I tapped my fingers on the desk, matching the loud noise to the clock ticking. Smirking at everyone's annoyance I continue doing it until a ruler smacks my hand. "Damien, stop." Mr. McRay (Or Mr. McBitch) snaps at me. I wince at the mark it leaves on my hand. "All students report to the assembly." I sigh in relief at that announcement and sprint out of the room.

Mr. McRay yells for someone to catch me but I just smirk and run up the stairs to the roof. I sit down on the edge and light a cigarette, exhaling slowly. "Finally." I mutter hearing the  door slam. "Is that you Char?" I ask. "No." A deep voice says and grabs the collar of my shirt, dragging me to my feet. 

"Go away." I mutter and smack the boys hand away. "There he is." Mr. McRay wheezes, huffing and out of breath. "Uh.." I stumble as asshat yanks my arm. I hiss in pain and pull it back. "Nole, take him down to the assembly." McRay commands. I huff and stomp out my cigarette, taking my sweet time down to the assembly.

"Hurry up. I'm gonna miss my speech." Nole mutters. I smile and stop in my tracks. "Then why don't you go on-" He doesn't let me finish and grabs my arm again, not letting me out of his grip. "Aren't you supposed to be presenting a speech too?" He asks and I just grin. "Sure thing." I say gleefully. He rolls his eyes and mutters something i can't hear.

We get to the building and he pushes me through the doors. "Ah there you two are." The dean calls. "Get your filthy hand off my prick." I mutter and yank my hand away. He bristles but holds his posture. I slouch to the front while perfect little prince makes his way with his held high. 

"First up: Nole Wick." The dean announces. I stare at my nails and notice one is bleeding. "Oops." I mutter. My head snaps up when I hear my name. "Huh??" I ask confused. "Oh." I mumble as Nole snickers. "Wait what am I up here for again?" I ask confused. "Damien here is the captain of the swim team. If he does not show up, please call me." She says and lets me speak.

"Uh hi. Um I hope that some of you can swim because I need more swimmers." I say and sit back down. The room is quiet and the dean rolls her eyes. "Anyway." She says and I drone out the rest of what she's saying. When we are finally done I quickly bounce off the stage and run out into the hall. "ROBEERRTTTSSS." I yell, startling some of the parents and new children. 

He turns around at his name and sees me flying toward him. "DAMIEN." He yells and grabs my arm, hauling me to the med ward. "Drink this." He says, handing me a bottle of what looks like water. I know what it actually is. He hands me a bag filled with them. "Don't smoke for a week. Your parents are coming next week to check on Jack and enroll Rose in the school."

I sigh and hand him the lighter and box of cigarettes. "Bye." I mumble quietly and take a sip of the drink. I shudder and notice Nole is standing in the doorway. "Finally getting over your little addiction." He says with a smirk on his face. Roberts gives me a warning look so I just ignore him.

I push past the asshat. "Ah, Damien, I was told that I need to keep an eye on you." Nole says and I glare at him. "I don't need watching." I mumble, taking another sip and wiping my mouth. He just grins and hooks my elbow in his. "Let's go meet my friends." He says cheerfully. "Bitch no." I snap and try to pull away but wince when he tightens his grip.

He notices and stares at me, pulling up my sleeve. "What the hell are you doing." I say and smack his hand away. "You aren't...?" He asks softly. I look at him with wide eyes. "No. I had a needle stuck in my arm for a week. I'm sore." I mutter, seeing we were nearing his friends. I pull the sleeve back down and stare at the ground.

"Hey guys, I was told that he needs watching over." Nole says and removes his arm, like I'm some disease. I just stare at the ground. Elly steps forward, her voice filled with disgust. "I still don't see why Charlotte hangs out with you." She sneers. I stare at her. "You are vermin." She snarls, pushing me back. I stumble and trip over a tree root. "Shit." I mutter, noticing the liquid in the water bottle was spilling.

I quickly put the cap back on. His gang of friends stare down at me with clear disgust on their faces. I scoot backwards and hit the actual tree. Nole squats in front of me. "Luck seems to have failed you." He says, punching me in the nose. I muffle a groan of pain and kick his leg, making him teeter off balance.  His friends hold my feet and arms down as he kicks and punches me.

