"I need someone to fill in for me at the ceremony to honor the wards."

I stood there for a moment, trying to understand what he had just said to me.

"The wards are coming here?" I spluttered out.

Mr. Gunderson looked at me quizzically, before his face morphed into an expression of alarm.

"Oh, have the students not been informed yet? Oh well, now you have a juicy bit of gossip to tell your friends."

I resisted the urge to correct him and tell him I had no friends. Well, whatever. This was probably just a way to try and get me to stay in school and to make me believe that I still had a chance at salvaging my dead social life.

I looked Mr. Gunderson in the eye. "What makes you think I'll take you up on your offer?"

To his credit, he didn't dance around the subject. "I think you'll accept because it might be the only good thing you'll ever experience here before you leave."

I inhaled. "Mr. Gunderson, I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm fine. This won't help convince me to stay, and this isn't going to increase my social standing. I don't need handouts."

When he replied, there was a mixture a hurt and anger in his voice.

"Are you so self-deprecating that you believe I wouldn't do my favorite student a favor with no strings attached? I just want you to experience something that isn't bullying or being snubbed before you leave."

A moment of uncomfortable silence followed his rant. I spoke up again, determined to make him see sense.

"I'm sorry about that. But think about this. Even if I accept, the organizers aren't going to let me speak. I'm some nobody who just shows up to school just so I can get the minimum required attendance. The wards are the seventh most popular young cape team, and everyone is going to be gunning for the role as keynote speaker. Why don't you pick Omar?"

"Well, Omar isn't being bullied, is he? And he already has enough laurels under his belt."

I tried to voice a counterargument, but he cut me off.

"After what happened to you at the pit, the school feels that it would be better for them if you left. That incident combined with the bullying makes them scared that you'll press charges, or leak the details to the media. With a little persuasion from me, they will give you the role of keynote speaker."

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

He stopped after that, waiting for my response. Telling him no would just start another round of arguments, and I had to admit that the prospect of getting out of class and out of Owen's clutches for even a couple of days felt like a great deal.

"Fine, you've convinced me. I accept."

Mr. Gunderson gave me the coy smile of someone who had gotten their way.

"The announcement will probably be made tomorrow evening after school. Don't try to slip away, you need to join the student council for the briefing."

I groaned. I had been planning to ditch tomorrow, but now I had to endure the entirety of P.E and art class in the pleasant company of Owen and his friends. Well, at least I had something to look forward to.

■

After the afternoon classes were over, I walked over to the cafeteria, trying to blend into the walls by walking slowly and keeping to the corners.

My efforts were proven to be futile when someone put me in a headlock and dragged me over to a table in the middle of the hall. The rest of the students barely even glanced at me, and were probably used to this by now.

I started to convulse, tapping on the arm in an attempt to convince who ever it was to release me. It was only after I started to black out that I got released.

"You lasted a second longer than last time, well done!"

Ryan smirked at me, knowing I couldn't do or say anything.

I quietly joined them at their table. Owen's so-called friends might as well be templates for every group of small town bullies.

Owen was the ring leader, Connor was his yes-man, Ryan was the sadistic brute and the group was rounded out by Jacob, who fancied himself as a comedian.

I got my food and sat down, trying not to wince as Ryan kicked at my shins to elicit a reaction from me.

I tried to distract myself from the pain by forcing myself to focus on the conversation. Like it had been from the start of the year, it was about girls.

Connor was arguing with Jacob, as he always did. "I'm telling you, Addison has better ones."

"You must be blind. Naomi's got the biggest ones among the girls."

I snuck a glance at Owen. He was picking at his food, clearly uninterested in the conversation. If I didn't distract him quick, he would start insulting me, and the others would be quick to dogpile on me to win his favor.

I pretended to fidget, and that drew Owen's attention to me quick.

"Got something to say, ass-wipe?"

I stayed quiet for a bit before I played my hand.

"I heard the wards are coming here."

Owen's eyes widened.

"Where did you hear that?"

"I heard Mr. Gunderson telling Omar." I lied smoothly.

Jacob quickly left for Naomi's table to tell her and score some brownie points from her, and Connor and Owen left along with him.

I quickly finished my lunch and got up to leave, happy that I had successfully distracted them. Ryan looked at me with a death glare, but I ignored him and he backed off.

■

The walk home was always pleasant, even if I didn't like who was waiting for me at home. This coupled with the fact that I might head an event for the wards and my tormentors leaving me alone had put the wind in my sails.

All that stopped when I heard the disposable phone Leo had given to me for emergencies give a little ping.

I felt my heart race as I regarded the text.

Require 2 k of ADD tonight. Do not disappoint.

Meet at 12.

-L