I nodded. "See you Monday, miss."
She gave me a wave as I left her classroom and walked down the now empty school hallways. School ended twenty minutes ago and even though it was only 4:20 p.m. the sun had already set and the skies were growing darker by the minute, which wasn't surprising since it was already nearing mid-November.
I shook my head a little; I couldn't believe it was only coming close to mid-November, it felt like a lifetime since Dominic came into my life and turned it upside down instead of only ten weeks.
It was crazy to think about.
The first thing that hit me as I exited the school and began my walk home was the cold, the second thing was a fist when someone stepped out from behind a pillar that led into a housing estate I had to pass by to get home.
I screeched as I fell back to the ground and then whimpered as the items in my bag dug into my back when it made contact with the ground. I felt pain in my face then; my right cheek had just fully healed up from when Dominic hit me in the face a couple of weeks ago, and I could already tell a new bruise would form and cover the old one up.
"Did you really think I wouldn't do somethin' to you after all the trouble you have caused between Dominic and Jason over the last few weeks, bitch?"
I winced as I pushed myself up to my feet and looked towards Micah, behind her stood two of her friends watching us with amusement.
"That wasn't me f-fault Micah, I don't know why Dominic did what he did, I swear," I said to her as I held my now throbbing cheek.
Micah rolled her eyes. "Because he is your fella and since I can't hit him for hurtin' my fella, I'm hurtin' you instead."
"Dominic isn't me fella, Micah, I swear-" she cut me off by jumping at me, knocking me back to the ground.
I could do little more than cover my face with my arms while she pulled at my hair and punched at any visible bit of skin she could make contact with. I screamed when she stood up off me and kicked me directly in the stomach; it made me dry heave with the force of it.
"Don't look at Jason or even in his direction again because if you do, and it pisses of Dominic and results in Jason gettin' hurt again, I'll kill you. Understand, fatso?" she asked and kicked me again.
"Yeah," I rasped.
"Good." She spat on me then turned and walked off with her friends.
I lay on the ground for a few moments, until the cold got to me and forced me to move. I hissed and winced as I got to my feet, it was darker out now, and there wasn't a soul out on the street which wasn't surprising.
I coughed and the action caused my stomach to erupt in pain, I felt like crying but didn't incase Micah was somewhere near and could see or hear me. She beat me up with ease, but I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing or hearing me cry.
I didn't know what hurt more, my stomach, my face, or my head. I settled on my nose hurting the most when a trickle of blood seeped from my nostril, slid down over my lips and chin, where it dripped down onto my school uniform jumper. I didn't even bother to wipe it away because I was sure it would stop eventually. I slowly made my way home and as soon as I got inside, I headed to the bathroom, drew a bath, stripped down and sunk into it.
I didn't cry until a minute and a half into my bath, and I didn't stop until I got out. I dried myself then and carefully used a dry wash cloth to pat my face dry, my nose was now blood free and just red and a little swollen, my right cheek was a bit swollen, and so was my jaw. I could already see the bruise that was beginning to form around my jaw, but none around my eye which gave me hope that it wouldn't bruise again.
After I left the bathroom, I went into my room and changed into some pyjama trousers, a tank top, and a blue hoodie that used to be owned by my dad. I carefully brushed out my hair, because it was tender as hell from Micah pulling on it. When I was done, I did a very loose plait in my hair and flung it over my shoulders then headed downstairs for some food. Lots and lots of food.
I heard the hall door open as I poured some custard and whipped cream over my giant bowl of ice-cream. I heard the hall door close, keys being put on the key hook on the hall wall then footsteps into the kitchen.
"Hey, hun, how was your first day back - omigod!"
I winced when I turned; Branna's screams could be pretty loud.
"I'm goin' to find out where he lives and f**kin' kill him!" Branna screamed then turned and stormed out of the kitchen.
Him?
What the hell?
"Branna, a girl did this, not a lad," I shouted after her.
Her steps paused then pattered back into the kitchen.
"That Dominic kid didn't do that or cause it?" she asked, boring her eyes into mine to see if I was lying.
She thought Dominic did this to me or was the cause of it? Not surprising since the only times I ever had bruises or got into trouble, he was usually involved.
"No, I haven't seen or spoken to him since I was suspended two weeks ago," I assured her.
She eyed me for a moment. "Who did this then? Give me names and I'll fix it."
My God, she was acting like a hit man… or woman.
"I don't know who she was but I think she thought I was someone else. She called me Sarah and told me to stay away from her fella," I lied and felt horrible about it.
I couldn't tell her it was Micah because Branna would find her and do damage to Micah's face like she did to mine, and I couldn't let that happen. She was a medical student studying to be a midwife, and I doubted she would be hired anywhere if she had a rap sheet for assaulting a minor, since Micah was only seventeen.
Branna frowned at me but continued to stare at me for signs of lies. I was usually a terrible liar, but the fact that I had to lie to keep her from potentially destroying her career made me hold a steady face.
"Oh hun, that is horrible luck. It's the last thing you need after that stupid suspension and especially after the black eye you got off that Dominic kid."
I wanted to fall to the floor in relief but I didn't, I forced myself to snort. "Tell me about it."
I starting chuckling but winced over my side and gripped it.
"Show me," Branna ordered.
I lifted my hoodie and tank top upwards.
"Omigod, your stomach is black and blue!"
I looked down and groaned, Branna was right. My left side was bruised from my lower ribs to my hip bone. It looked like Micah's kickboxing classes pay off, because she did substantial damage to me in only a matter of seconds.