Page 8 of Betraying Bexley

“Interesting.” Bex ate one of her fries after realizing she’d been so engrossed in what Bronx said, she’d eaten all of her burger. “I’m g-good with numbers.”

“Oh yeah? Excellent. Who needs words when numbers rule the world, amirite?” Bronx chuckled. “You’re cool people, B-Bex.”

The teasing tone of Bronx’s voice brought forth a real smile from Bex, something she hadn’t done since the video was made. “N-not really.”

“Sure you are. You haven’t found the right people to hang with. Now, you have me at your back.”

“T-thanks.” The bell rang for their next class and Bex frowned. She’d been so busy listening to Bronx talk, she hadn’t finished all of her food. She grabbed her drink and the cup of applesauce and threw them in her bag before standing. “History.”

“Chemistry.” Bronx frowned. “Blah. Hey, if you want to hang after school, I have History last period.”

“Can’t.” Bex frowned. “Work.”

“Oh, you’re a working girl. Gotta make that change.” Bronx rubbed her fingers together. “Well, all the same, if you ever want to hang, I’m your girl.”

She gave a curt nod.

“See ya, B-Bex.”

Yeah, see you.Bex scrubbed her forehead and headed for Mr. Aquino’s classroom. At least he’d allow her to finish her lunch. Of all her teacher’s she wished she could have been his kid. He was stern, but super nice and very helpful. He also had a very handsome husband. Though, the man did intimidate her. Something told her, he didn’t mess around. He also seemed to see everything in a room and could probably recite every conversation around him. Though she never had the chance to ask Mr. Aquino or his husband what R.O.O.T. was, or what they did, due to The Bitches, Noah's job had to be super important.

She entered the classroom which was only a few feet from the cafeteria and found the place empty, allowing her a minute to gather herself after the whirlwind her lunch turned into. Mr. Aquino glanced up and smiled at her, the one that said he understood her and was there for her when she needed him. She waved and headed to her desk. Unlike the other teachers who'd been content to let her do what she wanted, he encouraged her and engaged her. He made learning fun and she wished she could spend the whole day with him. Although, when she thought about it, it was a bit creepy for her to be that obsessed with a teacher at least twice as old as her and married to a guy who could more than likely end her.

What can I say, I live on the edge.She shook off the thought. No, she didn't. Her life was already on edge and she hated it.

“Bexley?” Mr. Aquino frowned. “Sorry. Bex. I need your help. Can you run to the teacher’s supply room and grab me the artifact box?” The way he said, “artifact box,” changed the expression on his face and his eyes lit up in a way she never understood. It was as if he was excited and something else she couldn’t describe.

“S-sure.”

“Thank you.” He stood and began writing on the board. “I had a meeting at lunch, and I didn’t have time to make the trip.”

The way he talked to her sometimes, it was normal as though they'd been friends for years and were equals when they weren't even close to being anything. She stepped out of the class, grateful no one, more specifically Sasha, Valerie, or Marybeth, had been lurking in the hallway. She walked in the opposite direction of the cafeteria toward the library and turned left down the hall where the teacher supply room was located. She inhaled as the door closed behind her. It was quiet in there. Empty. She could curl up in a corner and sleep without worry and without being found by The Bitches.

Bex crossed to Mr. Aquino station and picked up the artifact box. She didn't know where he bought it, or how he was able to obtain some of the relics he did, but every week, he brought something in from whatever period they were studying. It was part of their interactive curriculum the school prided itself on. As she turned to walk out, she stopped mid-stride.

“Well, well, well,” Sasha said. “Look what scurried out of the walls.”

“I see a rat,” Valerie said. “Should we kill it?”

Bex swallowed hard. Her hands trembled. Everything had gone too well. Her lunch had been fun. English, even though she didn’t participate, was nice though tense. Of course, now, the black clouds returned, and the rain from The Bitches’ bullshit would begin again. Couldn’t she, for one day, just pretend her life wasn’t miserable and have a not so normal day? Was she always destined to be someone’s punching bag? Who had she scorned in a previous life, to end up in such a shit one?

“Marybeth hasn’t said we can’t.” Sasha crossed her arms, tilting her head. “Marybeth?”

“First.” Marybeth snatched the box out of Bex’s hands. “Sasha, take this to Mr. Aquino and tell him poor, little Bexley is sick.”

“With pleasure.” Sasha giggled. “Don’t forget to take pictures.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Marybeth replied.

When the door closed once more, Valerie shoved Bex to the floor, her go-to method of getting the upper hand in any situation dealing with Bex. It wasn't like she wanted to fall, but again, rehab to learn how to use her leg and regain her balance was done on her own, in her dinky apartment. She hadn't even had the leg adjusted since she got it. Not like she could ask her father to help her out in that department either.

“What makes you think you can have any friends in this school, more specifically a lesbo-lover.” The vicious sneer Marybeth’s face didn’t scare her. She’d seen worse from her father.

“I d-don’t have f-f-friends.” Bex sat up.

“That’s right, you don’t.” Marybeth pressed the spike of her heel to Bex’s chest, knocking her backward. “You’d do well to remember your place. This is our school. Not yours Bexley.”

“No one ever saves trash,” Valerie added. “Because you’re not worth it.”

Bex snorted to herself. They didn’t have to remind her of her place. Hell, the showed her the ‘error,’ of her ways as often as possible. Today, like every other day, was no exception. “W-What d-d-do you w-want?”

Valerie cackled before crouching down in front of Bex. “For you to die already.”

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