The Bully's addiction

I walked into school with the chilly wind blowing against my cheeks, you know the feeling when you feel that something big is going to happen but you don't know what ?

Yep that's exactly how I'm feeling right now

"Anna Anna!" I heard a voice that could only belong to one person call, it was sasha, my best friend in Winny bridge high, she rush towards me in a flurry, I wonder what is up in that head of hers now

"Hey what's up" I greeted with a smile

Which she returned sticking out her tongue

"Have you heard the lastest?" She hushed glancing around

I smiled , dis was so much like sasha, if anything was happening, she was surely among the first persons in school to know about it

I wonder how she does it

"What now?" I asked rolling my eyes at the way she leaned towards me

"You won't believe it"

Okay now I was getting impatient, what could it possibly be?

" Come on sash just spit it out"

"I heard he's transferring back today" she replied

"Who?" I asked furrowing my brows in confusion

She looked at me and mentioned the one name that was able to insert fear deep inside me

MARK ANDREW

What did you say?" I asked feeling the blood rushing away from my face and my heart speed up furiously

"Yeah I heard he's back" she replied giving me a sympathetic gaze

"Didn't he transfer to another town? Why is he back now?" I asked totally freeking out

Wait

If he was back, that means that he might be in school today

Oh no!

Ever since I could remember, Mark has made my life a living hell, worse was that I couldn't remember how I've ever offended him

He became harsher that it even got a little physical

He isn't like that to anybody else

I think it's just me

When he'd transferred to another town two years ago due to his family's business, I had been so relieved and happy, I had even begun to enjoy my simple life

Now he's back!

This was my final year of high school, why did he return now?

Relax, I told myself in a deep breath

Its been two years and times have changed, he might not even remember me

"It will be fine," sasha said placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder to which I just nodded

As we got inside, we separated into our various classes

*****

I walked inside the class slowly, the sound of chartering was the first thing I noticed, a certain area of the class was filled with students laughing and discussing, i proceeded to sit down when I saw him

He sat down like a king and the rest of the students were his subject

My heart gave a loud thud and I suckled in a breath sharply

He suddenly looked up from the crowd of students surrounding him, his eyes widened a fraction in surprise then it was gone

It was replaced with a smirk that I Know all too well

He always had that trademark smirk on his face before he does something bad

"Are you gonna sit down or what?" a voice said, it was lilian another friend of mine who was in front of me who spoke giving me a curious stare

When did she even arrive?

I broke the contact I had with Mark and sat down like I was in a chair of nails

"Are you alright?" Lilian asked looking concerned

No! I could never be alright with Mark just a few meters away from me

I nodded anyway giving her a reassuring smile

*****

All through out class I could feel a stare burning right into the back of my head, I didn't need to look to know who it was, I just wanted the teacher to get out of the class so I leave, knowing that I'm even understanding a thing she was talking about

Immediately the bell rung signifying the end of class, I packed my stuff and rushed out ignoring Lilian who was calling out to me

But wait

Why was I even scared ? What did I do wrong?

But it's not the first time I was asking myself something like this, I didn't need to do anything wrong before Mark hurts me, finally I escaped the class and him

As I rested my head against my locker taking a deep breath, a hand suddenly slammed loudly just above my head causing me to jerk back with a yep

It was the one person i had been trying to avoid

It was Mark Andrew

"Hello bunny, did you miss me?" He said with his signature smirk

Oh God!

*****************

"Hello bunny, did you miss me?"

I ignored him and tried to move pass him but he gripped my arm almost painfully, he still had that stupid smirk on his face that I just wanted to wipe off

"What? Let go you are hurting me" I squeaked struggling to free my arm from his hold but he only tighten it even more

If he had even heard me, he didn't show any indication

"Aww little bunny finally decided that she has a voice," he said tauntingly

I gave him my hardest glare but he was totally unaffected

"Let me go now " I repeat trying my best to sound firm but failed at it woefully

"Let go of you? But I precisely came back only for you, I've surely missed you all these time" he replied then he roamed his eyes over my body briefly before returning to my gaze

"I must say you grew up these two years but you are still just as ugly as I remembered"

As much as I told myself not to be affected by his words it's still hurt me, my eyes stung and I have to leave this instant before I disgrace myself by crying in his presence

"Let go of me this instant Mark" I gritted out trying to push pass him with all my strength but he didn't bulge, his smirk only seems to widen

"And if I don't ? You know it really laughable seeing that you've grown a backbone " he said laughing, then it was gone replaced by a harsh look as he leaned and whispered in my ears

"Because it will be fun to slowly break it off this time again and again"

I've told myself many times that I wasn't that weak girl that will allow herself to be intimidated and bullied anymore..

