. She opened the door and was greeted by the silent class. "Why did I have to get Hawk Eye Kramer?" Helga silently mumbled. The teacher looked up from his paperwork at Helga. "Nice of you to join us Miss Pataki." He said watching her walk to her desk, "You know wearing sunglasses inside the building goes against dress code. Please remove them."

She froze in the aisle, she wasn't expecting this. Well maybe she was, after all Ole' Hawk Eye saw everything, "I'm sorry Mr. Kramer. But I can't."

Mr. Kramer stood, "Either take off those sunglasses or you will report to the principal's office."

"I'm sorry. But I can't."

"Out now!" he said pointing to the door.

What now? She couldn't very well go to the principal's office. With her previous record of bullying carried over from elementary and middle school, the principal wasn't going to let this act of defiance off so easily. "Mr. Kramer, I can't tell you why, but I cannot take these sunglasses off. Don't send me out."

"Pleading gets you no where. Now glasses off or get out."

Helga sighed and walked up to his desk. If she went to the office she would have been forced to take them off anyway. Better to get it over with now. Slowly she pulled the glasses away from her eyes. Mr Kramer gasped, "Get out in the hall." He said.

"But I did what you wanted…I…"

"Please Miss Pataki just get out there now."

Helga shook her head and walked outside. Mr. Kramer followed. "You wanna tell me what's going on?" he asked.

Helga crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, "No."

"Did your parents do this to you?"

"No."

"Then who?"

"I was in a car accident."

"Car accident huh?"

"That's right."

"Then why were you so ashamed to take those glasses off?"

"I wasn't."
"You wouldn't have argued with me. Now tell me who hurt you."

"I told you I was in an accident."

"Listen Helga, no one can help you if you keep shutting people out like this. I won't force you to the office and you can wear the glasses."

"Thank you Mr. Kramer. But if you don't mind could I run to the bathroom first."

"Sure. 1st period doesn't start for another 20 minutes so take your time."

He walked back into the classroom. Helga went across the hall into the empty girls' bathroom. There she stood in front of the mirror. "That can't be me. This isn't who I am." She thought bitterly. There was cut on her upper lip and it was swollen. Her eye had a large dark bruise around it and it was also swollen. Not to mention the countless bruises that her clothes covered. Helga sighed, this wasn't a good thing but she had to get through the day. If she called Frankie to leave he would ask why. And if she told him he would never let her go back to school. She was never any good at lying. At lunch, Helga sat alone as usual. She was munching on her food quietly when Arnold sat down, "Hey."

"Hi."

"Why are you over here by yourself?"

"No one wants anything to do with 'Frankie's girl'. But it's okay I've gotten use to being alone."

"What happen to your face?"

"Oh its nothing." She said touching her swollen lip, "Just another reason to hate gym."

"Did Frankie hit you?"

"Why would you ask that? I told you what happened."

"Because Helga, the gym's been shut down since Eugene accidentally started a fire at the beginning of the school year. Now did Frankie hit you?"

"No of course not."

"Has he ever hit you before?"

"Frankie hasn't hit me and he never will. Besides even if he had what business is it of yours?" she said before getting up and leaving the table.