I woke up to a loud noise that sounded like someone knocking on the door. I opened my eyes and found myself laying on my floor with a killer headache. I blinked a few times to get rid of the sleep in my eyes then stood up only to have my head start pounding.

I held onto the wall as I made my way to the door and walked down to the stairs. I kept hearing the knocking and thought who could possibly be irrtating me this early in the morning.

I walked to the door and opened it to see Matt standing there. I gave him a confused look, "What are you doing?" I noticed that it was raining a little outside and he was holding an umbrella by his side.

"I came to pick you up for school," oh shit. School.

I forgot that it was Monday.

Damn, I have a headache.

I nodded, "Oh yeah, I just forgot that it was Monday," he looked at me weird and I gave him a confused look, "What?"

"What happened to your face?" he montioned on the side of my face and gave me a look. I didn't know what he was talking about, so I lifted my hand up to my face and sure enough pain shot through my head. "You have a bruise the size of a fist," I kept looking at him as I didn't really know what to say.

I remember now that Jessica hit me with something, but I couldn't remember what. The pain was very noticeable though and it hurt like a bitch.

I stood there, looking like an idiot as he was waiting for me to tell him what happened. But I didn't want to tell him, so I had to come up with a lie. Another lie. Great.

"I fell," believeable, I guess. When you fall, you get bruises, so that's understandable.

"Damn, you must of fell pretty hard," he kept examining it and I wish he didn't. I wish he would drop the coversation because I hate being in this situation. "You should cover that up or people are going to be talking about it at school," yeah, I sure as hell didn't want that to happen.

I nodded, "Ok, I'll go get ready for school and you can.." I didn't want him to wait outside in the rain, but I didn't want him to come inside neither. Damn it. "You can come inside," I moved out of the way and allowed him to walk in. I took one look out the door before I shut it then locked it. He walked to the couch and sat down and I told him that I would be right back.

I didn't have time to take a shower because I didn't know if we were running late for school and I know Matt doesn't like to be late, so I'll have to try my best not to look like a homeless person.

I ran to my closet and quickly started looking for something to wear. I stripped out of my clothes and put my other clothes on then slid my shoes on.

I went to my mirror and brushed my hair then ran to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I seen Jessica's make-up bag in the bathroom and I knew that I'll need something to cover up my bruise. I picked up some foundation and started applying it to my bruise. I barely put preasure on it but it started hurting even when I barely touched it.

After I was done, I took one look in the mirror and noticed that it wasn't visible anymore. I smiled at myself then made my way back to my room and picked up my books and everything then stuffed it back in my backpack then ran downstairs to see Matt still sitting on the couch.

I walked to the door with him until he stopped me, "Why are your parent never here when I come?" I looked at him as he looked at me and I shrugged.

We walked out and he opened the umbrella and we both stood under it and made our way to his car. He helped me in the passenger seat then hopped in the driver side. I watched as we left my house then made our way to school.

I began thinking about what happened over the weekend and everything started flooding back into my mind. I was nervous as hell to have to go to school now that I know Mrs. Shuler is going to be there and hounding me about what happened yesterday. I didn't want to have to encounter her, but I had a class with her so there was no way I would escape this time. I couldn't exactly skip school.

We made it to the parking lot and Matt got out to jog over to my side and hold the umbrella for me. It was raining pretty good but not hard. We made it inside and I could hear my shoes throughout the hallway as we walked to my locker.

I 0pened it to stuff my backpack inside and Matt looked at me, "So what did you do this weekend?" I watched as he was looking at me and I couldn't help but smile a little. I was hoping he wouldn't have caught it, but he did. "Judging by that smile, I'd say you had a pretty good weekend," I rolled my eyes as I shut my locker. "So, tell me everything," I shook my head and he pouted his lip.

I chuckled, "Sorry, but I can't tell you anything," I really couldn't because I didn't even want to explain what happened. It would leave him asking a lot of questions and I'm not ready to answer them

"Aw, come on! I'm your best friend, you can tell me," I shook my head. There was no way I was telling him anything, no matter how much he begged or pleaded. "Sammy," he pouted his lip and I knew that I couldn't resist anymore.

