The next morning I woke up early. I was certain that my father was still sleep so I changed into my school uniform and carefully walked down stairs. Setting my books on the kitchen table, I stopped by the fridge, and then remembered that I never finished shopping for food. I heard loud foot steps walk next to the fridge door. I looked up into the hard, bloodshot, blue eyes of my father.

You know how in the movies everything goes slow. Well in this it didn't. My Dad's hand smacked me across my face so fast I almost didn't know what had happened. I stumbled sideways onto the floor. Holding my face in my hands. My cheek throbbed with intense pain. I had been expecting what would happen next, a kick to my stomach, but not today. Today I felt something hard hit the back of my head. Looking up for a brief second I was able to see that in his hands were three of my hard cover textbooks. I curled up into a ball trying to protect my head as much as I could. Even with my eyes closed I was able to see stars. Then it all stopped. I opened my eyes and saw a pair of black boots next to my head.

A deep and raspy voice said, "Hurry and get your ass to school. I don't want you to be like your piece of trash mother." And with that he left. He walked away in his black boots and went back upstairs. I laid on the kitchen floor until the worst part of my pain had gone. Just getting up from the floor had zapped my strength. I used the counter for support as I grabbed my books from the table.

"At least he was nice enough to put my books back where he found them." I muttered as I limped out the door. I leaned against the front door and slowly made my way to school. I made it out to the main road before I had to stop and rest. The sky was gray and the air smelt of rain. The beatings from my father always seem to be worst when the weather is rainy.

"Rose-chan!" a small and high voice called.

I smiled the best I could when I saw Tohru wave her hand high. She was carrying a closed pink umbrella. Following her was Yuki and Kyo. Yuki stopped and stared at me with a mask of shock and what it seemed to be-horror. The next thing I knew Tohru was running up to me with wide eyes.

"Rose-chan what happened to you?!" She shrieked. I took a step back afraid that she would touch one of the many bruises on my body.

"It's all from yesterday. Don't worry about it. I will be fine." I quickly lied. Lying had come to me easily. I have been saying the same thing since I was small.

Don't worry about it. I will be fine. I have always used those two sentences. They have become my two most used phrases.

"I don't remember you having those bruises yesterday." Kyo pointed to a group on my upper left arm.

"Oh well I don't always bruise right away." That of course was another lie. I looked past Kyo and Tohru at Yuki. In his eyes I saw such sadness, like he knew everything that had happened.

"Hey damn rat, are you okay?" Kyo added sarcastically. Yuki blinked and nodded his head. His eyes still glued on me and my bruises. "Well come on we are all going to be late if we don't hurry." Kyo sighed walking ahead.

"Wait Kyo-kun!" Tohru gasped.

I smiled.

They had thee very thing that I wanted. I wanted that comfort, that warmth.

"Rose?" someone asked taking me away from my thoughts.

"Yes?" I answered him.

"Those aren't from yesterday."

"What are you talking about Yuki?" I half laughed. "I said I don't bruise easily. I'm fine. I promise."

"Okay," He murmured. "I trust you." I had done it again. I lied.

I thought school would have been the worst of my problems but it wasn't.

"Rose! You look like you were thrown out of a moving car! What the hell happened?" Arisa was the first one to hound me with questions as we sat in a group. I laughed nervously and explained what happened yesterday with Brad.

"Damn him. I swear if I weren't on expulsion warning I would beat his face in." Arisa complained.

"I could zap him with my electric waves if you wish it." Hana said even lower than her normal tone. I shook my head.

"No, I think Kyo did enough." I laughed.

"Good morning class 2-D!" Brad yelled walking in. He stopped in mid-stride and took a long glare at me.

"Is there a problem?" Arisa growled. He was silent.

"Yes, Brad. Is there a problem?" I echoed. He smirked and walked straight up to me. Everyone around me stood as I sat still. He looked around at the faces of my friends. From Kyo's fierce glare to Hana's calm stare.

"Heh. Two days here and you already have body guards." He smiled down on me.

"Get away from her." Kyo warned.

"Or what?" Brad yelled. "Are you going to fight me?" He laughed. "I'd like to see you try."

"Get away from us Brad." I demanded.

"Don't act all high and mighty now that you have some pathetic friends!" He screamed at me.

I stood and glared hatefully at him. He smirked.

"What can a little, bruised, pathetic flower do to me?" He whispered.

"Be careful, " I warned him. " Some flowers have thorns."

"What is going on?"

Looking around Brad I saw Ms. Mayuko standing underneath the doorframe.

"No, Ms. Mayuko we were just messing around.," He looked back at me. "See no harm done."

I sat back in my seat and stared through him to the front of the class.

"Back to your seats everyone." Ms. Mayuko said sternly. Everyone sat back down and Brad sat right next to me. The rest of the day was filled with intensity. When it was finally over I slowly walked home from school.

"Rose." A voice called out from behind. I turned and saw Kyo jogging up to me.

"Yes, what is it?" I asked confused.

"I just wanted to walk you home. So I could make sure you are truly alright."

"Yes Kyo I'm fine. I told you this morning." I faked a smile.

"Its funny. Yesterday you left my house without a limp." My stomach was suddenly in my throat.

"Yeah I did. You probably just weren't paying attention. I was knocked out by Brad after all." I shrugged.

" I don't think how being hit in the head would make you have bruises and a limp." He fired back.

"Then what do you think happened?" I spat out getting annoyed.

We stopped walking and stared at each other.

"I don't know." He answered. "Maybe it was a bad idea to walk you home." He finally said.

"Maybe it was." I echoed. He stared at me for a while longer then turned away and walked the other direction.

"I'll see you tomorrow then." He barely said.

"Yeah, tomorrow."