I bite my lip to silence my groans of pain and close my eyes. They each take turns doing it, leaving me bruised and battered. I curl up and feel tears wet my face. I sniff and wipe them away, willing that no more can come out. I sit up, my head pounding. "Fuck." I mutter, realizing my nose was bleeding. My arms were already forming bruises.

I grab my bag and swiftly go to the roof. I people walking up the stairs and closing the doors. Aaron sits down next to me on the right and Luci on the left. "We heard what happened." Aaron whispered, knowing how snappy I can get. "We ran over but you were gone and they were chatting on the benches. I punched one for you." Luci says with a small smile.

I just press my face onto my knees. "I fucked up." I whispered and I could tell they had looked at one another, worriedly. "No you didn't." Luci whispered. "Marie spread the stories around." I mumbled. "Dami, you can't help what others believe." "I CAN HELP WHAT I BELIEVE. I BELIEVE IT. ISN'T THAT ALL THAT MATTERS." I scream and start to shake, tears falling down my face. The door slams and Charlotte walks over.

"Aaron,Luci. Let's go." She says harshly. I mumble for them to go and she scoffs in disgust. Luci sighs and starts to try and talk Charlotte out of hating me. "Damien, look at me." Aaron says, kneeling in front of me. "Your parents are assholes. You never helped any of the things. In truth you helped make the people happier." He says quietly wrapping me up in a hug. "Now, we are going to trust you that you won't do anything." Luci says and they kiss my cheek goodbye.

Charlotte pulls them away and I stare at the sky. It slowly starts to dim as the hours go by. I hug my knees to my chest tightly and remember what they said. "Don't go. Don't go." I whisper in the moonlight, falling asleep. 

I awake to the bell ringing. "Shit." I mutter and stand up stiffly. The bruises are prominent and there is dried blood. I wipe it off in a bathroom and slouch into class. I touch my jaw and wince at the pain. My foot taps softly on the ground as I wait for the day to be over. It hurts to move and the day goes painfully slow.

Nole and his friends give me glares. It's too bad that Luci and Aaron are on a different schedule than us. I sigh and rest my head on the desk. It's not very comfortable but at least it's not painful. After classes are over I make my way to the roof. "God, I feel so fucking weak." I mutter and hold my pounding head. I groan and everything goes dark.

I blink and stare at the white ceiling. "Oh good you are not dead." Roberts says softly. I groan in annoyance and sit up. It hurt but now I can see. Aaron and Luci are anxiously waiting by the door and their faces brighten when I sit up. "Oh thank go you are not dead." Luci exclaims, rushing in.

"What happened?" I ask, my voice hoarse. "Well, you fell down the stairs. You were passed out when we found you." Aaron says and I blankly stare at him. "Oh." I all I say. "This wasn't..?" I shake my head. "No, I passed out." I mumble and Roberts looks at me, concerned.

 "Damien, you had a shit ton of bruises and your nose is swollen." He says quietly. "Did someone beat you up?" He asks and I nod, falling back onto the bed. Luci sighs and tells him what she heard. Roberts sucks in a breath and ushers them out. "Damien, you have an IV in your arm. I'm gonna let you rest for a bit." He says, turning off the lights. I nod and fall back asleep.

The days went by quickly. I wasn't allowed to leave because I wasn't healthy enough. "Your parents are here." Roberts says and disappears. I inwardly shudder and look up from my phone when they walk in. Rose is behind them, looking a bit scared. When she sees me her face lights up and she bounces onto the bed, hugging me.

"I brought your favorite toy." She says and hold out my blue moose. I smile and hug her back. "Rose get off him." My father snaps and she sighs. My mom looks pissed at me and my father, well he just is him. "Damien this is a waste of our resources." My mother yells angrily. "GOD COULDN'T YOU BE LIKE JACK FOR ONCE." She screams and Rose whimpers. Roberts grabs Rose and pulls her out of the room.

"I- I'm sorry." I mumble and shrink back. My mom crosses her arms. "Not good enough." She mutters while my dad steps in front of her. "We did not make you to be weak. You will be on your own for the rest of your life." My dad snaps and they leave quickly. 