"Ugh, fine," he smiled but I gave him a glare, "But I swear if you tell anybody, I will beat you," I threatened, although I wouldn't beat him, I still had to threatened him to make sure he didn't say a word. He made a face as he nodded his head and I rolled my eyes. I looked around to make sure nobody was eavesdropping then I looked back at him, "I spent the night at Mrs. Shuler's house Saturday night,"

"No fucking way!" he screamed and slapped his arm quickly to make him shut up. He stared at me with his mouth opened and I wanted to slap it shut, "How the hell did you pull that off?"

I rolled my eyes, "It's not what you think,"

"Oh, then what is it? How did you manage to sleep in the same house as her?" he just couldn't stop asking questions and it was annoying me.

"No more questions," I walked past him but he pulled on my arm and made me turn back towards him.

"You have got to tell me. I'm curious!" ugh, this idiot. I don't know what I'm going to do with him. Maybe I can buy a muzzle and place on his face to get him to shut up.

"Dude, shut up. I told you to stop asking questions. It just happened, ok? No big deal," oh, but it was a big deal. I still can't believe I stayed at her house. It was still like a dream to me and I can't seem to shake the thoughts away from it.

Matt released my arm and stared at me, "I can't believe you stayed with her," I nodded. I couldn't believe it either. "How was it?" what the hell is he wanting to know?

"How was what?" we didn't even do anything. Does he think we slept together?

"Did you sleep in the same room as her?" ok, now he was being ridiculous. He needed a slap in the face.

"No! I slept in the guest room,"

He nodded, "Was her husband there?" I shook my head. He raised his eyebrows, "Damn, you could of got some," I really wanted to punch him. He looked past me and his eyes became wide. I gave him a confused look then turned around to see what he was looking at.

Just then, my heart stopped in place and I felt like I was about to pass out. Walking down the hall, and appearing to be coming towards me, was none other than Mrs. Shuler. She didn't look too happy, and she was staring right at me and I knew exactly what was about to happen.

She approached us and slightly smiled, "Good morning Matthew," he smiled and nodded then she looked at me, "Morning, Samantha," I could see something in her eyes and I knew something was about to go down. She looked over at Matt, "Mind if I speak with Samantha alone?" he nodded then smiled at me and left. I watched as he walked down the hall and I wish that I could go with him.

Mrs. Shuler looked at me and her expression turned serious. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I felt my knees become weak and my palms were starting to sweat. "Samantha, I need to talk to you, privately," she didn't give me any time to answer as she grabbed my arm and pulled me down the hall and into her classroom. We had a few more minutes left until the bell rung but I hope we get cut short because honestly I can't take being in a room alone with her.

She locked the door then turned to me as I stood there, "Ok, you are going to talk to me, or else I will get the principal involved and the police," oh shit.

I stared at her and slowly nodded, "Ok," I barely whispered out as I stared at this woman who looked beyond pissed and that wasn't a good thing at all.

"Tell me the truth this time, and I mean it," I knew what she was talking about and I knew that this time would come. I knew that my lies wouldn't go far because karma has a funny way of coming back around and biting me in the ass.

I sighed, "Ok, Mrs. Shuler," my voice was shaking and I couldn't even look her in the eyes. I kept my head down and stared at the floor as I tried to think of how I would start. I didn't know where to begin and frankly, I was a fucking nervous wreck. I stood there for a minute until I felt her hand under my chin and she lifted my face up to hers. I stared at her blue eyes as I got lost in them.

"Stop looking away from me, and talk to me," I couldn't speak. I was lost in her ocean blue eyes and I couldn't pull myself back to shore. It was like I was drowning and I couldn't reach the bottom. No matter how hard I tried, I was sinking faster and faster. "Samantha?" her saying my name alone sent chills down my spine and I knew that I was too far gone to respond.

I couldn't handle it anymore and everything in my body was fading fast. I felt my knees buckle and I fell to the floor in a heartbeat.

