I woke up frantically, looking over at the clock. 9:30. I overslept.
“Fucking great…” I growled as I rolled out of the bed and rushed to get dressed. I walked out of the bedroom and looked around the small trailer home. “Hello? Anybody home?”
There was no answer. One of the three dogs trotted up to greet me. I petted her and moved on. I checked all four of the other bedrooms. All were empty. Fantastic…
“Where the fuck is everybody?!” I cried out, taking out my cell phone. One new message. I opened it. Went into town for the day. Be back later. I opened the reply window. Where’s Derek? I got a reply almost instantly. He had class today, so he’s at the school.I I just about threw my phone against the wall.
“I have class today too god fucking damn it!” I shouted. The dogs cowered to the other room. “Why the fuck wouldn’t he wake me up?! He knows I have class!!”
I sighed and went back into the bedroom. I grabbed my coat and backpack. I glanced at the clock again. 9:35. If I left now and booked ass…I could make it to my open period…go and make up class during that time…
I ran outside and hauled my bike out of the garage. I plugged in my music player and began the ten mile bike ride to the college campus.

By the time I got there, it was almost 11 o’clock. I just made it on time. I locked up my bike and made my way to the classroom of my previous class. I waited until everyone was filed out, I walked in. My professor was erasing the lesson off the board.
“I’m really sorry I missed class Mr. Lunde,” I said, completely out of breathe.
“Oh Haylee I was worried,” he replied turning around. “You never miss a lesson…are you okay? You sound like you’re dying and you’re so red!”
“I overslept…and…had to bike…here…” I answered in between puffs.
“Don’t you live like…ten miles away?”
“Yeah…”
“Haylee you could have just emailed me,” he smiled sweetly. “I would not have mind. And I would have been happy to forward you today’s lesson.”
“I know…I just didn’t want to miss the rest of my classes…” I said. “And while I’m here…I’m hoping I can sit in your next class…since I have an open period.”
“You aren’t going to eat?” he asked.
“No,” I shook my head. “I’m alright.”
“Well I have about twenty minutes until my class if you’d like to join me?” he suggested.
“Since you’re offering…”
“I insist. I’ll even pay,” he offered, smiling.
“Oh no that’s alright, I…” I went into my backpack to find my wallet. When I opened it, my jaw dropped. “It’s…it’s empty?! I had $50 in here just last night!”
“You were saying…?” he smiled.
“That would be great…thank you so much,” I said, confused. What the fuck happened to my money…?!

A few minutes later, Mr. Lunde and I were sitting at a table in the cafeteria enjoying a brunch. I got something small, so he didn’t have to spend much money…even though he tried to pressure me into getting more.
“You’re such a small girl…you look like you never eat,” he pointed out, concerned.
“Oh I’m alright…” I assured him. Even though he was right. The only time I ate was when I was at work or school…and that’s if I had the money to. I never ate at home…Derek wanted to keep me weak. I never had much money because he always made me spend it on him or took it himself. That’s when it hit me. “That’s it!”
“I’m sorry?” Mr. Lunde looked at me, confused.
“That’s what happened to my money!” I shouted. “I’m sorry Mr. Lunde I’ll have to make up the lesson up another time!”
“Oh um…alright. Have a good afternoon Haylee.”
“I doubt I will now but thank you for the brunch!” I said as I got up and ran out of the cafeteria. Derek…that fucking bastard! He should be on an open period right now…but he’s not in the North cafeteria…so he must be in the South.
I made my way across the campus and into the south cafeteria. I looked around and was about to leave empty handed when I heard laughing in the corner. I looked at the table on the west side of the room. To my misfortune…he was there. My heart dropped into my stomach to what I saw.
He was sitting there with some girl on his lap. She looked only a little older than I was but she was definitely more…developed. He was kissing her neck and attempting to massage her breasts with his left hand. I say attempt because she kept pulling away playfully, trying to play hard to get. On the table in front of them was about $30 of snacks, drinks, and food. There were several other guys sitting at the table…they looked to be possible juniors. But I couldn’t tell…and frankly, I didn’t care. My mind went blank. What happened after that, I couldn’t really control myself.
