CHAPTER SEVEN: ATHENA

Weeks have passed, and my silent partner has continued to sit next to me without saying a word. It's as if we have an unspoken agreement between us; ever since he arrived, he has only ever sat next to me. He enters the classroom, sits down, and plugs in his earphones until the teacher enters. I've tried to talk to him, but I can't seem to work up the courage.

Last week, the teacher assigned us a task that required us to write a brief poem about anything we wanted and present it in front of the entire class, which was worth a lot of points. The presentations were one aspect of English that I disliked. When I have to speak in front of people, I get nervous, and when I get nervous, I get sick.

Everyone took turns giving their presentations until Leo and I were the only two left. I went first, blocking out everything as the words came to me; my poem was about my life and all the pain I'm going through.

"I am fear and pain, I wonder if those are all I feel, I hear the voices in my head yelling, I see how those feelings eat us up inside, I want it all to end but that's just wishful thinking, I am fear and pain, I pretend that those feelings don't exist in me, I feel happiness once in a while, but the feelings ends before it even begins, I stare at a blank canvas, because that's what my life is empty, I worry that I will never get out of this hole I'm in, I cry everyday wishing it will all end. I am fear and pain. I recognize that life isn't fair. I believe it will improve. I fantasize about a life that isn't as messed up as this one. I try to be brave, but it never works. I'm hoping things will improve. After all, I am fear and pain".

I inhaled deeply as everyone stared at me; some appeared bored while others were laughing; I didn't expect them to understand my poem; however, when my eyes caught Leo's gaze, I felt as though he understood, as though he was trying to comfort me while also trying to understand me; however, I was forced to look away because his gaze was too intense; this was when Dylan spoke up and the moment came to an end.

"Way to make everyone depressed with your sad shitty poem, nerd, do us a favor and take your seat, no one wants to hear your depressing poem," Dylan said while laughing, and I rushed to my seat, almost tripping on my own feet when I arrived, but a pair of arms steadied me, I looked up, his green eyes stared into mine, he offered a small smile before letting go.

He walked to the front and pulled out a piece of paper; I took my seat and listened as he began to speak.

"You once promised me infinity, you once promised me for eternity, you were meant to protect me, but all you gave me was pain, torture, troubles and worries, I'm happy you are gone but sometimes it hurts to think about the go old days, I hope you are somewhere better, than were I'm now, I hope you remember, when you think about the good old days".

His words had deep meaning, the more he revealed about himself, the more confused and intrigued I became by him, his poem meant something to him, it had a hidden meaning behind it, the other guys didn't even bother with it, hearing it it felt like he put in effort to write it, I glanced around the class some girls were on the verge of tears, while others stared at him in awe, Dylan and his friends were laughing in the back, and they didn't even bother doing the assignment

Mr. Olsen commended everyone that participated and reprimanded those that didn't. I was still watching Leo even after he took his seat,

"Miss Marco, if you are done staring at Mr. Smith, will you be kind enough to answer the question?" Mr Olsen asked, tapping on his table with his fingers.

"Sorry sir, what was the question?" I asked, blushing at the fact that I had just been caught admiring my classmate.

"I thought, so next time Miss James pay attention in class, give me three different types of poems you know," Mr. Olsen asked. "Sonnet, haiku, and the ballad," I replied, tugging on my sleeve; being the center of attention didn't go so well for me.

"Correct, Miss Marcos, you may take your seat; now, let us return to what sonnet means," Mr Olsen said as he continued his lecture.

I wished the ground could just swallow me up right now, I was embarrassed at being caught staring at him, I took a quick glance at Leo, who was smiling, well now he must think i'm a freak. I ran out of class as soon as the bell rang, because I couldn't face anyone because of what had just happened.

I made a fool of myself but my thoughts returned to his poem. Who was he talking about? My internal debate was cut short when Diana and her friends came out of an empty classroom, yeah that wasn't creepy at all.

"Listen, freak, your little love sick puppy love isn't going to help you with Leo, he's already taken, so back off," Diana said, glaring at me as if I had taken one of her prized possessions.

"By whom exactly, from what I know, he doesn't talk to anyone," I asked, unsure where this newfound confidence had come from.

"Of course, by me; he just doesn't realize he wants me; what guy wouldn't want to be with me, unless he's gay?" Diana explained.

When she said that, I rolled my eyes because I wondered why a guy would want a girl who would sleep with anyone in order to advance socially? Diana looked irritated when I smiled a little.

What's so funny, freak, mind enlightening us?Diana said.

"If you guys would excuse me, I'm late for class" I attempted to leave, but Diana pulled me back with the edge of my ponytail.

"What the fuck Diana, what was that for, I didn't do shit to you," I glared

"You think you are tough, wait until Dylan hears about this new found confidence of yours," Diana said smiling, she knew Dylan scared me, forget that he terrifies me, so she was using him to threaten me.

Being at a loss for words, I simply ran away without looking where I was going. As a result, I ran into someone and fell on my ass when I took a turn at the corner of the hallway, and I immediately apologized, "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going."

