{29}✔️

Dahlia's POV

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I groaned as I tried to move and then immediately stopped after I felt my back being scratched by the harsh pavement. It took me a while to open my eyes, but when I finally did I regretted it quickly. My head was throbbing and it literally felt like it'd explode any second now. The longer I was conscious, the more I realized just how much my entire body hurt.

Everything was burning, sore, and throbbing. My head and stomach especially. For a second, I questioned what the hell happened to me. Then I remembered exactly what happened. Kai and her flock of bitches.

I groaned as I slowly moved my arm, searching for my phone without actually looking. As I should've figured, it was in my pocket. I narrowed my eyes as I turned the brightness all the way down and then tried to focus on the screen, but everything was so damn blurry.

I blinked a few times, trying to make my vision better, but it didn't work. I read the best I could with my sight being blurry and let out another groan as I noticed texts from several different people.

2 texts from my dad

6 texts from Denny

2 texts from Cora

5 texts from Caden

3 texts from Cadence

7 texts from Billie

1 text from Kai

I opened Kai's first. It was a three-minute long video.

I pressed play and turned the volume on my phone up, wincing as the sound filled the air.

"So then her fucking crazy ass mom is all drunk right? And she's like, 'oh my god I can't believe I did that to my own kids.'" She mocked before laughing loudly along with the other four people in the video. "And I'm like, dude I barely even know you, are you serious right now? Anyways, she went on and on and on, whining and shit. The craziest thing she said though? 'I didn't mean to hit them, I'd just get so upset! I told them when mommy gets upset—" I quickly turned the video off to avoid hearing the rest of it.

I'm sure this was Kai's way of telling me that she'd told everyone by now about what went on in my childhood.

I didn't cry or get angry or even think about it as I turned to look at the other messages.

Dad:

Denny said you're not home yet. Are you okay? 6:23 pm

You're not with Caden and Cadence? Where are you? 7:45 pm

Cora:

Yo, Denver is freaking out right now. Where the fuck are you? 5:49 pm

You better not be dead, bitch. 8:19 pm

I read the rest of the texts from the twins and Denny, sighing as I tried to figure out what to reply. I couldn't think of anything, so I just left them on read before clicking on Billie's texts.

Bilboa:

Can we talk about earlier? Shouldn't have kicked you out like that. 3:16 pm

I know you're probably mad. I'm still fucking mad too to be honest, but I wanna talk about it. 4:27 pm

I get it if you don't wanna talk to me but your brother is texting me and he's worried. Where are you at right now? 5:13 pm

Dude, did you not ride with the twins like you said you were going to? 5:18 pm

Caden said u didn't ask to ride with them. Where are you? 6:00pm

This isn't funny bro. Stop ignoring us. Tell me where the fuck you are so I can come get you. 6:55pm

I'm worried baby seriously come on. Answer somebody's texts. Are you okay? 8:32 pm

I sighed as I stared at my phone screen. This is all too fucking much and I don't wanna deal with any of it right now.

I'm good. Sorry everyone was worried. My phone was dead and I'm with a friend. Spending the night. I don't have that much battery, tell everyone I'm okay? Thanks.

I typed the message out quickly and sent it to Billie before replying to my dad and then turning my phone off completely after looking at the time. 9:47 pm.

I don't know where I'm gonna go or what I'm gonna do tonight, but I can't go back home. I haven't seen how bad I look yet, but I guarantee that me hiding what happened wouldn't be an option if they saw me.

I just need time to think.

***

I figure I must look pretty damn bad considering people are going out of their way to stare at me. I immediately regretted walking into the small gas station the second I did, but I needed to use the bathroom and see what I could do about my appearance. Lucky for me, I keep a $20 in my phone case at all times just in case of an emergency. I'll buy myself some pills and a snack to get me through the night while I'm in here.

I knocked quickly on the bathroom door and pushed it open once I got no reply. I stepped in and locked the door behind me before walking toward the mirror.

I winced as I looked at myself. Both my eyes are black, my lip is busted, there are bruises all over my face and my hair is a mess. I lifted my shirt and turned around, not even shocked to see bruises and scratches covering my back. My stomach looked just as rough, and I didn't need to take my pants off to know that my legs did too. My clothes are wrinkled and dirty, dry blood covering them.

Those bitches really got me fucking good.

I can't believe Kai got those girls to jump me. I can't believe Kai could do any of what she's done to me to another person period. Posting someone's private picture for everyone to see just because they don't wanna be with you? Trying to force someone to be with you by blackmailing them with their childhood trauma? Proceeding to tell everyone about their past abuse and laugh about it like it's some big joke when they don't do as their told? What kind of sicko could do that and not feel guilty about it?

I don't know how I'm going to get back at her, but I'm going to. I don't care if it's the last thing I do.

I sighed as I put some toilet paper on the toilet seat and then slowly sat down, wincing as my entire body disagreed with my movement. Once I finished my business, I flushed the toilet and got myself together the best I could before walking out.

