I heard an alarm going off. Slowly my hand searched for it to shut it up. I haven't had a peaceful sleep in a while, and I wanted it to last. But then my hand felt the cold tile. I shot up.

I checked the time and breathed a sigh of relief, ten minutes till Bio class ended, meaning I still had time to chill. Unfortunately, someone was in the stall next to mine. Again with my bad luck. I was past hoping, so I assumed the worst; it was either Jock #1 or #2.

Thinking this, I knew there was one option if I wanted to get to History today. Get out of the restroom and run.

I quickly packed up all of my items, the bloody bandages, my history notebook, and the first aid kit. I slowly unlocked the door, successfully unlocking it without a sound. Then I looked under my stall door for any feet; I didn't want to go through all this work just to get pummelled. When I saw none, I almost rejoiced.

Then as silently as possible, I crawled under the stall door, dragging my belongings with me. Standing up, I quietly walked out of the restroom. Once I was out, I sprinted to the closest exit to dispose of my bandages.

Exiting the building, I ran to the alleyway on the side of the school and lifted the lid of the nearest dumpster. Throwing my used bandages in, I closed the lid and ran right back into the school.

The bell rang.

I immediately gathered myself up and ran down the hallways. Ignoring my screaming body, I skidded to a stop at the entrance to my History Class. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and entered.

As per usual, I was the first one here besides the teacher. Some kids were still packing up, but I didn't mind. I just walked up to the desk, furthest away from everyone else, and sat down.

I looked around the classroom, taking in the weird history junk on the walls. There were some photos with writing of some kind, but I couldn't be bothered to read it.

The teacher, Mr.Brunner, was a nice guy who was really passionate about anything that happened before him. I almost found History enjoyable with how animated he talked about it. But sadly, in my history class were the worst people I could be paired with—the popular clique. I don't mean a small group either; virtually, the whole class is filled with jocks, playboys, playgirls, and cheerleaders. Some went into both categories. It didn't matter, though; they made the one class that could've been the most enjoyable, my most dreaded.

Thankfully they couldn't get away with much because Mr.Brunner had the sharpest eyes I've ever seen on a teacher. Which isn't saying much but let's just say that he caught someone throwing a note to someone during a test while he was concentrating on his own work. To add some bonus points, Mr.Brunner knew who threw it and who received it, and I didn't even see him look up from where he was writing.

But even though Mr.Brunner caught most of these populars actions, he didn't see all of it. You would think that these guys would use their brains to think of a way to study better, but no, they use this odd cleverness to mess with me.

I've learned to get used to it. Still, this overpowering force that I avoided in the hallways was impossible to avoid in class.

I sighed as the warning bell rang. I counted down the minute until the beginning class bell rang.

When it finally did, I was off by a second and grumbled into my hoodie. Even though the atmosphere was suffocating, I still enjoyed watching my teacher teach. He did goofy examples and sometimes played out a famous scene in a story.

But when class was over. That was when I needed to watch out.

The bell rang.

I needed to get out fast. I grabbed my history notebook waved, goodbye to Mr.Brunner, and sprinted to the classroom doors. That's when everything fell.

Wait, no, nothing fell.

I fell.

My world came crashing down as I hit my chin full force onto the classroom floor. My mind, a bit dazed, took the situation very slowly. I groggily tried to stand, I wobbled and fell onto the wall. Pushing my hand out for structure, I took in the fuzzy background noise; something kept rising and falling. I shook my head and tasted blood in my mouth. Great

I slowly staggered towards the classroom door, falling over a bit. Suddenly the noise stopped, the rising and falling noise in my brain cut off. I felt someone grab my arm, and I looked up to see who was acting as my stability. I couldn't make out my stability's face or anything. My mind was still fuzzy.

The person helped me hobble along. Then right before the blue blob I knew was the door, they sat me down in an empty seat. Confused, I tried to look up at the person, but I couldn't make out anything. I huffed, annoyed at my senses for not working.

I heard a muffled voice. Someone was trying to talk to me. I looked around, trying to search for the voice. I heard a small release of breath, and then I was standing again.

The blue blob that was the door was getting closer. I wanted to cry in happiness. I can finally get out of the populars' suffocating presence.

The door opened, and I stepped out, confident in my feet to take me to English. But then I crumbled. Right before I hit the floor, someone grabbed me. Wrapping my arm around their shoulders, they took me to the right.

Wait, no, this isn't the right way. English is towards the left. So is my locker. Why are they taking me in the wrong direction?

I couldn't get out of the person's grip and was slowly taken the wrong direction. Another blue blob came into focus. I wonder which classroom I was being brought to.

I was taken through, and I noticed large white blobs on the floor and a moving tan and white blob. Slowly my eyes started to focus.

Fucking finally!! I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs. Then I noticed where I was.

The Nurse's Office.

I shakily stood on my own as everything started coming into focus. I don't know why my brain decided to freak out on me. But what I did know was that nurses were bad news. They poked and prodded in more ways than one, asking questions and figuring out your life story while trying to wrap a bandage. My support slowly let go of me as I stood on my own.

"Jackson," I finally heard something that wasn't static. Fucking finally.

Some more static noise. I thought we were over this brain!

