Chapter inspiration: Foutainhead - Hands Like Houses

Things had been going smoothly with Victoria and Alex. They noticed, in an odd way, their stupid fight only brought them closer. They spent that night together in Victoria’s room, not making a peep and whispering some of their biggest secrets no one else ever knew. It was like talking with a best friend: spending nights with no sleep and whispering secrets back and forth. And that was when she noticed, Alex really was her best friend. In a matter of months, he had become the person she could love and trust with her life.

Victoria was in a surprisingly good mood as she happily walked down the hallways. It was Friday afternoon and the bell had just rung, signaling the alarm that Victoria could be with Alex the whole weekend. It was odd―before him, she kind of used to hate Fridays. They only reminded her that she would spend two full days alone because no one would text her to hang. Now, she felt like a normal kid―happy and giddy on Fridays.

She was just about to reach the entrance of the school to go to the senior lot when she spotted a group of tall guys and their girlfriends pointing at her. She furrowed her brow. Did she know them? Then she realized: these were the guys who threw stuff and called her names on the bus. Great.

She rolled her eyes as she attempted to pass them. She was tired of these guys torturing her since freshmen year. Once she started dating Alex, they stopped. But she guessed they weren’t just done yet.

She swallowed hard as she heard them murmur something about her. She huffed a sigh and tried to continue on, but then she felt the wind knocked out of her. She fell face-first to the hallway floor, her head throbbing at the impact. She was caught so off guard that her vision was a little blurred as she looked up at the group of guys.

The girlfriends laughed. Victoria never cried a lot, but she could admit to herself that she wanted to cry then.

“We miss you on the bus, Hamil-toe.” One of the guys―Nathan?―ridiculed.

She managed to push herself up a little, but her throbbing head caused her to slip down again.

The group cackled. “Look at her. What an ugly, fucking loser.” Nathan exclaimed.

“Why can’t you just leave me alone? I never did shit to you.” She ground her teeth in frustration while rubbing her head.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Icky Vicky.” Nathan chortled at his own joke. “Remember that time in sophomore year when you totally snitched on me for cheating on the Bio final? I sure do.”

She swallowed hard. She did remember that, and she hated herself for doing it. She hated herself for wanting to do the right thing, but she had also done it in spite of Nathan too. She had no words.

Nathan stood up. “Good memory, Hamil-toe.” He gestured for his friends to come over. “Maybe I can rid you of those memories while you’re boyfriend isn’t here.”

Nathan lifted his foot as Victoria tried scrambling to her feet. He was going to kick her. Seeing all of his friends doing the same thing, she noticed they were all going to kick her. She was going to be beat up by a bunch of boys. In all her young years of wanting to grow up and go to high school, she never suspected this.

She felt the impact of one foot under her mouth, thrusting her chin upward. She felt her neck crack, but not broken thankfully. She expected another foot, but instead, she felt nothing. She opened one eye, seeing a hand pull her up from the ground and pull her close.

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?” Alex screamed, making all the heads that were still in the hall turn to him. “YOU THINK YOU CAN BEAT UP MY GIRLFRIEND?”

Nathan and his friends stepped back while Victoria looked at them with pure fury. She could feel the bruise forming on her chin. She pulled Alex back from them by the collar of his shirt. “Alex, don’t.” She whispered.

“I should fucking kill you,” Alex growled, inching closer to Nathan.

“Alex,” she said, finally getting his attention. “Don’t kill them.”

“Are you fucking crazy?!” His voice became frantic.

“No,” she spoke with an even voice, but with a heavy tone still showing. “Let me kill them.”

“What?” was the last word she heard from Alex before she rammed her fist into Nathan’s jaw. She had no idea where the sudden burst of confidence came from. Whatever it was, she was glad she did it. No matter what came of this, she wouldn’t regret it.

Nathan stumbled back and was caught by his friends, who started to carry him away. His friend, Larry, piped up, “You’ll be lucky if we don’t tell the dean about―”

“Tell the dean anything and I’ll say you all beat me up for no reason, and also press charges with the police for assault and battery.” She threatened with her head held high and holding her hand. “Plus, who do you think the dean will believe? A bunch of faggots who don’t do shit and get detention, or a girl who has never gotten in trouble?”

Larry stared at her as Nathan tried standing up, holding his jaw with a pained look.

She looked at Alex. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

Alex pulled her close and hung his arm around her shoulder, watching all the kids who didn’t leave the school yet stare at her. “What are you staring at?” He narrowed his eyes at some of them.

Once they got in the car, Alex asked, “Is your hand okay?”

“I don’t know.” She muttered, holding it in pain. “I think it’s broken, but I might be wrong.”

“What about your chin? Where’s your doctor? Let me drive you. It shouldn’t take―”

“I think I’ll be okay.” She said through a smile.

“But what if it’s―”

“Then I’ll see the doctor when I get home. It’ll be okay.”

He sighed and looked up at her, his chocolate brown eyes growing warm as he caressed her cheek. “I couldn’t believe what you did back there. I never knew you had it in you.”

She snorted. “Neither did I.”

“I have to admit,” he smirked, “you’re pretty kickass, Hamilton. Remind me to never mess with you.”

She laughed softly. “At least I know they’ll never mess with me again.”

“I wouldn’t if I were them.” He chuckled as he put the car in drive. “By the way, why didn’t you let me kill them?”

“I don’t know.” She said, staring out the window. “I guess almost getting beat up changes your perspective on things.”

Notes

I had wrote this chapter last minute, realizing I wanted to add a chapter in where Alex finally sees how Victoria gets bullied. Also, I didn't know if bullying could be considered a trigger warning or not, but I put it there anyways just in case.
Rock on \m/ :D