Andy’s POV

I gaze out of the window, lost in my morbid little daydream. Click. I load the gun. Imagine; just imagine if I did do it… if I did kill myself. Click. Pull the trigger Andy…I bet everyone would be happy. I mean, aside from my mom nobody would give a fuck. The teachers would probably be glad to get rid of me, the rest of the kids in school hate me and my step dad… lets not go into that. Bang.
I jerk out of my daydream, cursing the thunderstorms perfect timing and flipping my hood up over my head while casting looks of pure evil around the classroom of my ‘peers’. Disregarding the teachers’ instructions to concentrate on the work being set, I focus on the lightning illuminating the darkness surrounding this hellhole known as school.
‘So what’s stopping you Andrew?’ I ask myself. And the honest answer is hope. The hope that there will be a brighter day but here I am, sitting at the back of a shabby ass classroom, feeling sorry for myself… yet again. This is the story of my life really. I mean, I’ve never had anyone to hang out with; I’m even rejected by the outcasts. Here in Cincinnati pretty much everybody has somebody, even the ‘emo kids’ come together over their shitty ‘Good Charlotte’ band. But then, who am I to judge? I’ll just stick in my ear buds and appreciate the bands that I like.
Midway though ‘This Could Be Love’ by Alkaline Trio, I feel a ball of paper hit the back of my head. I sigh, ignore it and pull out my old battered cell phone & check the time. 2:45pm. ‘Only 15 more minutes Andy, and then your real challenge starts.’ It’s always worse during breaks and before & after school, the teachers are never there and the bullies get especially ruthless. They’ll beat you, steal your stuff and they like to try and force me to say degrading shit about myself. I never will though. I’ll never give in to them, or back down. I tap my pen absent-mindedly on the side of my desk. Never give in; never back down… those would make some badass song lyrics. I pull out my batman notebook and jot it down just as the bell starts to ring. Everybody surges out of the class at the same time, so I hang around at the back, packing my bag and making sure anybody that may want to fuck with me on my way home has left the building.

“Are you sure there’s nothing wrong, Andrew? You seem off…” my teacher Miss Williams raises an eyebrow at me sceptically.
I feel tears well up and threaten to fall, but I simply swallow them back and put the façade that I use every day back on. The same façade that everyone thinks is real. I hate when people ask if I’m okay, its like the universe conspiring against me, telling me that I need to face up to what I’m dealing with… what happens… But I can’t. I’d rather pretend.
“I’m fine thank you, Miss” I respond with a slight smile. “Have a good weekend!”
“If you say so Andrew and you have a good weekend too! Don’t forget the homework I set!”
I quicken my pace heading out of the classroom, pretending I didn’t hear her reminder.

There’s virtually nobody in the usually inhumanely busy corridors by now, which is fine by me; they hate me and the fucking feeling is mutual. The cold rain hits me in the face as I get outside & I smile to myself, putting in my ear buds, pulling my hood even further over my head & enjoying the walk home while the familiar bass line of Mötley Crüe's 'Girls Girls Girls' pounds into my ears.
“One task down, another worse one to go… enjoy this walk back, Andy, it’s the best time of your day” I mutter to myself.
And just as I thought I was safe somebody lands a kick to my ribs & I crumple from the pain...
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Ashley’s POV

2:45pm… Ugh!
I shove my cell phone down my pocket, ignoring Kina's 21 text messages. We spoke like an hour ago before class started, and she’s already claiming to miss me… Kina's the leader of the cheerleaders and my overly obsessed girlfriend. I don't even like her but I was hooked up by the guys so I couldn’t say no. The only way to avoid being a loner here is to be part of the popular kids’ cliques… and that means going to every party, dating the cheerleaders, and shoving the ‘dark kids’ into their lockers. I always apologize quietly to them though. Quiet enough so the guys don’t hear me. I’m not risking this reputation I’ve built up. I’m not being bullied again. I’m Ashley ‘Fuckin’ Purdy and now I’m respected.
"Hey... Ash" Mason hisses. I swing around in my chair and Mason, the captain of the schools football team is grinning thickly at me, mischief dancing in his eyes.
"Check this out" He leans back, scrunching a ball of paper in his hands and throws it with perfect aim at the back of some kid’s hood.
"Haha! Alright!" I high five Mason. I turn back around and roll my eyes. Poor kid. I’ve seen him around; it always looks as if there’s something deeper going on with him. He never smiles and his eyes… Well. The bell rings, snapping me out of my trail of thought. Finally class is over! The class roars and rushes out through the doors, ignoring Miss Williams’ warning about the math homework due on Monday.
"Hey Ash! Are you coming to the party tonight?" I hear Hayley call out to me, leaning against her locker and twisting her hair.
"You bet I am" I purr at her, wink & catch back up with my posse. Mason, the rest of the guys & I stride through the corridor when I hear a familiar high pitched voice shouting my name. Fuck.
"Hey guys uh…I'll catch up with you outside. I'm gonna go talk to Kina. She's giving me those eyes" I wiggle my eyebrows seductively & the guys burst out in fits of laugher.
"See ya later Ash!"
Turning away from them, I see Kina speeding up towards me, eyes sparkling and lips pouted. "Hi Ashley!" She grabs my face and presses her lips against mine before I even get the chance to reply.
"Are you gonna pick me up for the party tonight?" She tiptoes and gives me those puppy dog eyes she uses when she wants something.
"Yeah sure babe... Umm shouldn't you be practising some cheerleading routine or something today?" I scratch my head and look behind me at my friends laughing outside and pointing at something. I glance back to Kina.
"Oh yeah, I know I’m going now. I just can't wait for the party today like oh my god, Stacy and I bought THE cutest shoes...” I nod vacantly at her, scratch my head again and look back towards the guys in the distance. Mason is shouting inaudibly in my direction with his hands cupping his mouth. What the fuck is going on?
"ASH! HONEY BOO! Are you listening to me???" She narrows her eyes at me.
"Oh yeah, yeah I heard babe. You’re gonna look great" I kiss her quickly and walk away pretending I didn't hear her call out my name again.
I sprint up the sports field and find the boys looking down at something, laughing. There’s a pale boy in black skinnies on the floor clutching his side in pain, rebelliously glaring upwards at us… the same guy who was in class earlier. I stand around him with the guys & take the opportunity to take a proper look at him since he always has his hood up He’s a bit too fair & reminds me of a vampire. He looks up, his straight black hair showering across his face… I stare into his eyes; maybe vampire was the wrong description. He looked innocent... cute almost.
‘Ashley, what the fuck?’ I think to myself as Mason laughs and hands me some black iPod. I hold it, confused & look to Mason.
“Smash it, Purdy!” he chuckles evilly.
I look to the boy. His bright blue eyes grow to resemble orbs, and they shimmer, threatening to spill tears. He shakes his head slowly, pleading with me. I don’t wanna do this… But I have to.

Notes