Sierra
Chapter ten
“No, there’s just one more class today and I’m in the library. I can make it. We’ve got the bleeding stopped and the Tylenol will kick in soon. I can make it,” I tell her. There’s no way in hell I’m giving Wesley fucking Johnson the pleasure of sending me home.
I’m not an idiot. He hit me on purpose. But no one is going to believe the school’s golden boy did it on purpose, so I went along with the story. It was just a gym accident.
“Okay then. The bell just rang, but here’s a note just in case. Also, we need your aunt to sign this incident report. We tried calling her, but it went to voicemail.” The nurse hands me two slips of paper, and I panic.
“Yeah, she’s asleep. She worked a double shift yesterday.” It’s amazing how easily lying is coming to me now, especially when it keeps me and Sam together.
I gather up my bag, plaster a fake smile on my face, and leave her office.
Thankfully, it’s outside the main office, so I don’t run into Mrs. Bullock or Mr. Stevenson for the second time in an hour.
They would definitely have questions if they saw me in this state, and I don’t think they would believe my lies.
One class left and I have to face Wesley.
Great. Making my way down the hall, I tune out the insults called out, which are never too loud to gain a teacher's attention.
They are mostly done under the pretense of a cough.
Instead of heading right for the library, I stop by the bathroom to handle my personal business and drag out the time.
I finally haul myself into the library about five minutes after the bell rings. Wesley is standing behind the counter with Mrs. Pearl. The smile that was shining brightly on his face suddenly fades.
“Oh, Sierra, Wesley was just telling me about your unfortunate accident in the prior class. I’m glad to see you are here.
We have a busy afternoon as Mr. Gonzalez's English class will be coming in today to get their library cards. I’m trusting the two of you to handle everything.
I will be in my office if you need anything.
” She turns, scurrying away into her office.
One day in and I already know she’ll only come out of her office to fawn over Wesley or tell me what a fuck up I am. She takes the most enjoyment out of the latter if yesterday was any indication.
I move behind the counter, sliding my bag on the shelf underneath it, and head to the boxes that we put to the side yesterday.
Figuring until the class comes in, I can finish keying in the books I didn’t get to finish yesterday, while Wesley just stands at the counter flipping through the pages of a magazine.
I can feel him glaring at me and when I turn my head slightly to look his way, he has a scowl on his face. I’ve had enough. “What’s your fucking problem, Wesley?” I whisper-yell at him, not wanting to catch Mrs. Pearl’s attention.
“My problem. You’re my problem, bitch.” His hatefulness still hurts me, shattering my heart into pieces. He used to be my best friend and now he’s like a stranger. This person he’s turned into is someone I never imagined he could be.
“What did I ever do to you? I went from being your best friend one day to being treated like shit the next, and I don’t know why.”
“You really play the dumb blonde role well.” He’s cut off from saying anything more by the library door opening with the loud, chattering voices of the class walking in.
“Okay class, line up at the desk, get your cards, then find a table and sit down. You can spend the rest of the time working on any assignments you may have,” Mr. Gonzalez announces before making his way over to Mrs. Pearl’s office and stepping inside.
He shuts the door behind him, thankfully, cutting off the annoying girly laughter coming from inside.
I put the books aside I was working on as the students make their way over. I see Savannah and Jack move over to the computer Wesley is at and I thank God. Sometimes miracles happen because I don’t have to deal with them.
I get to work, taking the rude comments from each student as they step up to me. I’m fighting hard to bite my tongue and keep my mouth shut, not to mention my head and my face are pounding with pain.
“Hey, Ci Ci. How’s your sister?” a familiar deep voice asks. But what throws me off is the kindness in it. There are no name-calling or snarky comments.
Looking up, I see one of the two identical boys new to the school. I know his name though, because only one of them knew about my sister and had met her. “Umm… Sam is fine,” I say quickly, glancing to the side, seeing Wes looking at me like he could kill me.
“I heard my brother has a Lit project with you.” I'm caught off guard when he’s nice and not a jerk. Why is he trying to make small talk with me?
“Uh… yeah. Why are you talking to me?” The need to know is just too much. I’ve had a shit day and at this point, I can’t take any more.
“Why wouldn't I be?” He looks at me confused.
That’s it. “Your new friends don’t seem to be happy about it, and my day’s been shit.
So if you’re going to do something to prank me, make fun of me, or whatever else they’ve put you up to do, then do it and get it over with.
I have a line and I need to finish this.
Here’s your card.” I thrust my hand out to him as he takes his library card from me.
“Sierra…” He tries to keep talking, but I’ve had enough.
“Next!” I call out harshly.
He slowly turns away and heads over to the table that Wes, Jack, and Savannah are seated at. Guess Wes is done helping for the day and it’s socializing time now.
Shaking my head, I focus back on what I’m doing and help the next person in line.
Braxton
Stepping into the library, I was excited to see Sierra, and immediately headed over to the line forming in front of her.
Savannah had already put the word out in class once she got the text from Wes that we were to go to her and keep her busy.
He wanted her to look bad in front of the librarian.
All Savannah and Jack had done since I got into the class was brag about what happened in their gym class.
It pissed me off, but I didn’t say anything, just smiled along as she gave a theoretical replay of what happened.
What I wasn’t expecting was how she talked to me as if she was resigned to me adding to her woes, but then again, since school started, I haven’t talked to her or tried to help.
I followed along with the others, not wanting to make any enemies; it was hard enough being the new kid.
When I caught a glimpse of her face, I wanted to murder Wesley.
Her nose was already turning an angry shade of purple and I could see remnants of blood caked in the creases around it.
