“Bella? Can you hear me?”
“Leave me alone Jedd,” I grumble, a pounding headache beginning to form inside my head. It feels like I’m being hit with a ball, over and over and —
A ball. Football.
I remember the ball hurtling through the air, smacking me hard in the face. Next came the darkness. I let out a little yelp, my eyes widening in fear. Bright light’s on the ceiling welcome me causing me to squeeze my eyes shut tightly. I let out a loud groan and raise my hand to my aching head, cradling it.
I’m in pain, excruciating mind numbing pain. “Bella?”
I heard a voice call my name again. That definitely doesn’t sound like Jedd anymore. I open my eyes slowly, registering that I’m lying in a white room.
Well, a room with a white ceiling.
“Is this heaven?” I joke mildly, struggling to sit up. A small snigger can be heard coming from the other end of the room and I immediately freeze in place. I’ve heard that snigger before. My heart begins thumping against my chest and I instantly feel my palms grow sweaty and clammy. By this point, I’m wide awake. I sit up slowly, ignoring the pain that flares through my head as I did so. The room is covered in health posters and I’m lying on a medical bed that looks battered.
This is definitely not heaven. . .
More like Heywood High’s medical room.
I slowly turn my head to meet eyes with the source of the voice, ready for the embarrassment to hit me. My eyes meet with Beatrice’s cold ones and I feel myself actually cry tears of pain on the inside. She’s sneering at me in delight, her eyes twinkling with glee. Next to her, Brody is leaning against the wall, a sheepish look on his face.
“Are you feeling okay Bella? You took quite a hit there,” Brody asks quietly, eyes flashing with concern. I swallow the lump in my throat, avoiding Beatrice’s amused stare.
“I’m fine.” I lie, my tone blunt. I’m not fine, I’m really not fine. I’ve had enough of the football team and treating me like I’m an inconvenience or less of a human. I jump off the bed and feel myself wobble on my feet unsteadily.
Brody automatically lunges forward, ready to come to my rescue. Instead I move my arm away, feeling hurt.
“I don’t need help, I can manage.” I whisper, tears pricking the back of my eyes. My head continues to pound and I can feel Beatrice soaking in my embarrassment, ready to use it against me as soon as she can. What is she even doing here?
“Don’t help her Brody, the angels will.” Beatrice snickers, stabbing the knife in deeper. I know this incident will only add fuel to her fire. She’ll use this to humiliate me for the rest of my school year. . . Possibly my entire life. I open my mouth to protest against her but considering the state I’m in, I can barely form a proper sentence.
“Back off, I don’t care if you’re the medical assistant. You can leave.” Brody snaps in her direction, surprising both Beatrice and I in the process. She lets out a small gasp at his tone and her eyes narrow into thin slits. My eyes widen at Brody and I silently urge him to stop coming to my defence. It will only cause Beatrice to grow suspicious.
Where is the school nurse when you need her to save you from an awkward situation?
I glance at the door desperately, wondering whether I can make a run for it. My legs are still shaking underneath me and I probably have a concussion but that sounds more appealing than spending time in a room with Beatrice Walden. Unfortunately the devil herself is standing in the doorway, blocking my only form of exit. She’s glaring at Brody, her lips set in a straight line as her beady eyes flicker between him and I.
“Please can both of you leave.” I say quietly, feeling a wave of nausea hit me. My grip on the bed tightens until I can feel my knuckles ache from the strain. Brody stares at me, his burning gaze causing me to grow uncomfortable. I will myself not to look back because if I do, Beatrice will ruin my life.
“I’m enjoying watching this freak show, what about you Brody?” Beatrice asks him aggressively. It’s almost like she’s challenging him to stand up for me again so she can finally place the missing piece to the puzzle. My throat tightens and I can feel tears threatening to spill any second. Freak show.
Brody doesn’t speak, his eyes flickering between Beatrice and I as he decides what to do. If he sticks up for me, his secret is ruined and Beatrice will continue to bully me for the rest of eternity. On the other hand, can he stand there and allow me to be called a freak show?
“Answer her Brody.” I whisper, unable to believe I’ve found the courage to speak.
