1

CARTER

You know those battles you said you'd fight another day? 

Well, today was my turn and the battle line had been drawn. 

My headphones were over my ears, blocking out the distracting noise of the school cafeteria while I concentrated on my food. 

Sabrina, my best friend nudged me but I didn't respond because I thought she just wanted to gossip again and I wasn't in the mood for it. I had to get home after this and take care of my mum. 

Suddenly, my headphones were yanked away from my head. 

“Sabrina, quit the bullshit. I'm not in the-”

My words were caught off by the four boys standing in front of me. 

Jake, Owen, Kian and Erin stood above me, staring down at me which had been our favorite stance since junior year. 

Jake was the one holding my headphones. 

“Well, would you look at that? The little rat came back for senior year. You have some balls on you, Carter. I have to give you that.”

I didn't want any trouble so I didn't say anything. I just hoped that my lunch won't end up being worn as a hat again. It was my last year in school and I just wanted peace. 

Kian slapped my head from behind. 

“Are you now mute or did your mother's sickness get to you? Say something, bastard!”

I hated when they mentioned my mother so I stood up and turned to him. 

“Don’t talk about her like that, you prick.”

He smirked. 

“Or what?”

I already had three strikes. If I get another strike, I won't graduate. There was no way I could do anything. 

Sabrina was holding my hand, most definitely thinking about the same thing I'd been thinking about. 

The whole cafeteria had gone quiet and was watching the show just like they always did. No one did anything to help. Why would they when they got entertainment for free? 

I sat back down so that I won’t be caught with them if the teachers walked in. They never got into trouble. But I always did. 

“Listen, you guys are a Joke just like your name implies so why don't you leave us alone?”

Thankfully they didn't ever do anything to Sabrina but it didn't mean they liked her. 

They laughed when she spoke. 

“I see you're still his bitch. Listen, I don't have the time for you so just sit tight and be the little puppy that you've always been. I'm talking to your master.”

I hated them. They were basically the King's of this school. 

All five of them. 

Well, they were four now since the incident happened which meant they were no longer JOKER. They were now just JOKE, which seemed less cool but they were still able to keep their respect. 

Jake broke my headphones and threw them into my food, causing it to splash on my face and shirt. 

“I thought we warned you never to come back to this school. I thought we told you we'd kill you if we saw you here. After everything you did, you think you can walk around freely?” 

I didn't have a choice. If I had a choice, I'd be a million miles away from her. But just like always, Sabrina held my hand under the table, pacifying me. 

Then Jake slapped my head and I knew that it was about to begin. That was the signal for the beating to begin. 

The teachers passed and turned a blind eye as they threw my food all over me, burying my head into the tray. Other kids brought out their cellphones to record and I just stayed there, taking the beating and protecting my face. 

My mother would see my face and I won't be able to lie to her. In the last two years that this has been happening, I have come to become a pro at this. 

Suddenly, I heard the main door open harshly and footsteps echoed through the quiet cafeteria. 

“Was this what we agreed on?”

That voice…what? 

Through the pain, I raised my head up and saw him. 

Ramsay Archer Jones. In the flesh. 

He was out of jail. Has it been a year and a half already? 

He was definitely taller and looked down at me with ominous eyes. He had stubble and his hair was longer. My mortal enemy, the devil himself. 

There goes all my dreams of having a peaceful year out the window. If I had known he was out of jail, I would have changed schools. 

He turned back to his group of friends. 

“Jake, what is this? I thought we agreed on something. Forget this, let's go.”

Owen chuckled. 

“How can you say this? This sissy is the reason you went to jail..let's teach him a less-”

“Owen, don't make me repeat myself, man. I just got back, I want to keep a low profile. Let's go, we need to get lunch.”

I was the reason he went to jail? Seemed like we all had different events of what happened that day but I didn't say anything. 

They all walked over me and left. Ramsay was the last to leave as he turned around to look at me again. 

My heart beat quickly in my chest as it seemed like death was standing in front of me. There was something in his eyes but I couldn't say what he was. 

And then he walked right out. 

Sabrina ran to my side and helped me to the boys bathroom. 

As soon as I removed my clothes and hung them at the door, I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a total mess. My hair was sticky with spaghetti sauce. My clothes were dirty and messy and I had bruises all over. 

I just stepped in the shower and let the water rinse me. 

Just one more year. Then it'll be all over. 

I must have stayed in the bathroom for a very long time because my fingers were getting very wrinkly by the time I got out. 

I froze at the door of the shower. 

My uniform hung in the same spot. The only difference was that it was clean.