Roberts peers in and I quickly wipe my eyes. "Damien." He says softly, walking to my bed. "Damien don't cry. I can help you with whatever you need." He says and hugs me. I sniff as a response and he releases me. Realizing someone was at the door. "Damien, there's some food in the kitchen." I nod and wipe my nose.

I climb out of the bed and walk to the small kitchen, grabbing one of the water bottles. I turn around, hearing someone come up behind me. Nole was standing there, looking shy. I back up and my head hits a cabinet. "Shit." I mutter, holding my head. Things go a bit fuzzy as I bend down to grab the water bottle.

"Wait, let me help you with that." Nole mumbles and my hand touches his. "A- ah I'm sorry." I stutter and bounce back. "Wait Damien. I want to apologize. I uh-" I stop him. "Stop." I say. "I don't give a damn anymore. Just go away." I snap and push past him. "Look-" He starts again. "NO." I yell and he  grab my arm.

"DON'T TOUCH ME." I scream and start to shake. Roberts rushes out of his office. "Damien?" He asks confused. Nole drops his arm from my outburst. "Nole, he's not ok right now. Come back in a few days." Roberts says softly, rubbing my back. "Ok." Nole says and rushes out of the room. I collapse on the floor and start shaking.

"Damien, Damien, it's ok." Roberts says in a soothing voice. I sob on the ground. Roberts makes sure that I don't hurt myself and waits for my panic attack to be over. When I finally calmed down he had put a blanket over me. I stiffly stood up and went to my room, curling up on the bed.

I finally wake up and stare at the ceiling before climbing out of the bed. I quickly change and grab my bag, telling Roberts I would go to class today. He nodded quietly. I noticed my eyes were puffy and my face was gaunt. I quietly made my way to the class and sit in my seat. People start to come and whisper quietly about me. I just rest my head on the desk, closing my eyes.

I feel stares on me as Mr. McRay walks over to me. "I don't have homework." I say quietly and he just scoffs. "Of course you don't." He says and walks back to the front starting the lesson. "We can take a  five minute break." He says and I grab one of the bottles and take a sip from it. Nole stares at me, a weird look in his eyes. I glare at him causing his eyes to fill with regret and he turns away. 

"Serves him right." I mutter. "DAMMIII." Luci yells and I flinch at the noise. "We got a free period so we decided to visit you." She says. I smile and she eyes my figure. Aaron slides into the seat next to me. "Roberts told us you had another panic attack." He says quietly. I nodded. "My parents have disowned me. I seem to have two years left with them. I should have seen it coming." I say.

"Well, our parents love you like your their own." Luci says proudly. I smile gratefully. "Well I got to see Rose. That makes it better." I say and Luci grab my hand. 'Well. Lets go see her." She says cheerfully. I notice Nole staring at us, with jealousy in his eyes. Charlotte pokes him and he turns back. "Pretty boy is jealous." I mutter to Aaron and Luci. They snicker and lead me to where Rose was.

"DAMMIIIIIIIIII." She screeches and launches herself into my arms. I smile and twirl her around. "Hi Rose." I say softly, taking in her scent. "Dami, mommy and daddy said you were weak but I don't think that's true." She says. I hide my face from her. "You are the bravest person I know Dami. You-" "Rose it's ok. I love you. I have to go back to my class now but we can talk later." I say smiling at her.

She kisses my cheek and I wave goodbye, standing up to my full 5'9 height. Aaron and Luci chatter mindlessly. I walk into Mr. McRay's class and he pulls me aside. "Your parents want you." I stiffen and nod. I quickly grab my bag and hurry out of the class. "DAMIEN JOSEPH BYRD. YOU DO NOT GET TO TALK TO ROSE LIKE THAT. DO NOT LAY A HAND ON HER EITHER." My father yells at me. He slaps my cheek.

"You are coming home." My mother snaps and grab my wrist, yanking me to the car. Roberts trys to get them to calm down but it's no use. My parents throw me in the back of the SUV. We arrive at the house and they put me in the basement/my room. I shiver in the cold dampness and shakily stand up.

"Some parents they are." I mutter.