Rosette Young POV'
I entered my morning classroom, the fluorescent lights overhead seemed to hum in sync with my racing heart.
My gaze lowered to the floor, my eyes fixed on the worn-out carpet as I walked with slow strides to the back of the classroom.
The air was thick with the scent of fresh paper and stale air, a familiar smell that brought me a sense of comfort.
I slammed my body onto the chair, my body shaking from exhaustion. The cool surface of the chair seemed to seep into my skin, providing a brief respite from the tension that had been building up inside of me.
Throughout the lesson, I took the opportunity to relax my tense body by taking a nap, my head nodding forward as I drifted off into a light doze.
...
At lunchtime, I walked to the empty corner at the cafeteria, the sound of clanging dishes and muted conversations filling the air.
I had just settled in comfortably when Priscilla Shayne and her girls walked by, their laughter and chatter like a cold wind that sent shivers down my spine.
"Oh my, the nerd has guts..." Wendy Lu, Priscilla's so-called best friend, snickered loudly, grabbing the crowd's attention.
My eyes darted up, my gaze meeting Priscilla's angry face.
"You dare flirt shamelessly withCaleb, do you think you are so smart and we wouldn't know huh!."
Priscilla yelled,the sound of Priscilla's hand slamming onto the table made me flinch, the vibrations echoing through my body like a shockwave.
"Was the morning activity not enough and you dare try flirt with Taylor's brother."
She was deliberately raising her voice —audible for Taylor to get a waft of it.
And it worked like a charm
Taylor's approach was like a dark cloud looming over me, his voice low and threatening. "What do you mean, Pris?"
he asked, his eyes fixed on my face.
"Can you believe this b****, she openly flirted with Caleb, my Caleb in broad daylight.
If it weren't for Ryder informing me, I wouldn't have known of this girl's sly trick."
Priscilla's words were like a knife cutting through my defenses, each syllable dripping with venom.
By now Taylor was angered that it was shown on his face
He growled monastery sending shivers down my spine.
"You slut, do you think you would crawl into the Yves family so easily."
Taylor wrapped his large hands around my neck, my world began to spin. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of pain and fear, my body trembling with each heartbeat.
The sound of my own ragged breathing filled my ears, a reminder that I was still alive, still fighting .
It wasn't until Priscilla piercing scream of me about to die did Taylor finally threw me viciously onto the table,
My body crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut. I lay there, my eyes closed, my body throbbing with pain.
The sound of Taylor's footsteps receding into the distance was like music to my ears, a signal that the torture was finally over.
As I stood up, my eyes red from crying, my gaze met the pitiful faces of my classmates.
But no one dared come forward, their faces frozen in a mixture of fear and sympathy. My body ached as I limped out of the cafeteria, my eyes fixed on the floor.
...
The rooftops were my sanctuary, a place where I could escape the cruel world below.
The breezy wind from the roof tops hit me, causing me to shiver. The familiar scent of the cardboard boxes was like a warm hug, enveloping her in a sense of comfort and security.
As I settled herself onto the boxes, the excruciating pain I once felt dissipated, replaced by a sense of numbness and detachment.
I knew I had to find the courage to get up and leave, to face another day of classes and humiliation. But for now, I just sat there, my body wrapped in a cocoon of pain and sorrow.