Chapter 1

His fist connected with my abdomen

This hurts like hell

I heeled over, struggling to breathe as Thomas and Mark laughed at me. Another guy pushed me from behind, making me land into another punch. 

How will I explain the bruises to my mother

Such an unimportant thought, but my brain was grasping for something to take my mind off the beating and think about why. Why I couldn't take up for myself and why I was so paralyzed.

When will it end 

I wanted to yell and shout for help, but I knew that they would just come at me harder.

Mark grabbed me by my dreads and slammed my head against the locker. My legs were unable to support me anymore.  My body started speeding towards the ground. 

I woke up in a cold sweat.

2:04 AM

The numbers on my smartphone said jarringly. Cold sweat stuck to my pajamas, like honey. And my mind was racing like an athlete.

It was just a dream; it was simply a dream.

I quickly lifted my shirt to expose my lower stomach. I checked for bruises and scars. Thankfully, none were present. The only pain that I could feel was mental.

See, just a dream.

I tried to shut my eyes and return to my slumber, but nothing was working. Thoughts of the dream had already overtaken my mental. I tried to ignore them, but it was to no avail.

Shut up!

But my brain wouldn't; it wanted me to remember all my pain and suffering from last year. 

8th Grade. About a year ago.

 Another memory bubbled up from the abyss, one of the more tame incidents, but still bad enough for me to think about. It took place during my 3rd period class, science.

“Hey, loser boy,” said the girl sitting across from me.

I focused on my worksheet, attempting to ignore her.

“Where's that freak friend of yours?” said the boy to the right of her.

My science class was laid out in tables. So typically 4 people sat at one. The teacher had generated a seating chart about a month into the school year. My friend Kevin and I were able to sit together. 

But this situation had a catch. As it just so happened, I and he were also paired with our bully, Mark, and his equally jerky girlfriend, Laura.

“Aww, did the other little weirdo not come out to school today?” said Lara tauntingly.

“Well, Thomas and I did give him a pretty rough beating on Tuesday,” replied Mark.

I tried to ignore them. Thinking of Kevin instead and how much pain he endured yesterday.  Wishing I was there to protect him, or at the very least divert their attention and take the beating for him.

Why can't they just leave us alone?

“Shut up,” I told them flatly 

“What did you just say?” Mark retorted.

“Do you need a repeat of last week?” he asked menacingly 

“N-no,” I said as I shifted in fear.

My alarm went off at 7:15 AM. I woke up, skipped breakfast, and hopped in the shower. Upon getting out, I turned on my tablet to watch a show as I got ready.

“Can't wait to see what happens in this episode”

It was my favorite show, Masked Racer; they always knew how to beat the bad guys and show up for people. I wish I could do the same.

I finished getting ready and packed my book bag, grabbed my jacket, Chapstick, gum, and my trusty PSP, my tool of choice for getting rid of morning-time boredom. 

“Jack, are you almost ready?” my mother called out from downstairs

“Yea!” I replied.

I hope I was loud enough for my voice to travel down there

We left the house, hopped in the car, and drove to the bus stop. On the way there, my mother was giving me another one of her morning-time talks.

“So how are things coming along at your new school”

“Fine”

“Did you make any new friends, or any girls you like”

“I have a couple of friends that I sit with, but no girls, Mom; it's a bit too early in the year for crushes.”

I lied straight to her face. I didn't have any friends, let alone talk to other students. The only friend I knew was the wood-grain bench out in front of the school that I ate lunch at.  

I'm such a loser

I watched as the bus pulled up to the stop and