Monday means it's the beginning of a new week of high school hell, and everyone's favorite thing to do about is taunt me about the murder of my parents.

Students say that because I was the only other person there and survived a shooting that left two dead; I had to have done it. They say I killed them. I had barely survived, and most days I wish I didn't. I wasn't the only other person there though because someone else murdered my mom and dad.

Sometimes I want to tell them what happened. Tell them that it was a normal day when my parents were taken too early.

Tell them that we were walking home together after our weekly burger date. It was dark out. My dad cracked a joke, we laughed and suddenly ear ringing gunshots cut through the night. I screamed when I saw my mom's body hit the ground, her abdomen stained red. My dad called out her name, dropping to his knees to help her. Another gunshot and my dad's body fell, unmoving. It all happened so fast. Too fast for me to comprehend. I had tried screaming again but no sound came out.

I want to tell them that I collapsed to my knees, and held my mom's head and that she was still alive, blood spurting from her lips as she tried to mumble something. My dad was dead, the red circle in the center of his forehead forever imprinted in my brain.

Tell them that the third and final gunshot hit me in the chest. I didn't feel it right away, too stunned by the loss of my parents to register the searing pain in my chest. A few moments passed before the pain caught on, and I couldn't breathe.

That's all I remember. The next thing I knew I was in the hospital and my parents were gone.

I want to tell them whole situation made no sense. Just a random person pulling a gun and shooting. It wasn't a mugging or anything with any motive besides pure evil.

That makes it so much harder to cope with.

"Well if it isn't the town's favorite mute," Alice sneers as I pass her locker. I sigh and ignore her jeers, hoping she won't harass me.

I am pushed to the ground. It's not even eight o'clock and I've already made friends with the floor. I hadn't eaten in almost 2 days and got about 3 hours of sleep this weekend. Today is not the day. No day ever is.

I hear Alice giggling behind me and her boyfriend Josh hoots with his friends. I try pushing myself off the floor, but it's clear they aren't amused enough when Josh shoves me back down with his foot. For a school that has zero tolerance for bullying, they're seriously horrible at regulating it. Everytime I try to get up, Josh pushes me down again.

This is humiliating.

"If you touch her one more time, I will break your nose." The stern comment catches me by surprise. I look up, stunned that someone would actually help me. Dustin is standing right infront me, glaring at Josh.

"New guy's got balls," Josh laughs, clearly not threatened.

"And I know you don't have any based on your piece of shit attitude."

"That sounds like a challenge." Josh takes a step towards him. I breathe a sigh of relief when his foot is no longer pressing into my spine. They glare at each other for a minute until Alice groans.

"Come on babe, just knock him out and let's go. I'm already bored."

Like the perfectly trained puppy he is, he raises his fist and swings. It happens quickly, but Dustin easily evades, swiftly uppercutting Josh.

"You're gonna regret that, fuck face." Josh growls, lunging for Dustin who grabs him by the shoulder and punches his face. The sickening crunch confirms the earlier promise of a broken nose.

By now, a crowd had gathered. Audible gasps and whispers filling the space. I am still pathetically on the floor; too shocked by the events before me to move.

Josh is hunched over, his face bloody.

"I told you to back off." Dustin's voice has a remarkably calm tone. He walks over to me, offering his hand.

I stare at it, still shocked that someone actually helped me. I reluctantly reach my hand out, and he gently pulls me to my feet.

"Try not to cry too bad when cleaning up, Josh." He smirks teasingly at the jock who is still cradling his face.

"Fuck you!" Josh makes another attempt to hit Dustin, grazing his cheek with his fist. He is sloppy from his injury, so the swift kick to the gut causes him to sprawl on the floor.

"Try again next time." Dustin walks off, and I went in the opposite direction. I'm not going to stick around to see how Josh handles humiliation.

****

"You're welcome, by the way."

The voice startles me. I am not expecting company while I walk home.

Dustin walks beside me, his hands in his pockets and his head tilted curiously at me. "Not much of a talker, huh?"

I shake my head.

"Well," He lifts his hands and signs 'What's your name?' His fingers are decorated with rings and woven bracelets rest on his wrist.

I am caught off guard by him signing. I stare at him for a moment before catching up to myself. I pull my notebook out of my bag; writing words 'Call me Blade' onto a back page of my notebook before showing it to him.

"You're a weird one, Blade." He gives me a smile. "I like it." He waves, walking off.

I smile to myself, feeling something I hadn't felt in so long

I push the feeling down, not letting myself think that way. I can't look at a glass half full when it's empty.

*****

HI!

-aj