How she is still here, and not at home, I’ll never know. She has to be in agony.
I drop down in a chair beside Jack, pulling their attention. “Dude, why the fuck were you talking to the skank?” Jack asks bitterly.
“I was just asking about her sister. I met her at the shoe store before school started and she was a cool kid,” I tell them truthfully, before changing the subject. “Wes, man, you hit her hard. Her face is already changing colors and swelling.”
“I didn’t do enough damage if you ask me.” His cruel words roll off his tongue with hate.
“So what did she do that made you so pissed off at her?” He’s told us small things here and there, but it didn’t add up. There has to be more to this story.
“She fucked my life up. That's what she did.” He stands and heads back to the counter. Turning my head, I see a middle-aged lady with horn-rimmed glasses and dark brown hair step out of the office with Mr. Gonzalez just as I hear Wesley speak up, “Sierra, I told you to call me if you couldn’t handle it. Instead, you let the line back up. Good thing I stepped out of the stacks from putting the books away to check. I can get the next person over here. I’m so sorry for you having to wait. ” Damn, he should be an actor.
“Asking what she did is a sore subject with him. She really betrayed him,” Savannah interjects as she leans forward, her tits popping out of her low cut shirt.
“I can see that. She just seems nice. It’s hard to imagine her doing something so bad it would make everyone hate her,” I respond.
“She’s a snake. We used to be friends too.
Wes took her under his wing, introduced her to all of us, even though she was poor as shit and living in those run down apartments.
I’d kill myself if I lived there. So freaking nasty, but what do you expect from a slut like her?
” Savannah goes on and I turn back to look at Sierra, tuning her out.
This time, when I look at her, I take the time to actually look at her.
She’s changed from what she was wearing at lunch.
It still eats at me; we did nothing to help her, just sat there and watched while it all happened.
Those clothes she has on look familiar. Fuck, they're Dad’s.
That's his favorite shirt to wear to the gym.
“I mean, do you see what she’s wearing? I’d love to know where she got those from since we cleaned out the lost and found,” one of Savannah's cronies snidely says.
I choose not to say anything, even though I know who they belong to.
Fuck, I hope Dad doesn’t ask if we know what happened.
He’d give us a lecture like no other for not doing anything to help her.
But honestly, we’d deserve it. I feel like such shit right now.
Why couldn’t I be like Zan and not give a fuck what other people think and treat her nicely?
Be her friend, something I feel she needs.
I’m off in my head, planning to talk to Zan once school is out. He’ll know what to do.
“Earth to Braxton, hellloooo,” Wes calls out, laughing, getting my attention. “Where the fuck were you, man? I’ve been calling you for the last ten minutes.”
When the hell did he get back over here?
“We’re going to Hank’s diner after school. Coming with us?”
“Oh, sorry. I gotta check with Dad and make sure it’s okay.
I think he had something planned for after school today with me and my brothers.
” The lie rolls off my tongue easily. I’ve got something more pressing on my mind than some burgers and fries while listening to them relive their best football moments as the girls pant at their cocks.
Pulling out my phone, I shoot off a message to the guys in our group text that I need to talk to them and to tell Wes and the guys we have plans with Dad after school if they ask. They respond quickly with a thumbs-up emoji.
“Sorry, Dad said he’s planned for us to have an early dinner with John before his shift at the hospital. Next time.”
“That’s cool, man. Okay, well, I got to get my stuff. The bell’s going to be ringing soon, and I want to get one last look at the cunt’s face. Shit, I can rub one out to it tonight.” He walks off laughing and I feel a pit open up in my stomach.
The ride home is filled with Colt and Zan’s chatter about some assignment they have in their Science class. They asked what was up when I got into the car, but I told them we’d talk about it later at home. I need to plan out what I’m going to say.
I know my brothers don’t like treating people cruelly, none of us do. But in the two days we’ve been at this school, we haven’t done shit to stand up for her. We’ve just sat back, bystanders to the atrocities being done to her.
My brothers don’t let the silence last long. As soon as we’re inside, they corner me in my bedroom.
“Spill it,” Colt says sternly. He knows something is bothering me. We’ve always had a sense of what the other was feeling. Call it twin power or something like that.
Taking a deep breath, I let it all out. Telling them exactly how I feel about not standing up for her.
“It’s today, yesterday. Hell, even the day with Wes right before school started when I first mentioned Sierra to him.
I hate the way we stand by and watch as they bully her.
Her face today looked like shit after what they pulled in the gym.
I know we weren’t there for that, but if we stood up yesterday, maybe they wouldn’t have done it. ”
“Brax, they still would have done it. Wes hates her. In his mind, she did something unforgivable. But I just can’t see it.
The girl I’ve met is quiet and timid. I just can’t see her being some vindictive person whose sole purpose is to ruin someone’s life.
Especially when he claims they were best friends.
I’m going to try and get to know her as we work on this project together and after the cafeteria incident today, I’m not going to stand by any longer.
I don’t care if they don’t want to be my friends, either,” Zander boldly announces, crossing his hands over his chest as he leans back on my dresser.
“Do you think we should say something to Dad?” I know he’ll be disappointed in how we haven’t stood up for her until this point.
“No!” Colt shouts. “Look, she seems like a nice girl and I hate what’s happening to her, but we’re new here.
I don’t think we should get involved, especially not knowing the whole story.
If you want to do something, leave an anonymous message for Dad and let him handle it.
If she wants it to end, she’ll tell him everything and if she doesn’t, then she’s okay with what's happening. But I’m not doing anything.
I hope you don’t either.” He turns quickly, grabbing the handle of the door, and slamming it behind him as he leaves.
Fuck, what do I do?