Never Again

4

      Someone was shaking me persistently.  I woke up and got ready to start yelling.  I stopped when I saw it's Junkai. Emily and the others had already left and everyone else was throwing their food in the trash and scampering out the door. Soon, it was all quiet.

       A blanket is draped over my back. I checked and realize it's a sweatshirt: Junkai's sweatshirt to be specific. I tried to shrug it off for him, but he stopped me with his hand. 

       "Class is starting. " He said. 

        "Mmmm." I mumbled and fell back down. 

         "Class is starting." he warned. He flicked  my forehead. "Sleepyhead."

          "Fine." 

        Walking down the hallway with him, both of us faced forward and ignored each other, as if one another was nonexistent. Finally, I couldn't stand it so I faced him. I opened my mouth to speak and closed it again. I stopped and turned around again.

       I always took pride in the fact that I was born  1 hour earlier than him. It made me feel like the big sister. Another reason being that he was half a head shorter. I'd always thought, even if he grew to be taller than me, he would still be my little brother and someone I'd have to take care of. Now he walks with purpose, without holding my hand. His gaze his steady not cowering. He seems much more mature and responsible. It's like he doesn't need me anymore. 

      He's grown up on his own. 

      And I didn't even feel it. 

     We walked into class. For one of the first times, I wasn't late. The teacher smiled as I came in. I smiled painfully back. 

     Then I realized everyone was staring at us. Junkai seemed to realize it too. He looked at me once and grabbed his sweatshirt back. He paced to his desk angrily and settled there. I hobbled to my desk as well and sat. 

       Obviously, Junkai was embarrassed. Me, realizing that giving me his sweatshirt was what boyfriends did to girlfriends, grinned and blushed. 

      "Just look at her smug face." a voice behind me said in a low tone. 

      "What a brat."

       I could almost see them sniffing in disgust. In a quieter voice, another girl  whispered, "Why don't we. . . do something to her-- like after school? It's not like we'll hurt her that bad, just a little, to teach her a lesson." 

      At this time, I turned around quickly to glare at them. They were taken aback at first, but quickly regained their composure and looked away. I moved myself around again.

      I hope I scared them away.  

      After the bell rang I took my backpack and went outside the gate. To my horror, a white gloved hand took hold of my wrist and pulled me into an alley. 

     They were all carrying wooden sticks. It made me dizzy, so I walked backwards slowly, only to be hitting the wall two seconds later. Time seemed to slow when they raised their sticks. One by one they hit my head, my stomach, and my legs until red rimmed the edges of my vision.

      "Not so powerful anymore, are you?" One girl yelled. 

      "You can't do this to Junkai! We won't let you! "There was a splitting crack as one stick landed on my head.  I screamed and lost my balance.