Angels and Saviors and Whatnot

As Andy and I walked onto campus, both of us clad in our Batman attire, we saw Ashley, Jake, Jinxx, and Sandra, all gathered around a table. We walked over to them and sat down, putting our things on the ground with theirs.

"Hey guys," I said. We were met with four pairs of happy and excited eyes.

"Hey dudes! Where you been?" Jake asked.

"We've just been staying home, Alli's been afraid Stephanie will try something," Andy explained.

"And she's right!"

We all turned around and saw Stephanie and Devon with their arms crossed. Stephanie stepped forward and slapped the back of my head, sending my face into the table.

"Welcome back emo whore. I hope you had an awesome break."

Everyone gasped while Andy picked my head up off the table, and Ashley spoke up.

"Look, Stephanie, I'm not into hitting girls, but do that again, and I swear to God, those extensions will be ripped from your scalp. And your face will be so disfigured, you'll need three years of plastic surgery to look the same." He stood up and popped his knuckles, giving Stephanie a dangerous look.

"Ooh, look at me, shaking like a leaf. Give it up, Purdy boy, I know you can't and won't do anything. Have a nice day freaks. Oh, and Allison? I'll see you later." And with that she sauntered off with Devon hot on her heels.

"She won't touch you as long as we're around. You okay Alli?" Sandra asked, helping me to sit up straight.

"My neck hurts. You got any pain killers?" I asked her.

"Always babe," she said. She reached into her backpack and grabbed a bottle of Tylonol. "Take however many you need."

"Thanks man." I took 3 pills from the bottle and grabbed a bottled water from the table, not caring who's it was. I downed the pills and set the drink back on the table. "Thanks, who ever's drink that was." I saw Purdy wiggle his eyebrows and he took his water back.

"Remind me to wash my mouth out with soap when we get back home," I whispered to Andy.

"No problem," he whispered back, a huge, goofy grin plastered on his face. I laid my head down on his shoulder and said "I'm honestly not scared of her anymore. Let her punch me, kick me, anything. I'm not scared, not anymore."

"That's good babe...I think. Just don't get hurt, at least try Alli Cat."

"I'll try, but I can't promise."

The bell rang and we all stood and got our backpacks. We said our goodbyes and headed off to class, ready to face the day with whatever life threw at us.

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The lunch bell finally rang after 4 very boring classes, and I packed my stuff up to head outside. The cool breeze whipped around me as I waited for the guys and Sandy to come and eat lunch with me. I walked to our usual table and bench, and set my backpack on the table as I sat down.

"Well, looks like I finally got her by herself," I heard that bitch say behind me.

"Leave me alone, Stephanie, do you ever get tired of this?" I turned around and stood up, ready for the first punch.

"Not when I get paid for it." She stepped up and punched me in the gut, making me double over in pain.

"Who's paying you to beat me up?" A kick in the ribs and an answer.

"Your father."

"My wha-UGH," was all I could manage to say after another swift kick to the thigh.

"That's right. Your father pays me to beat you, because he and I both know that you're worthless. You're weak. You're a slut, and I stayed true to my promise. The whole school now thinks that you slept with the entire football team." She started laughing and walking away.

And finally, after 3 years of this torture, 3 years of being in high school, 3 years of being beaten and bullied and pushed around, all that anger that I had kept bottled inside came boiling over in a raging fit of screaming and punching.

"No! You're the whore! You're the slut! You're the worthless one! You're the weak one! I've stayed strong for too long! Don't you dare say that I'm worthless! Nobody knows what true pain I've gone through! Shut your fucking mouth because I AM NOT WEAK!"

A crowd started to gather and I'd had enough. I punched her in the face, hitting her nose and sending her to the ground. I scrambled to get on top of her and I punched her stomach, her face, anywhere I could reach.

"Allison, let me tell you something! Your father pays me to beat you up in return for not killing me! I don't choose to do this to you," She screamed in between punches.

"LIAR!"

"Alli! ALLISON STOP!" A different voice shouted.

I looked up and saw Sandra and the guys running towards me and Stephanie. There was blood on my balled fists, sweat on my forehead, and tears streaming down my face. I was panting heavily and I stood up, pulling Stephanie with me. Her nose was misshapen, her left eye was bruising and her bottom lip was busted beyond belief. The small crowd that had formed dispersed and walked away grumbling about how Andy had ruined a good cat fight.

"Jesus Alli, what did she say?" Ashley asked as he pulled Stephanie from me and sat her down on the bench I was sitting on.

"She works for my father. She says she's paid to beat me and treat me like shit. She said that he'll kill her if she doesn't beat me. I'm fed up with her shit!" I lunged for her and was caught by a pair of strong, lanky arms.

"Let me go! You don't understand!"

"Alli! Maybe she's telling the truth!" Andy was still holding onto me and I was kicking and punching him trying to get to Stephanie. She flinched, holding onto Ashley's arm for dear life. He looked down at her with a confused look and Sandra walked over and hastily detached her hands from his arm.

