My Sweet Bully

And without Harlow, it’s just me here to deal with it all by myself.

I can’t wait for my brother to get out. I’m ready for this to be over. I can’t take much more of it. Something needs to change for me. And for once, it would be nice if it’s something good. Bad circles me like a fucking dust cloud.

I’m ready for more.

And if nothing changes, I’m going to end up a drunken asshole like my pathetic father.

No one wants that, not even my felon brother.

6

Prairie

Sounds in the gymnasium echo in every direction as Amy and I walk in. Voices boom, ricocheting off the walls.

There are kids everywhere. They’re coming in from the double doors, the back entrance, and the locker rooms on either side of the bleachers. I didn’t even know this town had so many kids.

That’s because you hid all summer.

Students are filling the bleachers one behind the other, squeezing onto the thin metal benches as the band plays in the center of the court. The music and laughs, hoots and claps all make my ears ring.

Sticking my finger in my ear, I wiggle it in an effort to get it to pop. It does nothing, leaving me with the feeling of water in my ear.

“Wow, you guys really take these things seriously, huh?” I ask Amy, leaning my face in closer so she can hear me.

I’m set back a little off her left shoulder, so she twists her head and yells back to me. “Always. They go f’ing psycho if you ask me. I never understood all the hype, but at least it gets us out of class for a bit.” Smiling, she reaches back and grabs my hand, pulling me in closer. “Don’t look, but there’s a guy in the back row, sitting on the right side at the end, wearing a green jacket—” I start to turn to look, but she nabs my upper arm and yanks me hard. “What about don’t look, don’t you understand?” she snaps with a giggle through tight lips.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be obvious.” I apologize and laugh as she rolls her eyes.

“That’s Bentley Gomez; six feet of sexy as hell man. Bentley Gomez, I’d happily throw my cherry at.”

“Oh my God, Amy.” My voice draws out as my eyes pop open wide. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“What? I would.” Shrugging her shoulder, she dips to the right, and starts up the bleacher steps. “My mother always says that honesty is my best quality.”

“Is that right? So go tell him then, keep it honest. Go on, go tell him you have a treat just for him,” I say, giving her a playful nudge.

Amy shakes her head, keeping her eyes forward. “Oh hell no. But that’s different. Besides, if I did and he said yes, I can’t guarantee I won’t drop on my back for him right here and now.”

“That wouldn’t get you expelled.” Giggling, I poke her quickly from behind. “I think you’re better off—” I lift my foot to take another step, when it hits something hard, and I stumble forward, almost landing on my face.

Amy turns and throws out her hands, grabbing at me as I reach for her instinctively. Digging my fingers into her arms, my hands are shaking and my stomach is in my throat. I’m in shock for second, trying to settle the erratic beat of my heart.

“Oh my God, Prairie are you alright?” she asks, firmly holding my arm to make sure I’m not going to fall over.

“Ah,” I hiss, bending over to rub my leg. “What the hell did I trip on?” Finding my balance, my ankle is throbbing, and my shin is on fire.

“New feet?” someone asks. “Gotta watch out when you’re still breaking them in.”

The voice sends a sharp pain through my ears, stabbing me in the brain. I was hoping to never hear his voice again, but this school is too small for me to be that lucky.

James and his goons are all laughing, his two friends bump his fist one after the other, showcasing their dumb-ass jock victory. Looking down, I see his foot is partially in the aisle, rocking side to side.

“Did you just fucking trip me?” My voice is curt, holding my ground. I’m not afraid of this dick, and he’s going to know it.

I refuse to spend my last year of school treading water and walking on eggshells because of some hotheaded jerk. I won’t do it. And he isn’t going to win.

James smirks, a devilish, evil smirk as he looks up at me under hooded lids. “I told you to watch yourself. Maybe you should have listened.”

I lick my lips, wetting my mouth, ready to lay into him like he’s never seen before. Maybe everyone else in this fucking place lets him get away with this shit, but not me.