Chapter 87
As Racy and I strolled back to school, we approached a bustling hangout spot near the student lounge. The air was filled with the sound of carefree laughter and chatter, and I noticed a group of six guys congregated near the benches. Their eyes locked onto us as they turned in our direction, and it seemed like they were deliberately making their way towards us.
Racy's gaze followed mine, and she raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "What's the story here? Do you know these guys?" she asked, her voice low and inquiring.
My eyes scanned the group, and that's when I spotted him - Josh, the guy who had asked me out in class. But his face was etched with annoyance, his brow furrowed. It was as if he had orchestrated this encounter, and they were waiting for us like a planned ambush. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I tried to grasp the situation.
I turned to Racy, our eyes meeting in a flash of understanding. "I know one of them," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Josh, the guy who asked me out in my class."
Racy's gaze narrowed slightly as she studied the group, her eyes lingering on Josh's tense expression. "So, what's his deal..how did they know we would be passing through here?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity and a hint of wariness.
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant despite the growing unease. "This spot's popular among students," I explained. "It's a shortcut from the main building, so it's not unusual for people to pass through here."
But as the guys closed in, their eyes fixed intently on us, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Josh's expression seemed almost... calculating, and I wondered what was brewing in his mind.
The bigger boy loomed over me, his eyes blazing with anger. Racy tried to intervene, but he pushed her aside with a force that sent her stumbling back. The boy's hand closed around my hair, the grip like a vice. I felt my scalp scream in protest as he yanked my head back, the roots of my hair straining against the brutal pull.
"So, you're the bitch who rejected josh, huh?" he sneered, his smelly breath hot against my face. "Not just rejected, but hit my Josh, didn't you?" The mention of Josh's name sent a shiver down my spine, and I knew I was in trouble.
The boy's words dripped with malice, but I stood my ground, refusing to back down. "Didn't he tell you how persistent and foolish he was?" I shot back, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear creeping in. "He deserved every bit of it."
The boy's face twisted in rage, and before I could react, Josh slapped me hard across the face. The impact was like a shockwave, sending stars dancing across my vision. My cheek stung, and my head spun.
"Nice one, Josh!" the boy holding my hair said, his voice dripping with amusement. The rest of the group laughed, their jeers and snickers echoing through the air like a cruel melody.
I felt a surge of anger and humiliation, but I refused to let them see me break. I glared at Josh, my eyes blazing with defiance, even as my face throbbed with pain. Racy's voice cut through the din, her tone firm and commanding. "Let her go, now."
The boy's face twisted in anger as he turned to Racy. "Who do you think you are!" he sneered, his voice rising in indignation. But I was beyond caring about his tantrum, consumed by the searing pain in my scalp as he held my hair in a tight grip. I struggled to break free, my body twisting and turning in an attempt to escape the agony, but his hold only tightened.
Just as I thought I'd be trapped forever, Racy sprang into action. With a swift and precise motion, she unleashed a punch that connected squarely with the boy's jaw. His grip on my hair faltered, and he released me with a groan, clutching at his jaw in pain.
Racy's eyes never left mine as she grasped my hand firmly. "Come on," she said, her voice low and urgent. Without another word, she pulled me into a sprint.
The sound of pounding footsteps grew louder, the guys closing in on us with every passing second. Racy's grip on my hand tightened as she pulled me along, her eyes scanning our surroundings frantically for an escape route. That's when she spotted it - a narrow alleyway between two buildings, barely visible unless you knew where to look.
"Here, Sarah," she whispered urgently, tugging me toward the alleyway. We squeezed into the narrow space, our bodies pressed tightly together as we tried to make ourselves as small as possible. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel Racy's heart racing against mine.
The boys thundered past, their angry shouts and curses echoing off the walls as they searched for us. We held our breath, our chests barely rising as we listened to them disappear into the distance. The silence that followed was almost deafening, punctuated only by the sound of our ragged breathing.
We lingered in the narrow alleyway, our bodies pressed together, waiting for the coast to be clear. Racy finally emerged, her eyes scanning the surroundings before she turned to me with a nod. "It's clear," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I nodded, my heart still racing from our earlier encounter. I cautiously followed her out of the alleyway, my eyes darting around the area, searching for any sign of our pursuers. The coast seemed clear, and we exchanged a look before breaking into a sprint.
Our feet pounded the pavement in unison as we ran, the sound echoing through. Luckily, the guys were nowhere in sight, and we managed to reach my hostel room without incident. I pushed open the door, relief washing over me as I stepped inside.
As I leaned against the door, panting, Racy followed me in, her eyes locked on mine. I couldn't help but laugh, the tension and fear of the past hour finally beginning to dissipate. "I'm just here facing hell upon hell in school," I said, shaking my head, my voice barely above a whisper.
Racy's expression softened, and she took a step closer to me. "You're not alone, Sarah," she said, her voice gentle. "I'm here for you." Her words were a balm to my frazzled nerves, and I felt a sense of gratitude toward her. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I had someone in my corner, someone who truly understood me.