A new found anger begins to burn inside my chest. I’m angry because Beatrice is here, I’m angry because I’m in pain and I’m angry because I’m in this situation. I turn my head, my eyes narrowed as I lock eyes with a confused Brody. He doesn’t speak, his head tilted as he attempts to figure me out. I don’t dare break eye contact with him and eventually, the silence in the room becomes deafening. I can hear Beatrice’s heavy breathing, like a dragon ready to breathe fire once she knows his answer.
“Answer her Brody!” Beatrice snaps, losing all patience. My eyes begin to blur and I watch as Brody’s green eyes turn a shade darker, filling with anger. His jaw is locked, teeth clenched together inside his mouth. He finally tears his eyes away from me and slowly turns his head towards Beatrice. My eyes widen in shock as I watch his face change shape, twisting into the definition of anger. His usual beautiful striking features are now striking for all
the wrong reasons.
I’m frozen in place as I watch him stare her down. Beatrice grows silent as she too notices the pure hatred on Brody’s face. She swallows nervously, her confidence shattering for a split second. It doesn’t take long for her to stand up tall, her signature smirk back on her face.
“Do you have a problem with me?” She questions, a sly smirk on her lips. Beatrice knows she’s the queen of Heywood High, she knows she has power within this school. The entire time, Brody’s eyes never leave hers but his chest begins to rise and fall heavily, almost as if he’s restraining himself. He reminds me of a rocket about to explode.
“Get out and don’t come back.”
Brody’s words are low and spoken with a threat behind them. I watch as Beatrice’s eyes widen and she lets out a disbelieving scoff, her hand perched on her hip.
“Excuse me?” She questions, frowning at Brody in complete surprise. I’m rooted the floor, my feet glued to this position as I watch the scene unfold in front of me. Neither of them appear to back down. Brody pauses for a few moments, taking his time to answer. His shoulders are squared up, mud stains covering his shirt and shorts.
“You heard me, get out and don’t come back.”
Beatrice’s eyes suddenly flash with a bright anger and she snaps her head towards me. My breathing hitches inside my throat —
“I knew it!” She yells, stomping up to me. I let out a little squeal of fear, backing up into the wall. Beatrice doesn’t stop until she’s inches away from my face. Her sickly sweet perfume fills my senses and my eyes widen in terror as she stares me down.
“I knew it!” Beatrice repeats, hissing the words at me. I can see the fire burning behind her eyes, full of hatred towards me. In that moment, I ask myself what I’ve done to make this girl hate me so much.
What have I done to deserve to feel such fear?
I open my mouth to deny everything between Brody and I. Beatrice has finally figured it out and from this day on, she’s going to ruin my life. I’d be laughed at, ridiculed, made a mockery of even more than I already am. The news that a popular had interest in me will cause the entire school to break down in hysteria. I’ll be repeatedly reminded that I’m not good enough for him until eventually I’ll crack. . . I’m not ready for that.
“You little whore, you don’t belong with him!” Beatrice screams at me, her face burning bright red with rage. I feel my chest tighten and the more Beatrice screams, the tighter the hold gets. It’s like she’s strangling my lungs, squeezing them until it’s impossible to breathe. Black spots cloud my vision and I open my mouth to
say something but I can’t speak any words.
Why do I become paralysed when I’m scared?
I’ve never felt fear like this before. The kind of fear that twists your stomach in a million different directions. I feel sick, physically sick with anxiety to my stomach. The same question keeps repeating oneself over and over again inside my mind.
Why can’t I stand up for myself?
Because I’m weak.
Tears stream down my cheeks, spilling over one another until my face is soaked. In a split second, Beatrice is pulled away from my face and disappears out of the room. I can’t tell whether she’s still screaming because her words are still echoing through my ears. Strong arms wrap around my frame, pulling me into a safe chest. My legs give out underneath me but Brody is one step ahead of me and his free arm slides under them, lifting me up effortlessly.
He takes a seat on the medical bed behind him and pulls me onto his lap, arms wrapping around me tightly. I feel his lips press against my forehead, his heart beat thumping against his chest. The sound of it would have usually soothed me but not now.
“I’m so sorry Bella. I’m sorry.” Brody murmurs, his voice cracking as he speaks. I shake my head, unable to speak as my body shakes with sobs. I feel myself being lifted and walked out of the medical room all whilst Brody continues to apologise over and over again.