broken: chapter 2

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"Hey guys, it's Vaughn!"

"Ewww, he smells even worse today!"

Kids laughed and some pointed. All I can do is ignore the rude comments and laughter now…

It's nothing compared what Mother does to me.

"Hey, Vaughn! How does it feel to be the biggest loser in town?"

A boy in my class named Tommy and his group of friends always pick on me the most. Every day they beat me up, tell me how ugly I am, laugh about how no one loves me; not even my own mother. Everyone seems to know what Mother does… and it seems no one cares.

"Hey Vaughn, I'm talking to you!"

I ignore him and keep walking, until he pulls me back by the collar of my shirt. Tommy punches me in the face and I hit him back… sure I could beat him up when it's just me and him, but his friends join in every time. They all start kicking me in the ribs, which were already covered in bruises and I cry out in pain.

I then hear the school doors open and a sweet voice….

"Stop! Leave him alone, what's wrong with you?"

Tommy and his group looked over at the girl who dared to stand up to them, and so did I. It was that girl from this morning.

She looked even more beautiful up close.

"What are you going to do about it sweetie," Tommy smirked as he lifted his leg up to kick me again.

"You better stop! I'm warning you!"

Tommy laughed and stepped over me. "Warning me huh? Are you going to cry or something?"

The girl clenched her fists' and smiled, "No, I'll do this!"

And she punched him square in the face.

Tommy held his nose as blood slowly trickled down his face. It seemed the whole school watched and for the first time in 3rd grade history, the whole school wasn't laughing at me, but at Tommy.

Soon the crowd got bored and everyone left.

The girl held her hand out to help me up, but I knocked her hand out of the way.

"Are you crazy? Now they'll call me a sissy… I have a girl tougher than me and now she's my body guard. Great."

The girl laughed and brushed her dress off… even though there was nothing on it.

"My name is Chelsea. What's yours, sissy?"

I rolled my eyes and we began to have a glaring contest. It ended when we both busted out laughing.

"I'm Vaughn. Thanks for standing up for me and everything I guess. I could have handled it myself though."

Chelsea giggled. "I'm sure you could have. Sorry for makin' you look like a sissy Vaughn."

Chelsea and I laughed and talked about what normal eight years talk about. We would have talked the rest of the day if it wasn't for the bell.

"Bye Vaughn! Will I see you at lunch?"

I looked at the beautiful girl named Chelsea with a confused expression plastered on my face. Why would a girl as pretty and kind as Chelsea want to hang out with someone like me?

"I guess. See you then Chelsea."

Chelsea smiled warmly, waved and walked away.

At lunch, I sat down on the bench I usually sit at and slowly ate my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I didn't expect her to be here anyway.

Then I see that same girl in that pretty, pale yellow dress making her way towards me.

"Sorry I'm late Vaughn. I kind of got lost."

Chelsea sat down next to me and pulled out her lunch while I just stared at her.

"What," Chelsea asked, her mouth full of apple sauce.

"Why are you here? I'm just a loser. You could have so many friends if you just stop hangin' around me."

Chelsea gazed at the trees that surrounded us. She shook her head and smiled at me. "I want to be your friend Vaughn. Is that so hard to understand? Haven't you had a friend before?"

I just stared at Chelsea and looked over at my worn out uniform, remembered all those times I was hit. I remembered all of the people who told me how much they hated me. I remembered each and every bruise that covered my body. No one can love someone like me… or so I was told. So I knew how I would answer Chelsea's question.

"No. I've never had a friend before."

Chelsea smiled then held her hand out, with her pinkie sticking out. "Then I'll be your first friend! We'll be best friends forever, Pinkie Promise!"

I was surprised at first, then happy. Chelsea and I wrapped our little pinkies together, promising ourselves to be friends forever.

I had a friend…. For the first time in all my life I felt like somebody.

Finally, I felt loved.

…Broken…

Chelsea and I walked home together that day. I waved goodbye to her as she went over to the house next door and climbed her front porch steps.

"Goodbye….best friend."

I felt all warm and fuzzy as I said these words. Such simple words; who knew it could make someone so happy?

I walked into my old house, being surrounded by the horrid smell of alcohol.

"Where have you been all day?"

I looked over at my mother, who was slouching on the couch, casually sipping a bottle of wine.

"School, I kind of have to go everyday."

My mother sat up and walked over to me. She smacked me hard across the face. "You smart ass! Don't talk to an adult like that!"

I placed my hand on my now red cheek… this made her even more mad. Before I knew it, I was on the ground being kicked in the stomach by my drunken mother yet again. When I tried to get up, she pushed me back down. She then she sat on my chest and began punching me in the face. She grew tired of this too and decided to send me to my room.

I stood in front of my mirror to inspect the damages; a black eye, a couple of new bruises by my rib cage and stomach, and a swollen lip. Not too bad.

Besides, tomorrow I'm going to school with my new best friend…. Everything is going to get better from now on.

I didn't eat dinner that night. But as I was falling asleep in my small, old bed I opened the window and looked out at the stars. I folded my hands and lowered my head to pray.

"God; I know you're there now. I know there are angels… thank you for sending me my very own guardian angel. Thank you so much…"

I fell asleep, dreaming of a place where angels live. I dreamed of a place where there is now sadness or pain; I dreamt of paradise.