Shattered Asylum

Chapter 38

I reluctantly get out of the car after Teddy grunts at me for the 30th time. I keep my head down as I make my way into school. I go straight to my locker and get my backpack before going to class. I don't want to talk to anyone, especially Daniel. 

Once I get to class I turn on my phone for the first time in three days. My phone lags with the hundreds of notifications coming through all at once. "Avanie Cecilia Woods! You better have an excellent reason for ignoring me for the past two days!" Nora yells marching towards me. 

She gasps before covering her mouth. "You look like a wreck!" She says her demeanor changing once she sees my swollen eyes and red cheeks. "I mean a pretty wreck." She bends down so she is eye level with me. 

I cover my face with my hands as tears escape from my tear ducts. I flinch when I feel her touch my leg. "What did he do to you." She asks more to herself. "I don't want to talk about it." I say, my words muffling from my hands.

I should be used to this by now, it's not the first time he's done this but i'm not and don't think I ever will be. I shake my head and wipe my tears before putting on the fake smile I practiced in the car. 

"I am fine, just felt under the weather and decided to stay home." I say while getting out my notebook and pencil. "Aven, please don't do that." She pleads, her eyes glistening. "Don't do what?" I ask writing my name at the top of the paper.

"Don't shut me out again! Please!" She begs. I sigh, dropping my facade. "He hurt you didn't he. This is all my fault!" She says covering her face. I knit my eyebrows together confused. "It's not you're fault. You tried to help me." I say as I grab her hands and pull them away from her face.

I wipe her tears with my thumbs. "I am so sorry." She sobs before hugging me. I hiss as she touches my back. She rips her hands away from me as if I burned her. She apologizes before covering her mouth.

"It's okay, i'm just sore." I say as I pull her in for a hug. She gently touches me, caressing my hair. "I love you Nora, you will always be my bestfriend." I whisper into her neck. I couldn't imagine my life without her.

~

 Nora offered to skip school with me. It was very tempting but I know I need to stay. My grades have been slipping, with everything that's been going on, school is the last thing that's been on my mind.

I get to science and sit down in my usual spot, the back corner. I feel my pulse quicken with each student that enters knowing he will be coming in soon. I start biting the dead skin around my fingernails, moving on to the next finger once the prier one starts bleeding. 

A tornado starts wreaking havoc in my stomach as I see his golden hair. I close my eyes and let out a long, slow breath before inhaling. I jump when I hear someones backpack drop next to me. I feel guilt as I watch Grayson get out his assignment. 

His family is in danger because of me and yet he still sit's next to me. If I was him, I would have changed my schedule so I don't have any classes with me. "Hey Av, are you feeling okay? You look like shit." Vinnie asks as he sits in front of me. "Thanks." I know I do, they don't need to keep reminding me.

"Where did you go during lunch on Tuesday?" Grayson asks. I scratch my head, trying to think of a lie. I slump in my chair as nothing comes to mind. I decide to just ignore him, avoiding his stare. "Is this seat taken?" Daniel asks as he sits in front of Grayson.

I feel my hands start to shake uncontrollably. "Where you been babe? Our day of fun wear you out?" He asks with that condescending smirk. I ignore him and pretend to work on my homework. He clicks his tongue before he gets up. 

I visibly gulp as he bends down next to me. I whimper as he grabs my face and makes me look at him. "I asked you a question." He whispers in a sickening sweet tone as his grip tightens on my jaw. I feel tears prick my eyes as I look into his soulless ones.