s if I'd been slapped hard. A s

his shoulder. Gasping for breath,

nd I to die? How could you

y hand away. Zach didn't a

're the one who saved m

wasn't answe

hed after Zach again, r

me, he grab

a who you're up against!" His de

disappeared back into

hed in sweat, my knees sha

e. I had to catch my

- and yes, I was sure that Zach

nd Sara and me, I

he afraid of getting involv

It was

and many guys came out. The hoc

doing? I thought it be

pped me on the shoulder

ight?" he asked, s

y, I didn't want any

aggie must have t

ed out of line, would I have to dea

iving that bear attack," Adam scoffed

and surrounded me. Si

wn my temple. Cou

ey

e yelled fro

d around, and I fe

counselor who was

nnings?" he asked,

," I nodd

with

as saved - at

ced at

engeful glint in his eye. God... I felt

in the counse

become controversial, and the

ie had power. Her parents were big donors. I knew

made me write repeatedly in a notebook,

it anyone in my life. That slap.

the counseling room. Even the teacher

led bleach in the air, and the jani

r and froze. Why w

splattered everywhere. My bo

the h

I could into my bag. I couldn't le

locker, Zach sudde

od!" I

had he be

. I didn't want to talk. I didn't

my arm, and I qui

ou want?"

noticed? Is your wound comple

gaze made my

er? Smell? Hearing? Ca

rd questions like

rth training. But if I decide you're n

at a t

at's a

, leaving me alo

act? It's not cool a

I punched

or cracked

at did I

e me. I stopped in the courtyard and looked down the hall. B

cause of Sara's dea

ods, she'd still be alive. I kept running f

rt was pounding with a mixture of fear, anger, and des

then I'm going to find this thin

the buzzing of my phone. Mom was c

lted my head. My hearing was really sharper. They

," I m

was here. Was it grief? N

ed was real. That I couldn't undo it. And may

A heavy weight was on my chest. I d

whispered. "I'm

ard twigs brea

nd turned ar

his frie

tred. His buddies?

e, Bernice." Adam sneered. "Don't

hard and s

? Aren't you afraid your little co

his every move. As I thou

to take on an asthmat

emory," Adam grinned. "A

hit me in the back, the pain exploding th

could only moan in pain. Adam knelt

Then he stood up and yelled to his friend

ree. One of them started pulli

the face. My vi

away with thi

d. "And you? You'll carry

pped my shirt off. Their l

bastards!!

, Bernice! No one's

I want to see if

she's a virgin! She won't say

ed to a cell phon

They weren

because I stoo

g their hands off me, but

Don't...!!

ybody, pleas