Red Demon

HEINA

With a heavy exhale, I stepped out of the car, listening with anxiety as the car fell shut and the engine roared into the day.

Trepidation ate at me as I stopped watching the retreating vehicle and turned to face the building. I didn't love coming to school, and not because I hated learning.

It was just that more than a few people loved school for reasons that were far different, and one of those someones had taken unwarranted interest in making my life as unbearable as possible.

My legs shook slightly as I walked in the direction of the arched entrance. The building of Royal Ridge College was so befitting for the name of the school itself.

Impressively long and curving driveways, a huge parking space that could house another dorm or two if they really thought about putting that much land to good use. The building was a regal monstrosity, complete with intimidating pillars that sat on either side of the sprawling doorway.

I hoped today would be a good day. Mondays were often less hateful since everybody had had the time over the weekend to forget about me.

As soon as I crossed the doors and stepped into the hallway, someone bumped into me. Hard. The push almost sent my backpack to the floor, but I caught it.

I didn't bother raising my head for an explanation, I never got one anyway. The brunette in a pink tank and huge black sweatpants didn't even turn around. She just continued walking ahead of me like I hadn't almost fallen thanks to her.

My lungs expanded on a sigh, gaze lowered to the floor as I blended into the body of students that milled about - some heading to their lockers, others to class.

If I hadn't overslept thanks to obsessing over my physics homework last night, I would have been here earlier and already seated in the hall for my first class. But alas.

I got to my locker in record time, turning the combination just before I pulled it open. I stacked my books inside, alongside my backpack.

"Look who it is," someone sneered from somewhere beside me, and even though my locker door prevented me from seeing who it was, I already knew who it was.

"Hi, chub-o-lens," one of Jocelyn's minions drawled out in insult.

I ignored them both; getting the rest of my stuff from the locker before I closed it and started to walk away.

"Where are you going, fatty? I was talking to you." Jocelyn sounded a lot harsher now, meaner - if that was even possible given her record.

I didn't pause, though. Fear had made a camp inside my stomach, and it forced me to flee as quickly as I could from here.

"There's no way this piggy on lens is ignoring me," Jocelyn muttered from behind me. In a much louder voice, she called out. "Yo, fat turd. How does it feel getting fat on your own family, huh? Or are you an outcast in the pig land now?"

At this point, all the students in the hallway had paused and turned to stare at the drama. I clutched the sleeve of my backpack, hoping the ground would just open and consume me.

My wish was soon granted as a pair of hands landed on my back, shoving me so hard I tumbled to the floor, my glasses flying off my face immediately.

Pain ran across my spine like an athlete on steroids. For a slender female, Jocelyn packed one hell of a punch.

I felt around for my glasses, my vision blurring even further as panic and tears started to make themselves present in the tragic affair.

My gaze soon landed on the small two-eyed object and I crept toward it. The familiar sound of a crunch reverberated through the halls as a pair of brown heeled boots stopped in front of me.

"Oops." Jocelyn exclaimed in a fake voice. "I didn't see it there."

I reached for the glasses as she stepped off their now shattered frame, but a cry tore through my throat as the familiar brown heels pressed down on my hand, sending pain through every crevice of my body.

"Oh, look. Four eyes can't see anymore."

The hall erupted into snickers, and even though my vision was going darker around the edges the longer my eyes stayed without my glasses, I could hear the telltale signals of cameras shuffling.

I reached for my glasses - or what was left of it - again, but this time a rough shove forced me back, my elbows connecting with the floor in a thud.

A sob caught in my throat as blood seeped slowly from the bruise I was now sporting. The chuckles and murmurs increased in intensity, my tears falling harder now as I struggled to see what was happening.