Chapter 3 Trapped

I sit in the back corner, my notebook open but untouched. The numbers on the whiteboard blurred into meaningless symbols as I felt the boy's eyes constantly focused on me. Several times the teacher calls out for attention, and as one the boys' eyes returns to the front of the room.

Their looks weren’t cruel, exactly—not in the overt, detention-worthy way—but their presence was suffocating. The constant staring as if they were trying to look through to my soul. I constantly glanced at the clock, hoping and praying that time would move quicker, that maybe, just maybe, I could escape their stares and be free. As there were finally ten minutes left in class, I quickly took out the map of the school and my timetable to see what I had next. Seeing that my room was a good few minutes’ walk, I planned the route. As I counted the final minutes until the bell rang, and with my escape route mapped out like a military operation, I quickly grabbed my books and bag and hightailed it out of class just as the first note of the bell rang.

I wasn’t shy. I wasn’t weak. But I didn’t want the attention, I didn’t want them or anyone else to notice me.

I could hear the boys calling me, well, I assumed “princess” was me. As I skate around the last corner, I duck into class just as I feel a slight tug on my backpack. As I walk quickly to the back corner and take the seat, I look and see the four boys standing outside my classroom with an annoyed expression on their faces. Well, three out of the four were annoyed. The talker had a slight smirk.

This class was a lot better. English, while boring, was excellent because I could listen and pay attention without being stared at. As the bell rings, I quickly gather my stuff and race through the building to the second floor, find a storage room, and make my way through the chaos to bury myself in the corner. Sighing in relief that I managed to dodge them again, I take out my phone and message Milo.

“How’s it going?” I type as I stare at the phone waiting for his reply.

“Hate it, I miss my old school, my old friends. But I will get through. After lunch, I have one class, and then the second afternoon period is free. What about you?” Milo responds quickly.

After checking my schedule, I reply that I am the same and that we will meet at the car as soon as the class finishes, so that we can get out of here.

“See you soon, sis,” Milo’s reply fills me with happiness and sadness. I know that he isn’t happy and that returning to school so quickly isn’t ideal, but we didn’t want to cause waves.

Creeping my way through the room filled with stuff, I creak the door open slowly and stick my head out, and make sure the coast is clear. Letting out a deep breath, I walk out and shut the door quietly. Making my way to art class, I see the four boys ahead of me sticking their heads into the classrooms, not seeing what they want. They move on, but with each disappointment, their frustration becomes increasingly evident.

As I take my seat in class and listen as the teacher gives us the assignment, I jot down notes and am soon lost in what I am going to create. Feeling my phone vibrating in my pocket, signalling that I have five minutes left of class, I start quietly packing up so that I am ready when the bell rings.

Finally, the bell chimes, and just like every other class that day, I am up and out of the room and making my way to the front doors of the school.

“THERE!” I hear shouting. Turning my head, I see the four boys headed in my direction with what looks like a determined mission. Not wanting to be their mission, I break into a run as I hear the thundering footsteps behind me heading my way as well. Bursting through the front door and down the four steps, I sprint towards the car as I hear my name being called.

“Mo,” I flick my head to the right, and I see Milo coming from his building. As he sees me running, Milo is running as well as we reach the car.

“Why are you in a rush?” Milo asks as he climbs into the car beside me.

“See them,” I say, pointing out the front window as we tear out of the parking lot.

“Oh,” Milo responds as he stares at the four boys, looking shocked and annoyed all at the same time.

“What’s the deal there?” Milo asks as we make our way home

“I am not sure, they have certainly taken a liking to what I don’t like,” I respond as I pull the car around the back of the house. I position the car so that it is on the hill facing towards the second exit. If we needed to leave in a hurry, we could just roll it and go quickly and quietly.

Milo and I agreed that we weren’t even going to unpack our stuff, as we didn’t see the point; we knew what we wouldn’t be here for long, and there was no point in thinking that we would be.

“Mom is being cremated today, Mo,” Milo whispers as we walk in the back door.

“I know Milo. We could have our goodbye here,” I respond as I walk through the house to our suitcase and grab what is needed.

“Sure,” Milo responds, following me outside and down the beach.

As we light the candles and voice our love and loss for her being taken from us, Milo cries quietly while I make a silent vow that I will protect Milo with everything that I am.