*

I heard my name being called and the voice sounded so familiar but yet so foreign. It's like I heard that voice a million times, but it felt like I've never heard it until now.

I slowly opened my eyes and was met by those blue eyes. I blinked a couple of times and then focused on her face. I stared at her as she stared back at me.

"Oh thank God you're ok," I felt my hand being squeezed and I glanced down to see her holding onto my hand, tight. It felt like a wave of shock running through my veins with just her simple touch. She touched my forehead and I wish she hadn't. "How are you feeling?" I stared at her a little while longer.

"I'm fine," I found my voice and it surprised me because I thought I wouldn't be able to speak. She looked at me and I could see the worry in her eyes and it made my happy to have her worry about me. I never had anyone worry about me before and I felt this leap in my heart from having her here.

"You scared me, Samantha," it sounded like her voice was on the edge of breaking and I gave her a confused look. Never in my life did I imagine Mrs. Shuler actually crying over me after all the times that I have cried over her. "What happened?" she questioned and I could of asked her the same thing.

I knew what happened, but I was not going to tell her. I wasn't about to confess everything to her as she's sitting next to me in the nurse's office, holding my hand while she's on the edge of tears.

I shrugged. It was the best I could do. I didn't know how to put into words about what happened or tell a lie.

She sighed, "I'm just glad you're ok," she slightly smiled then ran her hand down my face. A shock wave of sensations coursed through my body and I slightly jerked. She looked at me weird and I hoped she didn't see my body quiver from her touch.

"Samantha?" she stared at me and I gave her a confused look as she brought her hand back up to my face and ran it down the side. I felt a slight pain and I immediately knew what she was questioning me about.

My bruise.

It's covered in make-up, but it was probably half-way gone by now and no doubt she sees it. I know that she's about to question me and I didn't know what I was going to say.

"Why do you have a bruise on the side of your face?" I looked at her as she was looking over the bruise and I couldn't bring myself to tell her the real reason. She already seen my bruises on my stomach, and no doubt she'll put two and two together to know that something isn't right.

She looked in my eyes and I quickly looked away. "Samantha," I didn't look. I couldn't. I felt her gently grab my face and turn it towards her. The look on her face said it all and I could see every emotion in her eyes. She moved away from me for a second and came back with an alcohol wipe and slowly started wiping my face. I sat there and felt everything inside of me shut down.

After she was done, she looked me over and stared at me for a minute. "I want you to tell me right now who keeps doing this to you," I stared at her for a moment. "I mean it, Samantha, I will be getting the principal involved," I was defeated.

"I don't know who did it because I never see their face," I stared at her as she was taking it in. She didn't say anything for a while and I was wondering what she was thinking. After a while, the nurse came in and told Mrs. Shuler that she can get back to her class and let me rest.

I watched as she looked at me for a moment, "I'll be back to check on you later," she stood up then leaned over and kissed my forehead. I felt my body tingle as I felt the heat rush to my face. She smiled down at me then left me there to look like a tomato.

*

The nurse let me go around lunch time and I thanked her. She told me to take it easy and not be jumping around or climbing walls. I gave her a confused look but she just laughed.

I walked out into the hall and down to the lunch room. I know Matt must be worried about me and I could just see his face now when I tell him that I passed out. He'll get a good laugh out of it for sure.

I walked in the lunch room and saw him at a table. I walked to him and sat down next to him. He looked at me, "Where the hell have you been?" he looked me up and down and I just smiled.

"I was in the nurse's office," he raised his eyebrows and made a face.

"What for?" I smiled as he took a bite of his pizza.

"I passed out," he nearly choked on his pizza as he looked at me.

"What? Why? Are you alright?" I chuckled as I saw pizza sauce drip from his chin and I grabbed a napkin to wipe it off.

"Remember when Mrs. Shuler wanted to talk to me this morning?" he nodded and took a sip of his drink. "Well, I passed out because she was so damn close to me and I could literally feel my insides burning up," he spit his pizza out and started laughing and I watched him be an idiot. I looked around and saw a couple of people looking at us and I was about to slap him but he stopped.

"Oh my God, that just made my day," he wiped his eyes with his napkin.

