chapter 2

I ended up getting a detention for being late. I had never gotten one before. I felt like they were treating me like a criminal. I mean, it was my first time ever being late to class and they gave me a detention. I saw that as a huge flaw in the discipline system.

How was it that they could give detentions for being late, but no bullies ever got a single detention? A teacher once walked pass me being beaten up and only muttered, 'No fighting.' I wasn't fighting. I was getting my ass handed to me.

Buck smiled at me after I slipped the paper to him. I hated him. I thought that I would have been better off if anybody else in the entire world found my journal. The next day, which was Friday, I would have my detention after school.

I sat in a desk in the front of the classroom. I took out a book to read and the teacher grumbled something about no forms of entertainment. Detention sucked.

I hadn't realized I was the only one in the room until the rest of the detention gang showed up. I knew Josie Slafriggiano, but all the other people were in different grades, except for Toby.

I hadn't realized he would be in here too. Of course he was late to class as well. He walked with powerful steps to the seat next to me. He sat next me? Did that mean something? Should I have waved? Or was waving gay? I hated lying to everyone about who I was. I waved at him anyway. He nodded his head in acknowledgement of the wave.

He was so cool. I blushed, thinking about him. He was tall, maybe around 6'4", and had an incredible face. It was soft and hard at the same time. His lips and eyes were his soft features, and his strong jaw and perfect nose were the hard.

I didn't remember when I began to feel the way I did about Toby. I liked how kind he was. I liked how he never picked on me like other kids. I liked him. I couldn't believe I had been thinking about him so much, because detention was over before I even realized it got started.

I put my backpack on my shoulder and walked briskly out of the room. I heard kids laughing and recognized a familiar chuckle. I froze. He might try and give me some more of his work. I swallowed hard.

I was turning to leave when he, and about three other football players, caught sight of me. "Leo, what's up?" I could run, but that would just piss him off.

"Hi Buck." The other three looked on. They were waiting for something they could join in on.

"You know, I forgot to tell you, I'm going to need some physics done for Monday."

"Sure Buck," I said. I didn't want any trouble.

"Let's have some fun first, maybe go check out some girls from South High."

"I can't," I said. He was trying to mess with me and I hated him for it. I wished some awful things on Buck almost every day, but then I'd feel really guilty about it.

"You don't wanna hang out with us?" he asked as if he were genuinely offended. "We're not good enough for you?" He pushed me. The other three laughed. "You think you're better than us?" He punched me.

I wanted to run, but I probably wouldn't have gotten very far. I was not very tall and I was sure the four of them would catch me. He kicked me this time, after forcing me to the ground. He called me a bitch. I wanted to cry, but I refused to cry. I wanted him to just leave me alone. I covered my face and took my beating.