I grabbed some Ibuprofen, concealer, water, and then made myself some nachos and a slushie.

The cashier stared at me, clearly skeptical as he rung me up.

"$22.19." He muttered. I sighed. I guess the concealer was more expensive than I thought.

"I'll have to put something back. Take the water."

"N-No, just give me what you have." He sent me a small smile and I nodded, trying my best to do the same. I guess one good thing came out of me getting jumped then. "Thank you." I mumbled before grabbing my stuff and walking out.

After exiting the gas station, I stopped and looked around. I don't know where to go now. I don't have any more money, so I can't really do anything. The library closes at 9:15, so staying there for a while isn't an option. I don't wanna go sit in a restaurant or anything because I know people will stare at me.

I guess I'll just go to the park and sit. I'll probably sleep there tonight.

I sighed as I began walking in the direction of the nearest park, which happens to be twenty minutes away. I'm scared if I'm gonna be honest. I'm rarely ever out past dark and if I am I'm with a friend. Certainly not having to worry about sleeping in a public place. What if someone murders me while I'm sleeping?

The wind is blowing only a little bit, but it's really chilly, and I'm only in a short sleeve shirt and jeans. What if I get pneumonia?

I'm a small girl, all by herself late at night and I clearly have no idea what I'm doing. I've also clearly gotten my ass beat, so I'm quite vulnerable. Anyone with even half a brain can see that. What if someone tries to beat me up again? What if a guy comes up to me and tries to touch me?

I'm being fucking ridiculous. I should just go home and explain what happened, but I can't. If I show up looking like this I'll have to tell my family about everything and my dad will get the authorities involved and I don't want that. I don't want to do anything but forget about this whole thing. I don't want to have to go home and tell my siblings that our whole school knows about what the hell happened to us. What Kai told people doesn't just affect me, it affects my siblings too.

It affects my siblings too.

When they go to school tomorrow people are going to be talking about it. I need to warn them about it.

I can't face them though. Less than two weeks after my very first scandal I'm having another one. They're gonna get sick of me and my stupid drama sooner or later. That's why I keep trying to keep this shit to myself and handle it on my own. That doesn't seem to work much, though.

After a long walk, I finally made it to the park and sat down on a nearby bench, putting all my stuff down beside me.

I sighed as I turned my phone back on. It took a few moments, but soon I saw all the messages popping back up, most of them from Billie. I scrolled through them and she was just asking me to text or call her, asking what friend I was staying with. The last message she sent me made me want to cry.

Bilboa:

That's why you disappeared. Kai told everyone. Where are you baby? It's gonna be okay. 10:12pm

I let out a shaky breath before dialing her number quickly. She picked up after only two rings.

"Where the fuck are you?! Your family is worried and I am too! I swear to god, I'm gonna kill Kai! Tell me where you are or I'll start my own search party and find you my fucking self." She shouted.

"Billie—" I choked out. I was trying to keep my composure, but it wasn't working. "I'm okay, I just don't know what to do. I don't know if I should come back or not. Kai told everyone and now my siblings have to deal with people questioning them about what happened and—"

"Why are you talking like that?"

I stopped speaking, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Why are you slurring your words? Are you drunk?"

It didn't sound like she thought I was drunk. I didn't answer and she let out a loud sigh.

"Did she put her hands on you?" She mumbled lowly.

"Why would you think that?" I questioned as I massaged my leg, trying to distract myself from the constant throbbing in it.

"Your siblings are tough and they can deal with this. You are too. Did she touch you?"

"Billie, I don't want you to do anything stupid, okay? I'm a big girl and I can handle my own shit and I don't need you trying to avenge my honor or whatever the fuck—

"Did she fucking touch you or not?" She spat.

I let out a small sigh as I ran my fingers through my knotted hair, cringing as I realized there was dry blood in it too. "You're gonna get yourself in serious trouble and then what? Billie, all I need is for you to just be my friend. You don't have to kick her ass to be my friend. Just fucking—"

"I'm not going to ask you again, Dahlia." The venom in her voice gave me goosebumps.

"Her and her friends. They jumped me." I cried. I waited for her to respond, but she didn't.

"Look, I need you to come get me. I'm scared and I need y—" I frowned as I heard the dial tone. She'd hung up on me.

My stomach sunk as I thought about what she was doing right now. Probably some stupid shit. I need to get back to her and make sure she doesn't fucking kill someone.

I took a large bite out of my nachos and slurped down a bit of my slushie before standing up and putting my stuff back in my sack. I was just about to start walking back in the direction I'd come from when I heard a voice behind me.

"Ready for round two, Dahlia?"

I froze, not turning around as I waited for something to happen. When nothing did, I glanced behind me and saw the same three girls from earlier. I wanted to run, but I was frozen in my spot, especially after seeing what they were holding in their hands.