"I hope you get pizza sauce in your eyes," I threatened. I hate how he thinks this is a laughing matter.

He looked at me and smiled, "You have to admit, that was funny as hell," I rolled my eyes. "So, what happened after that?"

I shrugged, "She sat in the nurse's office with me until I woke up," he looked at me and was making that 'aw' face. "She also noticed my bruise on my head," his expression turned to something else.

"What did she say?" I watched as he looked at me and I couldn't tell him the truth.

I shrugged, "Nothing really. Just that I'm clumsy," he nodded then went back to eating his pizza. I sat there for a while and thought about the whole situation and how I just keep digging myself a deeper hole every time.

When lunch was over, I was on my way to English when someone stopped me and told me that the principal needed to see me in his office. I was confused but I didn't argue as I made my way down the hall and to the front office. I told the lady at the desk why I was here and she told me to go ahead and go into his office.

I walked in and saw him sitting at his desk. I shut the door and notice that someone else was in the room too; Mrs. Shuler. I glanced between him and her several times as I sat down in the chair.

"Samantha," the principal started and I knew where this was going. I glanced at Mrs. Shuler to have her stare at me and I questioned with my eyes why she would do this to me. I didn't want her going to the principal. I looked back at him as he spoke, "Mrs. Shuler here has told me some things and I just want to clarify with you about them," I sat there and stared at him. "I want you to tell us who is leaving bruises on you," he watched me closely as I sat there. There was no way I'm giving him an information.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I glanced at Mrs. Shuler to let her know that I was pissed at her for doing this to me.

"Samantha, Mrs. Shuler has stated that you have some bruises on your body," I looked at him and he motioned to my head to indicate that he can see my bruise there. I sighed and looked down. "Samantha, you need to tell us,"

I looked back up, "I don't have to tell you anything,"

He sighed, "If you don't cooperate, I'll have no choice then to get the police involved," I stared at him as his expression was serious, "Do you understand?" I sighed then nodded and hung my head down.

After a second has passed, I looked back up to see him staring at me. I glanced at Mrs. Shuler as she was watching me and I couldn't help but wonder why she did this. I trusted her not to tell anyone about this, and all the promises that she made saying that if I told her, she wouldn't tell anybody.

"We're waiting, Samantha," I looked back at him as he was still staring at me.

"I don't know who did it," I looked at Mrs. Shuler, "I even told you that I didn't know, and if I don't know, there's nothing else I can do!" I shouted. I needed them to believe me more than anything, and since I've been lying for four years, I got few tricks up my sleeve. "I can never see their face and I don't have a description of them, ok!?" the principal looked at me for a moment and I knew that he was believing me.

"When do they do this?" he leaned up a little.

I shrugged, "I don't know. Since I don't have a car, I'm forced to walk everywhere, so I guess it happens when I walk to the store or something,"

He nodded then looked at Mrs. Shuler and back at me, "Samantha, we want to keep every student here safe. Since you don't have a real description of them, then there's no use in bringing the police," I nodded and he continued, "But since this incident seems to happen more than once, we will be having a close watch after you," oh shit. This was not where I wanted to end up. He nodded towards Mrs. Shuler, "Mrs. Shuler has agreed to take you home after school and pick you up," no!

I shook my head, "I have Matthew Bridge who does all of that," he can easily take me home and back to school. There's no harm there.

He shook his head, "You need an adult with you, not a student," I leaned back in my chair and thought how fucking ridiculous all of this was. "Starting today, Mrs. Shuler will drive you home, and bring you to school in the mornings,"

Oh great.

*

Art class rolled around and I dragged my feet down the hall. Matt came up next to me and looked at me, "What the hell is wrong with you?" I looked at him as he was staring at me but I just sighed. I didn't feel like talking about it because honestly it was like a nightmare.

We walked in the classroom and I seen Mrs. Shuler sitting at her desk. I couldn't believe that she was going to be taking me home after school, and worse of all, coming to pick me up in the mornings. I didn't want her to see my house, I didn't want her to even know where I lived.

I went