"-tripped and fell. Hit his chin hard on the ground" yes, actual words!

More static. Then I was being moved. My eyes focused more, and I saw Mr.Brunner holding me up while the nurse went elsewhere. I felt myself being laid on a bed.

"Hey Percy, you doing ok?" I heard him ask.

"Besides my brain short-circuiting for a few minutes, yeah, I'm great."

The nurse came in, and Mr.Brunner rushed out to get ready for his next period. I heard the bell ring. I wasn't sure if it was the beginning or warning bell, not that it mattered.

"Can you tell me the number of fingers I'm holding up?" the nurse was holding her hand in front of my face. I blinked and looked at her hand, I couldn't make it out fully, but I know most people hold up two.

"Uhh, two" I tried to sound confident, but I wasn't entirely sure if she would buy my guess. I mean, it looked like three, but with how untrustworthy my brain has been, I'm not taking any chances.

The nurse sighed. "No concussion then" Yes, my ingenious plan succeeded!

She gave me some water and told me to lay in bed until lunch.

I tried to sleep, but with my brain keeping the staticky cover, I don't think I could remember how to. I closed my eyes and saw nothing.

Words played through my head at first; they were the words of my previous history class; Mr. Brunner was acting out some war. But then the words changed into a more sinister voice. Gabe.

Worthless

Weak

Pathetic

Stupid

Waste of Space

They circled in my brain. Over and over and over again. I tried yelling back with my own voice. But it had become static to the louder words echoing. I brought the heels of my hands to my eyes and pushed. Spots danced across my vision, momentarily shutting the comments up.

But they came back.

So I laid there, heels of my hands resting on my eyes and self-deprecating words echoing through my brain. I don't know how long I laid there, slowly agreeing with my mind. Then I was being shaken.

I pulled my hands from my eyes and opened them slowly, allowing light to enter but not blind me. The nurse was shaking me softly. "It's lunchtime. Go get something to eat."

I nodded but didn't listen. I got up and walked to my locker; thankfully, the nurse had awoken me before the classes ended. I looked at the time, three minutes. I rushed to my locker, still seeing woozy shapes in the corners of my eyes, but able to function nonetheless.

Shoving my history book into my locker and grabbing my French notebook, I ran to my French classroom. Spotting the nearby janitor's closet, I ran inside and closed the door. Just in time, the bell sounded, and I heard the bustle of kids as they went to eat lunch.

Closing my eyes, I sighed, safe for the next half an hour or so. Closing my eyes contently, I whispered a small song to myself. I'm not the best singer, but my mom and I would sing together at night when I was younger. She would sing a lullaby, and I would join her in singing till I fell asleep.

Recently mom has been working two shifts. She barely has time to sleep and eat before going to work again. I don't see her often, but I think it's better that way. That way, she can't see the bruises or get answers out of me. If my mom asked, I don't think I could stop from breaking down and spilling everything.

I sigh as I press my hands back into my eyes. Trying to force the memories out of my head. The happier you feel, the more depressed you are when you get home. I chanted it in my head till the memories stopped trying to resurface.

I tried to go back into the song I was singing but ended up giving up. I couldn't remember anymore. So I changed songs. This time I sang a bit louder to hear the words and hopefully kick my hopeful self into gear.

'm waking up my mind

I'm just trying to kill the silence

I'm ripping off the blinds

I'm just trying to let some light in

I've been on the road, I've been missing home

See it on my phone that the world back there

Keeps spinning 'round without me

I'm waking up my mind

I'm ripping off the blinds

Oh I (oh I)

Try to be happy, but it's hard sometimes

But life (but life)

Just seems to happen right before my eyes

'Cause I feel like I'm not there

'Cause my head is up somewhere

Far away from all my friends

I just want that back again

Oh I (oh I)

Try to be happy, but it's hard sometimes

It's hard sometimes

When I come off cold

I'm not doing it on purpose

You caught me in a hole

That I dig for myself when I'm nervous

I've been on the road, I've been missing home

See it on my phone that my friends back there

Got inside jokes without me

Oh woah

Don't mean to come off cold

I don't want to be alone

Oh I (oh I)

Try to be happy, but it's hard sometimes (hard sometimes)

But life (but life)

Just seems to happen right before my eyes (before my eyes)

'Cause I feel like I'm not there

'Cause my head is up somewhere

Far away from all my friends

I just want that back again

Oh I (oh I)

Try to be happy, but it's hard sometimes (hard sometimes)

I don't feel like myself and

I can't help being selfish

Sometimes, the pressure gets the best of me

Oh I, oh I

Oh I

Try to be happy, but it's hard sometimes

But life

Just seems to happen, it's just passing by, oh

'Cause I feel like I'm not there

'Cause my head is up somewhere

Far away from all my friends

I just want that back again

Oh I (oh I)

Try to be happy, but it's hard sometimes (hard sometimes)

'Cause it's hard sometimes

I finish singing softly just as the bell rings. A small smile graces my lips for a second at the thought of how perfectly I timed the ending. Then standing up, I quickly rush out of the janitor's closet, bumping into someone in the hallway. I winced as she pushed some of my bruises, and I promptly apologized before entering French.