“Excuse me,” I asked a girl sitting at a table directly to my right. “May I please have this soda? I promise I will buy you two more.”
“How come?” she asked annoyed.
“He,” I said pointing at Derek. “Is my boyfriend.”
“Oh…” she said, then actually looked over to where I was pointing. “OH! Oh by all means go on ahead. One condition. May I watch?”
“By all means,” I nodded. She handed me her soda. Good…it’s still pretty full.
I walked over to Derek’s table casually. Now that I was closer, I could see the other boys’ faces. They were some of his older buddies. And they all recognized me. All the smiles disappeared, but none of them said a word. They knew what would happen if they did. Derek was still distracted with his slut. I gripped the soda tight in my right hand, and balled my left. I stood there for a seconds, using the scene I was watching to build up my courage.
“Well, well, well,” I said as calm as possible, both of them jumped and looked at me. “I was wondering where all my money disappeared to…but now I know.”
“H…Haylee!” Derek choked out my name in shock. “What are you doing here?”
“I have class today you fucking twat,” I replied. “But you knew that didn’t you? You let me sleep in on purpose and came here without me. So I had to bike the ten miles to school. Mr. Lunde was nice enough to buy me lunch since you stole my money.”
“I didn’t steal your money,” he lied. “It’s mine.”
“Oh?” I asked, laughing. “And what job did you get $50 from exactly? Last time I checked, you’re too much of an idiotic fat ass to get off your ass to get one.”
His friends tried to hold back the snickers. The slut was now off his lap and a little upset that it wasn’t his money. Derek stood up, threatening.
“Shut up Haylee,” he ordered. “You’re such a cheating liar.”
“HA!” I laughed. It’s all I could do. “ME?! A cheating liar?? You’re the one with a fucking whore sitting on your lap! That’s it Derek. I am sick of your fucking bullshit. I’ve used up too many chances getting out of the relationship with you and I won’t overlook this one!”
I was gripping the soda so tight, my knuckles were turning white. I ripped off the lid and threw it on him. It immediately soaked his hair, white shirt, and jeans. Everyone in the cafeteria gasped; some started giggling. Others could do nothing but stare in shock. Those were the ones that knew about our relationship. I swallowed hard. Now would be the best time of any to run Haylee…move your feet…
But I couldn’t. I just stared, glaring. Derek looked at himself throwing his arms up. Then he looked at me. The look on his face is what got me to run. That was it…that was the look that he was going to kill me. I turned around and booked ass out of the cafeteria and through the hallways, and through the atrium.
Where the fuck am I going to go?! I live with him! This was a stupid idea! I should have thought of this! God damn it! God FUCKING DAMN IT! I scolded myself for such a stupid mistake as I ran out of the main building and across the campus. I was halfway to the sports building when I looked over my shoulder. Derek was just exciting the main building. Everyone in the cafeteria must have held him off…but how did he know I would go outside?!
I lost my footing and tripped. I went flying and tumbled into the grass. I quickly rebounded, dusting myself off and ran around the side of the sports building and towards the small set of woods on campus. This is probably another stupid idea but I need to hide!
I sprinted towards the trees and weaved around them. When I was about half way into the woods, I ducked inside a hallowed out tree and took out a switch blade pocket knife I kept in my jeans. This tree is my only sanctuary…I usually come here during my open period to get away if I need to…he can’t know about it…unless!
I peeked through a small hole I carved that allowed me to see through the trees and onto the campus. I could see Derek headed straight for the forest, eyes ready to kill. I turned back around, slamming my back against the tree. Unless he’s followed me out here…oh my god…I’m gonna die…I could have just left it alone…but I didn’t…and now…
I could hear his footsteps echo as he stomped across broken branches and dead leaves. He was much closer now. I was too afraid to move. Too afraid to breathe. I could feel my face get pale as the footsteps stopped just outside the tree. I looked at the opening and saw his shoes…facing the tree. He knows…he knows exactly where I am…