Rachel's eyes widened, and her expression looked troubled by the burden of my words.

I felt awkward, saying such things, and revealing a part of myself I did not want to. The past should try to stay in the past.

“Am I really brave?” Rachael asked, hopeful.

“Didn’t I just say so. I don’t say such things lightly.” I replied coolly. Rachael lay shocked on her bed, but I knew it wasn’t for a bad reason. She might have finally found a light in her life, a bright white hope.

Silence followed, and I had a hard time thinking how to continue the conversation. Interrupting her would not be a good idea.

We waited for a while in silence, which slowly became painful to me.

Finally the cold silence was broken, “I suppose she might be brave, but I still think she is too weak.” Abby warmed up the silence slightly, though with cold words.

“Does being weak matter, are you not just as weak?” I answered not letting my own thoughts go.

“Of course it matters, and how am I weak?” Abby asked in response.

“Being weak does not matter to me. Being strong doesn’t make you good, and being weak doesn’t make you bad. Abby you are weak as well, can you fight head on like you suggest I do?” I answered, my personal thoughts shining through. Abby thought about my words and fell silent.

“While I say you are weak, you are also strong. You stand up for what you believe in.” I added on, I had been really harsh on her today. Abby looked at me somewhat sweetly.

“Even if you are stupid.” I added jokingly. This ruined the charming atmosphere, but it was replaced a little more lightly. Haven started to laugh, then myself, and finally Abby.

“Is it really possible?” The pile of blankets voiced weakly.

“With me here, of course it’s possible. Anything standing in your way, I will easily take care of.” I responded a little hopeful in my own heart.

“I will testify against Kurt!” Rachael shot out of her blankets and rose to her feet with her fist shaking in the air. Without the blankets you could see Rachael wearing loose pink nightwear.

We continued talking for a while and right before we left I gave one last statement to her.

“Rachael, telling your mother about what happened is the first step. Remember, I am here if you need help.” After that we left.

The rest of the week passed with little to nothing happening. The only things of note was that Kaede was still scared of me and that I had made plans with Jane to visit Katy Hoover. Another victim, this would make four.

The next week came. My relationships in school did not change much. People refused to get close to me, and teachers remained neutral. There had been no interference by the principle yet, and nothing from that snake of a teacher.

It was time for a checkup from the doctor. They would check my arm and my ribs to see their condition. My ribs were likely already completely healed, but I had no idea of the state of my arm.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

After school, I walked to the hospital, and once again failed to catch a cab. It did not take as long as the last time, considering my condition, and I arrived before sun was down. I walked into the hospital, and not the emergency room this time. I checked in with a receptionist and confirmed my appointment. Half an hour of waiting in silence was broken when I heard my name being called.

I followed the nurse into a room, and after some simple checks from the nurse I was told to wait for the doctor.

A knock on the door shocked me out of my deep thinking. A familiar nurse walked into the room, Amanda Alga, and she hugged me in excitement.

“Azure, you never called me. You made me so lonely, why?” A pout on her face.

“I’m sorry, I really have no excuse for not calling you.” I replied softly.

“Then you must call me after this, how are you doing?” Amanda asked, quickly recovering from her previous state.

“I think my ribs are fine, but I'm not sure about my arm.” I answered dutifully.

“I’m not only talking about your body… How are you?” She replied slowly and deeply.

“I am fine,” I replied, not wanting to share. My words left Amanda with a saddened look.

We continued our conversation, without worry of each other, and after a while there was a knock on the door.

A tall doctor walked in, he carried a clipboard and had a solemn look on his face.

“What are you doing here Ms. Alga?” He asked as soon as he walked in.

“I am just checking on the patient.” Amanda replied with a dutiful smile on her face.

“You need to stop messing around during work hours, I will overlook it this one time, okay.” He said in a deeper voice, as if he was mad. It seemed he was quite tolerating.

“Okay, goodbye Azure.” Amanda replied and left happily.

The doctor continued with my checks. I got the cast taken off, and got x-rays. Whether I left with a cast would depend on the results. Nearly two hours later, with regular check-ins by Amanda, I finally got my results.

The next day I went to school again, as usual, with my green military jacket. The jacket was supposed to make me recognizable at a glance from the other students. It would become a symbol as part of me, and it seemed to work well as such.

I walked into my classroom, arms hidden by the jacket, and got the usual glances. I would ignore anything that happened today, because I had something more important after school.

At lunch time an older girl walked into our class. Jane Machat, is popular across grades and has many followers boys and girls alike.

She slowly walked across the classroom until she got to my desk. She sat down on an empty chair, facing me.

“Are you ready, Azure? We have to go out after school today.” She kept her words very vague, which might cause misunderstandings. But was I one to care?

“Yes, I will make sure to take good care of you.” I fought back with no care for how others saw this conversation.

“Ok see you later, there shouldn’t be any adult supervision.” Very different message.

“See you after school Jane.” I replied, while keeping a straight face.

After this the entire class stared at me weirdly. I would not doubt their opinions either, without the precise context of the conversation, anybody would think something lecherous was going on. However, how could I care for that?

After Jane left many of her followers left, disheartened. However not everybody followed her. One buff man instead got furious and charged into the classroom.

He was slightly taller than me, and had a moderate amount of muscles. The mean look on his face would likely make any student avoid him on the street.

“What do you want?” I asked in my usual cold demeanor.

“Why… Why would Jane like ‘you’?” His words, before scratchy, now slowly turned louder.

“Does that have anything to do with you?” I asked coldly. He only got more furious.

“Jane is my idol, WHY WOULD SHE LIKE A CRIPPLE LIKE YOU?” He yelled loudly. I got slightly pissed.

“It seems the school has forgotten who I am.” I slowly stood lazily. When I raised my head, only an infamous devilish grin was spread across my face.