I had to be strong right now or i'm going to spend this last years being under his influence..

I slapped him!

We both looked taken aback for a moment

I really didn't mean to, one moment I had be trapped against him then the next...

The shocked expansion on his face was priceless

It seemed time stood between us and counting one... Two... Three....

He grasped my shoulder harshly

"You'll pay for that !" He seethed his arm raised, I close my eyes preparing myself for the impact, a moment passes, then another but still nothing...

I peered my eyes opened slowly to be met by his forest green ones, for a moment something flashed through his gaze but was gone so fast before I could decipher what it was.

"Anna?" A voice broke our trance, he release his hold on my shoulder and walked away...

"Why are you not coming to class? It been some minutes" sash asked but her attention was on Mark's retreating form

"Are you alright? Why did he stop you this time?" She asked her voice laced with concern

"I'm fine, it's nothin, let's get to class, "I said

She looked like she was about to argue but nodded unsurely instead...

As we walked to the next class I couldn't stop thinking about what just happened...

What did he mean by he returned just for me? I could still hear his threat in my head "I"lol break it all over again and again "

It's been two years, why did he have to return just when I was beginning to get my life back together?

And worse of all, why does he still target me?

I sucked in deep breath and exhaled loudly, this last year is not going to be an easy one, I'll do my best to stay away from him as much as I could but even as I thought, I Know it wouldn't be that easy...

****************

Thankfully we didn't have another class together for the rest of the day, when school finally dismissed , I had taken a careful scan before dashing into sash car, he was talking to a group of jocks and people from the popular circle, I wonder if he had gotten sight of me, but it doesn't matter, right now I was safe in sash car...

"Bye!" I said waving to sash as she drop me off in front of my house

I drop my bag and plunged lazily on the couch

"You are back?" It was mum she said as she descended the stairs

"Yeah" I replied resisting the urge to roll my eyes, she was clearly seeing me but still, she was asking if I was back

Dad is a journalist while mum works In a hospital as a nurse, he was always traveling, I spend the majority of my time with mum and of course my oh so "loving" sister Jenifer

"I prepared lunch, I have a night shift tonight and I'll be leaving now, love you" she said kissing both my cheeks

"And when your sister returns make sure to close all the windows and doors, you know that..."

"I know yeah yeah," I said before she could get started with her long sermons on how it wasn't safe in the neighborhood.....

Afternoon a quick shower I skipped downstairs to have lunch, my thoughts kept drifting to what happened in school today as much as I tried to divert it

I still couldn't believe I slapped him though I couldn't deny that he deserved it, I just pray that he left me alone after today.

A sign escape my lip as I cleared the dishes, Jenifer hasn't returned, for now, I'll just go and work on my assignment

I woke up to the loud blaring of my alarm, my hand lazily reached out to slam it shut, I didn't manage to catch some sleep yesterday night

All thanks to him...

Great!

He has even found his way into my dreams

I sat up yawning tiredly before making my way to the bathroom

After a warm shower, I brush my long brown hair and clasped it into a tight ponytail that I always wore, I stared at my expression in the mirror to see a little dark circle under my eyes and a sign escape my lips

I decided to apply a little makeup today to cover it up which was totally unlike me

Walking back to my room, I snatched my glasses from my reading desk along with my books and made my way downstairs...

********************************

I heard voices discussing before I finally came into view...

Mum and Jennifer were discussing something, when I came to view a smile lit up her face...

"Morning mum," I said making my way to the breakfast table...

"Sweetie, how was your night ?"

Before I could reply Jenifer decided to speak for me

"Why do you even ask mum? I'm sure it went exactly how you expect a nerd's night to go.."

"Jenifer be nice!" Mum said shooting her a glare, turning back to me she said

"Honey have some breakfast before sash comes to pick you up"

Sasha, Lilian and derick were the only friends of mine mum and dad knew, well that was because they were my only friends, since the beginning of high school when Mark started his torture no one wanted to be friends with me, I didn't even have a boyfriend because he had spread a rumor back then that I had herpes...

" Is there a problem?" Mum's voice distracted my thoughts

" Um... No, I'll eat now"

I took a piece of bread and smear it with butter and took a huge bite

"Do you always have to eat like a pig?" Jenifer snickered

"I'll eat however I want" I replied

Mum just shook her head, she was probably used to our fight by now

"You even wore makeup?" She said in an accusing tone

I rolled my eye 'duh' it was just a concealer I replied in my head

"Did you wear it for someone?" She asked, I raised up my head to meet her gaze

"What's it to you?" I asked tonelessly taking a bite of my bread

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

I chocked on the bread in my mouth coughing, I gladly accept a glass of water from mum and drank untill I emptied the entire cup

"You know it's not a bad idea, you are seventeen, you should go out more often and have fun like girls your age and..."

