C2 Two

HIGH SCHOOL

BREA POV

I anticipated the scream before I heard it. It was sharp, it was shrill, it was pain-filled, and yet, it symbolized a turning point in my life. The trashcan she'd kicked lay to her right, the content of it spilled haphazardly across the tiles.

I turned the corner, and I see everyone fleeing away from Ava as blood pooled around her feet. Her big toe had an ugly gash- it was almost split in half and even as her voice rang out for help, everyone stayed back, keeping their careful distances, the look of utter horror on their faces.

The same was the case for her besties- I always knew that they didn't care for her enough. They watched, huddling each other in a corner, both of them just staring at Ana as if she was an alien they had not seen in their lives before. It was hard to imagine that this was the trio that had terrorized me ever since I got here. The recent bruises they'd left on me after their assault was just starting to fade.

I rushed towards Ana, then crouched in front of her. "Are you alright?" I asked worriedly and her gaze snapped to mine, a bead of sweat trailed down her forehead and dropped into her eyes. She blinked, every action she took coated in pain. She forced her eyes to focus on me and for the first time, we were holding each other's stare. Yes. Look at me. See what you made me do, I thought with an inward grin. This was turning out way better than I had imagined.

Ana gazed at me as if I was her salvation- which was exactly as I'd anticipated. Her bloody hands reached out to grasp my shirt, her blood leaving ugly stains against the plain white fabric. I cursed inwardly. Even if she was hurt, she still found ways to make sure she made me feel her pain too. This was my favorite shirt and she'd ruined it too.

"Please help me... I'm going to bleed to death" she sobbed, snorts running down her perfect little face that she bragged so much about, and I nodded quickly, helped her to her feet and supported her frame with my body, then took steady steps towards the sick bay.

The student parted ways for us, the sight of Ava's blood dripping over the tiles making every one of them squirmy, while others avoided even making eye contact with her, not that she could even look into their faces at the moment.

I already knew it was going to be this way, hence why I'd pushed through with my plans. I had to be the only one to help her. It was the only way she'd ever look at me and see me as a real person, heck we might even become friends after this. Ana would not be that evil to ignore the girls who saved her life, would she?

Of course that would all change if she ever found out that I was the one who caused her injury in the first place. She deserved it a hundred percent and I didn't even feel an ounce of guilt about it. Hurting her was exhilarating, and the rush of adrenaline I got as I watched her suffer was satisfying.

Ana was never going to find out that I was behind everything. I'd made sure to cover my tracks well. This was all just an accident, and once I got her to completely trust me, then it would be all over. I would control, and make sure that I was the only true friend she had, and then the money will come in, and Mother would finally get her investment and keep me with her.

I helped Ana onto the bed, then took extra care as I lifted her leg onto the white sheet of the bed. The red bloomed across the fabric instantaneously, and the sight almost brought a smile to my face. It was such a pretty sight, to be honest, and Ana deserved to bleed a little for everything she had done. She should even be grateful that I decided to pay her back by extending a hand of friendship. She was a bully, but her family's connection will be useful for mine, hence why I was Killing two birds with one stone.

Ana looked at me as her blood kept seeping into the bedding.

"I'm going to bleed to death".

She was such a crybaby. I leaned toward her and grabbed her hand "No you are not. I'll make sure you survive this. I've got this, Ana," I got out determinedly, let go of her hand, and took a step away from her to walk around the room, my gaze darting around for the first aid box. I found it without much effort and I got out all the items I would need to stop her bleeding.

Ana's gaze shifted to the items uneasily as I moved toward her.

"Do you know how to use that? Maybe we should wait for the nurse"

"No, it will take a while for her to get here" and I knew that because I'd knocked her unconscious in the storage room. It was just me. I was the only one that would be able to help her.

I pulled out a piece of wood and placed it between her mouth.

Ana grunted, her brows drawing up. "What for?"

"This is going to hurt, so make sure you bite down hard enough," I warned but didn't give her enough time to comply before I poured the disinfectant over the nasty gnash on her feet.

Ana screamed, then gurgled on her blood as her teeth sank into her lower lips.

The sound of her scream was music to my ears, and as I put on my horrified face at the pain she was going through, I muttered words of reassurance into her ears. I pressed her gaping flesh together and wrapped a bandage around it. I would have sewn it if I wanted to really torture her, but I decided against it. She'd pass out if I so much as touched her with a needle.

Ana grabbed my hand as the blood finally stopped appearing on the bandage I wrapped around it.

Her voice was rough when she spoke. "I feel like I'm going to faint".

I pulled her close until her chin rested on my shoulders and her whole body was plastered against mine tiredly. "I'll be right here Ana, nothing is going to happen to you. You will be fine".

"Why are you helping me," she asked after some seconds passed. "I've bullied you since you came here".

And she finally admitted it, and all it took was almost losing a toe. I rubbed soothing circles against her back.

"I don't care about that. To be honest, I have always wanted to be your friend, and even tho you were mean to me, I couldn't stand to see you get hurt," I said, making my voice softer.

Ana sagged against me fully. "Frieda and Carla just stood there... They didn't do anything, they just watched me..." Her voice caught in her throat, and I grabbed her arm and pulled her back until she was gazing drowsily at me.

"They are only with you because of what they can get from you Ana, but look at me, I don't want anything but your friendship. I won't stand by and watch someone get hurt, even if that someone was you".

"I am sorry for everything. Please, forgive me, I was so stupid... " She paused, her throat working as I stared at her passively. "I'm sincere. I'll change for the better, I swear".

This was the perfect outcome I'd mapped out, and I was glad that she was choosing the best option all on her own. The other option would have been for her to insist that she never needed my help and that even If I gave her my blood, she would still bully me.

"I am really sorry Brea. I was so naive... Can you ever forgive me".

I stared at her until she fidgeted then I nodded and she sighed in relief before collapsing against me as she fainted.

The standby nurse rushed into the room, a look of horror on her face.

"I stopped the bleeding. She fainted just now," I explained the situation and she rushed towards her to check her pulse.

"Don't worry, I will take it from here, you can go back to class."

I nodded politely and stepped out of the room, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips. Everything was perfect just the way I'd envisioned it. She was in the palm of my hands now and there was no way she'd ever get out.

Of course, if she ever found out then I might have some problems, but I highly doubt that she will, not with all the extra care I'd taken while setting up the plan.

But if she does find out, I could always go with the second option and that would be to get rid of her.

I'd already given Mother my word that I was ok, I couldn't have anything jeopardize that and have them send me away again. It had been six tough months in that awful place and I never wanted to go back.

But with the way everything was going, I was sure this was going to be a fun year. At least now I knew the beating and insults were going to stop. I grinned, my steps lighter as I walked back toward the classroom.