ch 2

The next day at lunch, I waited for Matsu, my other best friend, at "our spot" under the huge cherry blossom tree that was out on the back field of the school. I was lying under the large tree with my head propped up by my school bag, reading a book when I heard some nearby yells and fast paced footsteps. Only Matsu I guessed and set the book down on my lap. when I looked up, I was right. She was strutting towards me with her infamous scowl as other students shuffled to get out of her way. Everybody was scared of her. The annoyed look in her eyes was evident and as she stomped her way over here I waved with a hint of a smile.

"Hey," she said quietly as the students who were once around the tree dispersed to the other side of the lawn.

"You know maybe if you turn that frown upsid—" I began to say jokingly but she quickly cut me off with a curt 'not funny' look.

Matsu and I were pretty much outcasts in the school. I was the weird loner girl with no friends (except Matsu and Nisa) and Matsu was apparently a 'devil' or 'witch'. People were terrified to even get near her ever since the day she cursed at someone for purposely tripping her and the next day the boy broke his leg. Although it was just a coincidence (or so I believe..) everyone here is terrified of her. There was once even a rumor circling around that if you look into her eyes, she would cut off your tongue and make you her minion, which apparently was the reason I barely talked to anyone. However the truth is pretty simple (and much more realistic). I'm really shy and Matsu and I have been friends since kindergarten.

We ate our lunch silently for a few moments as I waited for her to cool down a little. I felt sorry for her. For the rest of her time at this school, she would probably be labeled as "that scary girl".

"Feeling better?" I asked about five minuets into our lunch.

"I guess," she said leaning back against the tree with a sigh. It was hard to see my friend like this but I knew she was okay when she snapped back up in a sitting position and asked if I saw the new episode of our favorite show.

We talked for the rest of lunch and when the bell finally rang we got up. "Good luck," I said with a small punch to her shoulder.

"Whatever," she said sticking out her tongue and then smirking and turning to leave. That's what upsets me the most. Matsu really is one of the sweetest, caring people alive, but people never see that. She doesn't seem to mind it though. She's kind of embraced it in a way..

The rest of the school day went by relatively quick and uneventful until it was finally time for me to go home. This was the time kids usually spent to go to clubs or other activities, but I wasn't part of any club or group. Instead I usually went home right after doing a few things for my teacher and if I had time a walk or good old television.

However, as I walked down the now empty halls, earphones plugged in, I had a strange feeling I was being followed. I abruptly stopped and turned around only to see a paper fall off a bulletin board. I shrugged, brushed off the feeling of paranoia. Instead I continued to get my books from my locker quietly murmuring the lyrics of one of my favorite american bands, The Strokes. That was the great thing about having an American mom. She had tons of her old stuff lying around in the attic, including a few old records that she was more than happy to share with me. I was close to the big double doors now, holding my books close to my chest. However I was so immersed in my music, I was caught completely off guard when I was yanked back and pushed to the floor..

I yelped in surprise at the sudden force and fell to the ground as a group of tall older girls started to surround me. I looked up bewildered at them and as they advanced on me. With shaky arms, I yanked out my earphones and squirmed further back until I hit a stop. I looked up confused and suddenly scared when I realized at this point I was fully surrounded. I didn't recognize a single one of the girls except for one. It was her. The green eyed girl with gorgeous jet black hair. She stood right in front of me with slender hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.

"Who exactly do you think you are quiet girl?" she asked me. I stayed silent but completely confused. What exactly was this girl talking about? "Oh stop acting like a mute and speak you idiot!" She cried out at me.

"Wh-what?" I asked my voice shaking with fear. I looked all around and saw no escape. There was no way I could escape and no one was going to save me.

"Stop acting stupid! Who do you think you are that you can rip up a card given to you by a Hitachiin twin himself? And after he saved you when you tripped? What kind of disrespect is this?!" she yelled at me. Had she seen that? My eyebrows knotted in confusion as I remembered yesterday. Why the hell was she watchi-

"Oof!" I couldn't even finish my thought when suddenly one of the girls kicked me hard in the stomach. I coughed trying to regain my breath, but as I started to get up on my elbow, I was roughly pushed down again and slapped across the face. "Ahh," I grunted at the piercing sting I felt on my cheek and closed my eyes. I couldn't stop the hot tears from falling as I was kicked again, harder this time. Curling in the fetal position, I held my aching stomach.

"Now you pay the price," I heard a voice full of poison say. I squinted my eyes and saw her, arms folded, fading out of the circle of girls. Then as she disappeared, the girls all started on me like animals. I bit my bottom lip hard and wrapped my arms around me tight as they kicked and punched and pulled. My entire body ached and soon enough I felt numb and my own thoughts no longer made sense. The last thing I heard were some distant footsteps and then I felt myself slip away.