yesterday's beating. I got up from bed but stumbled and le

nd took a step forward, heading to the bathroom. I turned on the t

em to me, knowing I couldn't afford fashionable attire. They teased and taunted me, but I bore

t leave for class until the whole house was cleaned and

room had become my aunt's, and Layla had taken over mine. I had fought, cried, and begged for a month to

nastasia," Layla sneered. She sat, checking

a?" She asked, showing me

" I re

class can't afford

ke my lunch?" My aunt emerged

zed the "my." She knew it was my mom's shop, b

ought her breakfa

and pick out something nice from Layla," she said. It was the first time sh

unt who can't provide for her orphaned niec

I have that stick from yesterday, just in

t the first time she had hurt me; it had become a daily occurrence. Bruises covered my body, hidd

ime when she locked me in a dark room for two days witho

accept that my family was gone. I used to hurt myself, but reading my mom's diary gave me the strength to fight. She

wanted them to be proud of the woman I was becoming, the daughte

at privilege. She was the popular girl on campus, while I was the bookish loner. I didn't have friends, but Layla had many. They all came fro

Sammy, who was a popular rich boy and my biggest bully. I didn'

humiliating, but I couldn't do anything about it. His dad was a major supporter of the universi

arrived at the university, ignoring Layla and Sammy, who were ins

rinkle holy

ything about me. I took out my book and headed to my class. My first period was math,

to say "believe in yourself," but I didn't have as much patience as him. He was my he

sity, and with a lot of determination, I worked hard for the scholarship. I ranked first, so I got a full scholarship. My aunt made s

ar, because in my free time, I liked to study in quiet places. I went to the main hall, got my books from the locker, and went to my math class. Some students were discussing the assignment that Mr. Spark, the math

e," one student

Or has someone dared steal your first ki

my's best friend and also my biggest tormentor. He flirted wit

king down. I didn't wa

e Nerd?" Jayson challenged.

er!" They a

ayson whispered to Roy, loud

g at me, and some were even recor

yson and ran out. They were laughing and

y and breathe freely. Here, no one would bully me, and no one was there to hurt

ce cream; please just on

ador

spend time with me. We'd eat ice cream and my brother would tease me about my playing skills. Ev

the sky, clo

happ

ing?" I opened my

I'd seen him somewhere, but where? He looked so cute with his dimp

et before?

at the same unive

felt familiar

ou crying, sitting alone in the p

I lied. He rolled his eyes. Why did he care if I

ets; I saw Jayson bullying yo

come here? To make fun of me or to

w your name, s

call me that; my name is Anast

ame. I didn't come here to make fun of you, but to encoura

with me. Why don't you fig

t's not possib

rself. Don't let them bul

lly me anymore," I smiled and

," he winked. I wasn't used to compliments. I'd always be

e suit me?" My c

t feel myself; it's like I'm falling fo

ds could make any girl fall for

name," I asked, ignorin

and can I get your

raight

number. We'd only t

ive you, my num

always ask girls for their number

Eighteen years of life had t

give me their numbers, but you're different. And about being friends, w

cream," I teased. He quickly cleane

iends,"

es. After spending a few more hours together, we headed to Nicholas Cafeteria near the park. We

w he was my one and only

d made

nt a lot. He was quite good at flirting, but he only did it in a

*****