I looked up, my gaze drawn to a familiar pair of green eyes "Are you okay? Principessa, that was a nasty fall," he stretched his hands out to help me up, and I took his hand and kept staring at him like the idiot I was, "I know I'm handsome, but isn't staring considered rude, not that I'm complaining, having a beautiful girl stare is every guy's dream"Leo said with a smile that lit up his eyes, he looked better when he smiled.

"Sorry, I'm not always like this," I explained.

"I see, but it's kinda cute seeing you all flustered," he said, and I felt my cheeks heat up, I needed to get out of here before I embarrassed myself even more.

"Sorry for bumping into you again, I have to go," I rushed out before practically running away.

"Bye, Principessa, see you later," he said with a smirk on his face.

He officially thinks I'm the weirdest person on the planet, which I don't blame him for. I did occasionally act like a bloody idiot.

I turned around to see if he was still standing there, and he was, with an amused smirk on his face, staring at me.

He was smiling from ear to ear watching me make a complete fool of myself, and if that wasn't embarrassing enough, I walked into a freaking door, how embarrassing could this possibly get, then I heard him laugh, yeah I just made a complete fool of myself in front of the guy I might possibly have a crush on, Athena you are an embarrassment to everyone around you.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me away from him, and when I was sure I was alone, I covered my face in embarrassment. 'Why did I have to be so clumsy?' I thought as I walked over to the apple tree to take a seat.

Between school and work, free periods in school were the only time I had to myself, so I took out one of my many favorites, The Wizard of Oz, and began to read, allowing myself to become engrossed in the adventure that awaited me.

My adventure came to an end when the bell rang for the next period. I had math. When I was walking to class, my gaze met Dylan's, and it was too late to turn back; he had already seen me. Diana leaned in and whispered something into Dylan's ear, and his bored expression turned angry.

And I knew that anger was directed at me; God knows what Diana told him now, but from the look on his face, it wasn't good.

I took a few steps back, then turned around and ran for my life. I could hear people running after me, but I didn't look back. I had no idea where I was going, but I didn't stop running. I snuck into an empty classroom and locked the door behind me.

I knelt on the ground, using the door as a shield. I heard voices coming from outside the door and recognized three of them right away. Dylan and his friends, James and Tom, were behind that door looking for me.

I was paralyzed with fear, my legs couldn't move, so I waited until the voices died down before peering out the window. When I noticed the hallway was empty, I crept out of the classroom where I was hiding and headed for my secret location.

After my little show. I had no intention of returning to class, luckily for me the next period was lunch so I didn't show up for my next class until after lunch.

I went to the rest of my classes to avoid any confrontations with the guys, and Leo wasn't in any classes after lunch, which made me wonder why he was absent and hope he was okay.

I was packing my books to leave class at the end of the day when I heard the door open, a familiar clone flooded my senses, and I turned, hoping it was just in my head, but it wasn't, Dylan and his friends were standing in front of the door looking pissed.

"You've been a very bad little mouse, why did you run in the hallway and make us chase you huh," Dylan said angrily as he took small steps towards me, so I took steps backwards looking for a way out, but there wasn't one.

He drew me closer to him by pulling on my arm. "Why did you run huh, Diana told me something little mouse, is it true my little mouse has a little crush on the new kid?"

"Please Dylan, let me go, Diana is lying," I begged, struggling against him, but he just laughed at my feeble attempts to run away, with his fingers pressing into my waist.

"I could fuck you against the wall or beat the shit out of you right now and no one would stop me, you are at my mercy at this moment little mouse," Dylan said into my ear, nibbling on my earlobe, I could feel his erection pressing against me, he was getting off on my fear which made me shivered in disgust.

He then slid his hands down my jeans and squeezed my ass, tears streaming down my face, he was going to hurt me and I was too weak to stop him, after which slid his hand up my blouse squeezing my left breast, I pushed him off my body instantly and punched him in the face.

He was furious at what I had done, so he grabbed my neck and squeezed, and I began to lose consciousness. I scratched his arm to get him to stop, but he slammed me into the wall, tightening his grip on my neck just as I was about to pass out. He let me go.

"Next time you run from me it is going to be much worse, maybe I will even be the first to pop that cherry." He said as he knelt down in front of me and grabbed my face roughly, forcing me to look at him. He forced his lips on mine as he dominated the kiss, which wasn't how I wanted my first kiss to go. After his lips left mine, he had an evil smile on his face as he caressed my cheek.

"You taste really good, little mouse, maybe next time you won't fight me and you'll actually enjoy it, see you later." Dylan said as he walked out of the classroom with his friends, leaving me crying on the ground,

I didn't like feeling helpless around Dylan and his friends, but no matter how brave I try to be, their presence only seems to crush that little front I try to put up.

I tried ending everything once back in junior year after my encounter with Mr Andrew, He was one of the reasons why I stopped eating in the cafeteria if Sophia hadn't found me that day, I would have been die so it got me thinking, I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of being the cause of my death, so even if I have to put up with this till graduation, i will with my head raised.