School Days: Anthology

She couldn't concentrate on anything as worry ate away at her thoughts. She would normally be eating at the moment at her next class before the lunch ended. She would normally be drawing in her notebook as she nibbled at her food, she would occasionally write some random things down. Her drawings and writings would never be seen by others, but she enjoyed those little moments of reprieve from this harsh school, but no. She was at her home room worrying about a preventable incident.

Katrina sat at her desk,

she was concerned.

No one may have not noticed, but it hurts her to see her unrecognized hero going through so much pain right now.

Kelly the so called Saint, Self proclaimed Mother Patricia, and the others were going through the information everyone has gathered, well not everyone. The people who abandoned Kelly were obviously not here, and were doing their own things. Speaking of a certain Saint; Katrina sent Kelly a glare which he didn’t notice, sighing in relief, she looked back at Matthew who sat at his desk, leaned forward, and laying his head in his arms as he silently groaned in pain.

There’s no telling what damage his body has sustained, but the man had waved everyone off and said he was fine. Everyone within the class took his word for it, they didn't really care for him. They weren’t his friends. To them he just kinda there, existing, nothing more. The only people who really saw him more than a grey blur was Patricia who was hopefully his sister or friend and not anything more, Caleb who enjoyed antagonizing the teen which left Katrina silently simmering in annoyance whenever the kid got on his nerves…

Then there’s herself, who at first thought of him as no more than a common brute, but the more she observed, heard and interacted with him she learned he was a simple person who enjoyed the simple things in life. He loved to work more than anything else as he preferred to be doing something physical rather than sit around, which in turn made him an impatient person during class; that could explain why he returned to school to improve his grades.

She overheard that Matt… the simple, protective Matt not the other Matt, had only passed high school, because the teachers of his previous school simply passed him along with a 51% mark, barely a passing grade, rather than to help him improve his grades. Although he was content with his grades as he never wanted to go to college or university, and immediately joined the Army. She wasn’t sure if he was deployed overseas or anything, but she heard Pat and Matt talking about his days as an Infantry Soldier.

Thinking back at the fights he was in ever since he came around, she came to the conclusion that the skills he gotten from the military prepared him for Has- Katrina’s thoughts abruptly ended as the boy she was thinking about suddenly got out of his desk, and briskly walking out of the room without a word. No one seemed to notice or care other than Patricia as she gave him a look of concern, but haven’t made a move to go after him. She instead stayed with the group, and talked about the gangs they came across.

The green haired girl let out a annoyed sound at Patricia, which the girl in white thankfully didn’t notice, and Katrina silently walked out of the room. Kyle and James gave her a glance, and James gave her a nod before turning his attention back to Dan and the others.

As she walked out of the class she spotted the sore teen leaning against the wall a few meters away, and was breathing rather louding and holding onto the side of his chest. Concerned she quickly walked over to him, “Matthew, are you okay?” Of course he wasn’t, but she didn’t know what else to say. She never was in this kind of situation where a friend of hers was badly hurt, because she never really had friends before the start of this school year a few weeks ago.

The boy’s labored breathing immediately stopped at her words, and was forced to calm themselves as he turned around to her. “Im fi-” He spoke with a coarse, dry voice before clearing his throat, and continuing. “I’m fine, really.” He says as moved around his legs and arms as though to show everything was truly alright. He really did look to be moving as if there was nothing wrong, but she knew his ribs, stomach, and fingers had taken a real beating. His face looked a little roughed up, but a trip to the bathroom he had taken before arriving to class had help removed the blood, and the bruises and cuts didn’t look so bad as before, but they still must've ache so much right now.

“No you’re not.” Katrina pressed on, and the look he expressed seemed to tell her as though he was expecting her to reject his assertion. She gently placed her hand on her cheek, and winced from the sensitive mark that has been placed there by her attackers. Concern ebbed onto his features, but he didn’t speak. “I still hurt, but you took the brunt of their violence.” She gestured to him, especially to his ribs. “They simply toyed with me while they held no restraint on you.” He looked away, not wanting to continue talking about his personal well being. So self destructive...

“It must hurt to stand. To walk. To talk...” She spoke softly, guilt slowly coming over thoughts. “Please, let me help you.” She may not have been able to help him fight, but the very least she can go to show her gratitude is to aid him in his time of need. “Let’s go to the infirmary. The tough guy act will only make things worse for you, you need to get yourself checked out.” At this statement Matthew sighed, and fully turned away from her.

“Fine.” Not looking back he spoke. “I'll go alone.”

“W-what?” Confused Katrina didn’t know what to think what he had said, but he cutted in just as she was about to insist she'll help.

“No one must know that Patricia's 'attack dog' can be beaten.” He gave a glare to several teens who walked by them, and the group of teens flinched, and power walked away. With them out of sight Matthew spoke again. “If they find out, then Patricia will be even more endangered.” He stated as though he knew what the school gangsters would do once they hear about him being injured, beatable. She knew where he was coming from, and it didn’t make it any better for her. They would come after him, and claim the title for defeating the supposed unbeatable, then they would go after the 'defenseless' girl. “Let me stand, let me walk on my own.” He was close to begging as he turned his head to the side slightly, looking back at her.

She felt moisture forming on the corner of her eyes. “P-please, if you don’t let me help you... then you’ll fall.” She knew her words will not convince him, but she desperately wanted to help her hero, her savior in bearing the pain he’s going through. If she can lessen his pain, then she wouldn’t have to worry about him further injuring himself as he walked down the halls as if nothing was wrong. She was concerned he will not make it to the infirmary.

For Katrina a little tear ran down her face, and his eyes momentarily widened at this. “They'll tell you what they know,“ He spoke resolutely, looked away from her, and slowly walked away from her, but she still could hear him as he spoke once more. “I need to be alone, while I suffer.”

“You'd better take it all, you got a way to fall...” Her voice was soft, and broke at the end as she looked down to the floor, not wanting to see him disappear and for him to see her in such a state. Her vision blurred as tears rapidly drop. He was alone, injured and near helpless as he walks down the halls... then she makes a promise reminiscent to what she wrote in her notebook.

"I will be there like mercy; I will find you through it all," And as near as my next prayer, you will find me there. Look for me, I will be there. "This I do swear, I will be there."

I'm not good at writing drama or sad shit, but I tried, eh.