"Don't touch him," she said, her voice low and dangerous. Damn, where did that come from?

I had calmed down enough for Andy to let me go and for me to sit next to Stephanie and glare at her while she cowered away.

"Why? Why do you do this to me and my friends?"

"I told you. Your father promises me my life if I beat you up on a daily basis. I'll tell you everything I know about your father if you don't hit me again."

"Speak," was all that came out of my mouth.

"Your father started paying me about 3 years ago when we started high school. He said that he would spare my life if I hit you. So I did as I was told. He started paying me $50 and I did my job. He started telling me things about you. And about your mom." She paused and looked at me cautiously.

"Continue," I said through gritted teeth. Andy reached out from behind me and started to rub my shoulder, trying to calm me down.

"He started to tell me things, things like why he wanted me to do what I do. He said he never liked you, he said he never liked your mother. He wanted you to suffer, without your mother there to help you through it. He said...uhm...h-he said he wanted you to turn out crazy, like him." She looked up at me wearily and added, "He killed your mom Allison."

To her surprise, and even my own, I sat there calmly and nodded.

"I knew it. I just fucking knew that bastard took her away from me. The one thing he knew I couldn't live without, and he took her." I stood up and balled my fists again. Andy stepped forward and took my fists in his large hands.

"Alli baby, you need to calm down. I can't possibly imagine what you're going through right now, but you need to relax. This is only going to result in a panic attack or something worse." He looked at me with those blue eyes and smiled. "We'll brave this storm. Right, sweetheart?"

I nodded and buried my head into his chest, letting the tears flow. I was so tired of crying, but knowing that my father did this to my mother....it was just unbearable. He rubbed my back in soothing circles, and all the guys and Sandy gathered us in a huge group hug, leaving Stephanie on the bench. When we were done with our mini love fest, all sat down while Andy and Ashley tended to Stephanie and I's bruises.

"Damn, girl, you pack a punch," Ashley said as he wiped the blood from Stephanie's lip. She looked up and giggled while he moved to her nose. I heard Sandy growl next to me and I looked over at her and raised an eyebrow. She stood up and pulled me away from Andy as she walked over to a location where the rest of the guys couldn't hear us.

"What's up with you Sandy?"

"I....developed feelings for Ashley over the time you guys haven't come to school. It's just been us four, and we've grown really close. And now that he has his hands all over that....slut, I don't know how much more I can take."

"Sandy, why don't you just tell him how you feel?" I took her hand and stared at her sunglass covered eyes until she looked at me.

"I'm scared he won't feel the same way. He could reject me, or-or, he could-"

"Just tell him you faggot," I said smiling.

"Are you sure?" Her eyes were scanning the area around us like there was a killer after us.
Well, there was, but....you know what I mean.

"I'm positive. Go, child, Prince Charming awaits." I giggled as I let go and hugged her.

"For the record, I don't think Prince Charming had tattoos, or long black hair," she said as we walked back over to the rest of our group. She pulled Ashley aside and asked Jinxx to take over Ashley's job. Andy pulled my face towards the now clean cloth to wipe up some blood from my face. I turned myself to see what was happening between the rocking Charming and punk rock Cinderella.

"Hold still Alli, I need to get your face cleaned up," Andy whined. He pulled my face back towards his and continued to smother my face with some weird smelling liquid.

"Calm your poopers, boy, I need to see what the happy couple is doing." I moved my face away from the mystery substance and saw Sandra and Ashley talking. And then, I swear, their faces moved towards each other and they kissed.

Sandy had the biggest smile on her face when she walked over to Andy and I.

"He feels the same way, Alli Cat. He feels the same way!" She was bouncing up and down at this point, clearly excited that her crush likes her back.

"I see that. Did you guys have fun sucking faces?" I laughed when she playfully slapped my shoulder and whispered, "Yes."

Behind us, Stephanie cleared her throat and crossed her arms, clearly done with cleaning herself up.

"If you don't mind, Sandra, Andrew, I'd like to speak to Alli about some private things."

Sandy stood up and put a finger to Stephanie's face. "Touch her again, and die."

"Come on Sandy, she isn't worth it," Andy said, pushing Sandra away from Stephanie. She sat down next to me and folded her hands in her lap.

"I'm sorry. For everything. I know I don't deserve it, but please forgive me. I didn't really have a choice." She looked over to me and I sighed.

"I'm going to forgive you. Not because I want to. But because it's the right thing to do." I looked over to her and smiled. "I'm sorry for punching you."

"I'm sorry for calling you weak. You're everything but what I called you. You're the strongest person I know, and I look up to you for it."

"You look up to me? For going through the bullshit you put me through?"

"Don't rub it in. I have a masterminded plan to put your father in jail. I've been around him and his lair enough to know his weaknesses and what makes him crumble."

I leaned in to emphasize my interest and uttered one word.

"Spill."

Notes

This took me a while to write, my allergies are being assholes. Thanks for being patient Pinjas, I hope you liked this chapter(: More is on the way, rest assured. Love ya! <3