Thankfully at the moment the honk of a car sounded, sash was here, I wouldn't have to listen to one of mum's many lecture this morning

"Bye mum!" I yelled as I grabbed my stuff and went outside to meet her

"Why are you looking all flustered?" She asked giving me a look

You know the usual mum- boyfriend thing again " I replied

She turn on the stereo as we drove to school

"I didn't ask yesterday, but what happened between you and Mark? Is he back to bullying you?"

A sigh escape my lip and I just stared out the window

"You'll have to speak up sometimes you know, she said giving me the look

I just wish it was that easy...

**********************

Today couldn't get any worse, Mark was in this class and he just kept digging holes into my back... Then a piece of paper hit my head, I turned to meet his smirk

"What?" I said in annoyance

"Gabe are you paying attention?" Mrs claire our history teacher spoke...

Great, she didn't see when Mark threw a paper at me, she only saw me speaking

It seemed like forever before the bell rang signaling the beginning of break...

I kept my books inside my locker and began to make my way to the cafeteria when I was suddenly pulled into an empty classroom, I was about to scream when I heard his voice

"Don't you dare"

I blinked a few times to allow myself adjust to the darkness, I could make out his features now

"What do you think you're doing let me go" I tried to wiggle away from his grip on my arm, the keyword "tried"

He inclined his face to mine dangerously close

"After that stunt you pulled yesterday, did you think I was just going to let you off just like that?" He said with a calm demeanor but I will be fool to think it was.

"Now it's just me and you here alone, and it's payback time bunny"

I felt sweat begin to build on my forehead and my palms were getting clammed up

"Let g..go of me please you are hurting me "

"If you really want to eat that much then you can" that he took the glass of milk on our take and spilled it all over my face, even my hair was dripping with milk

I didn't know what exactly happened but I think Derick just shoved Mark... Then the fight began and the whole cafeteria stood to watch

A scream escape my lip when Mark delivered punch to Derick's face

Then another...

And another....

He looked so enraged as he situated himself on top of Derick who was at a great disadvantage

I looked around in panic, why was nobody trying to separate them? They all watch while cheering and whistling loudly, it was disgusting.

"Stop it!" I screamed and rush towards them, mark was about to deliver a blow when I held his am pulling him backwards

"Stop it now Mark... Please" I added

I could see his gaze flickering as if he was contemplating

"Please... " I said again and to my surprise, he listened

He pulled up away from Derick much to my relief and I down to him

"Are you alright?" I asked tapping him gently

Of course, he wasn't, he was bruised while Mark looked unscratched sash and Lilian help joined me to help him up

"Let take him to the clinic" sash suggested

As we escorted out, from the corner of my eyes I saw Mark glaring right at me his chin clenched tight

********Some time later***

Mark, Derick and I were at the principal's office,

"So what exactly happened?" He asked staring at us from beneath his huge reading glasses that seems to cover the majority of his face

"He started it" Derick said looking in Mark's direction where he'd gotten himself comfortable by the window not perturbed by the whole situation in anyway

The corner of his lip quirked up slightly " I did? But the whole cafeteria prove that I didn't do a thing" he said shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly...

" If that is so, then you Derick maxwell and A..." The principal started when I rushed out

"We didn't! Sir, he spilled milk on me then h..." I couldn't complete my statement when Mr Anthony cut in

"Anna I'm really disappointed in you, I expected this from everyone except you, you were always such a good student," he said shaking his head in disappointment

"But I didn't do anything! I ..."

Again he didn't let me finish before he cuts in

"Enough already, all of you detention," he said waving his hands dismissively

Was I hearing right, I cast my gaze to Mark who looked like he didn't have a care in the world back to principal Anthony

I felt panic kicked in, I have never gotten detention before

I couldn't get a detention, It would affect my grades and how do I explain to my parents?

Without thinking I rushed to Mark grabbing his shirt

"Tell him what you did! that you are at fault now"

He didn't reply he just shrugged my hands off him like it was merely a bug

Derick walked over to me but not before glaring hard Mark

"It will be fine Anna, let just go" he said taking my hand concern written all over his face

"I think I will pass Mr principal," Mark said pushing past Derick and me with a smirk, did he just get away detention like that?

He started this whole thing and he wasn't even going to get punished ? Mr Anthony just waved him off and focus on the documents on his desk

"You two what are you waiting for?" He asked tilting his glasses to balance firmly on the bridge of his nose

It's only been two days since he got back and my life is already changing for the worse...