"What are you doing Miss Fatty Patty? Looking for ways to hang yourself? I wouldn't try there, the branch would break under your weight."

Please no. Oh goodness no. Don't let it be him. Please don't let this- don't let it be a prank after all of this.

I slowly turned around, and there was Jonathan Thompson, smirking at me.

"Well?"

"I- I..." I stammered, trying desperately to fight the tears which threatened to spill out. He was like a crocodile. Any sign of weakness and they attack.

"I- I..." he mocked "Jesus Christ can you even talk properly? Or are you so fat your vocal chords are smushed?"

I closed my fist, and the note, once so precious but now a further hole in my heart, audibly crinkled, "N-no. I-"

He saw the piece of paper and swooped, deftly grabbing it out of my hand, not caring about the red marks he left on my arm and the pain he caused my hand as he gripped to make me release it. "Well, well, lookie here!" He crowed as he lifted it with a flourish and scanned the words, "aww you got a wittle wove note, who from? Fishlegs? I'm sure you two fatties and nerds would make a great pair."

I tightened my fist further, hating that me was using one of my favourite shows, 'HTTYD: Race to the Edge', against me. But then thinking of it, Jonathan reminded me a lot of Snotlout, only much less redeemable. In spite of myself, I felt my mouth tip upwards slightly at this comparison. A mistake.

"Oh, you think this is funny do you?" His beady eyes gleamed as he spied the rose, which I had tried to hide behind my back, "Well, what about THIS?" He yanked it out of my hand, so harshly that the thorns cut into my skin. Even as I tried to grab it back, he held it out of my reach with a smirk before dropping on the ground. He stepped on it, smushing it into the dirt with his boots, "Oops!"

"No!" I cried out, too late. I reached for it, the rose which have given hope even for just a moment, but he shoved me back.

"Oh please. You didn't really think that rot," he waved the note before also crumpling it in the dirt, "was real did you?"

He laughed, the sound not dissimilar to a Hyena's cackle.

"I-"

"Poor big Fatty Patty." He mocked, "You're not just fat, but blind. I mean, come on, who could love you?"

That stung. I struggled to hold in the tears that threatened to escape upon hearing those words spoken aloud, words that had been on a playlist in the back of my mind, repeating for years. Who could love me?
But still, despite my heart feeling as though it was tearing apart, I refused to let the tears fall. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I had grown a thicker skin over these last few years - or at least the appearance of one.

Today's journey had stirred an almost forgotten spark I used to possess. Young me didn't take any nonsense from anyone. When a boy teased me on the playground, I put them in their place. Could I ever be that girl again? It's worth a try... right?

So instead of just cowering and taking it like I normally would've, I took a trembly breath before mustering as much bravado as I could,
"One might be tempted to say the same about you."

It came out more snarky than I intended, and for a moment Jonathan stood, confounded. Then, as he understood what I said, his face became fiercely red and I felt the blow coming a moment before his hand made contact with my face.

I reeled back, holding my cheek.

"You think you're so clever huh?"

At the stinging impact, the drops involuntarily fell from my eyes. I couldn't hold them back. They may as well have been gasoline, for the sight of them seemed to ignite Jonathan's supressed rage as he lashed out, verbally and physically.

"Well you're not!" He shoved me, hard. I stumbled backwards, "you're so dumb. What? You thought showing some stupid spunk would make me suddenly scared of you or something? Think again, idiot."

My tongue tripped over itself as I tried to figure out something to say that would stop this sudden storm.
"No, I- I didn't-."

" 'I-I didn't'. Not so tough now, huh?" I tried to move out of his way, "So pathetic." But Jonathan was too quick, he pushed me again, this time adding a kick to the stomach with made me gasp in pain as I fell to the ground, feebly lifted my arms to try and protect myself. "Surprised you even felt that Fatty Patty. Would've thought all that fat would protect you. Got any other smart stuff to say?"

He waited for a moment, his eyes gleaming with malice. At my silence, he gave a satisfied scoff,
"That's what I thought."

Now was the moment I should stand up for myself, speak up and show that apparent bravery I 'used to so proudly own', that the person-
That no one... believed I had.
A mockery. A joke.
Who was I kidding? I'm not brave. I never was. It was so stupid of me to provoke him like that.

So I just lowered my gaze from his ugly sneer. Muscles tensed, awaiting another blow. But it didn't come. Instead he just gave a chuckle at my now-demure state.
"Ha. That's better. Cause you're nothing, see? Since you're such a teacher's pet, I hope you enjoyed learning this lesson Fatty Patty. Don't forget it."

I won't.

He spat at me. Then the crunching of boots on the ground, and he was gone.

My muscles relaxed, even as I felt the blood rushing to where he had slapped me, and the clenching of where my stomach had been kicked.
I could only remain sitting in shock. In the dirt, where I belonged. Jonathan had never gone at me like that before. Verbally, sure. But physical altercation? Never. Until now.

Who was I kidding? Jonathan's right. It was stupid of me to think someone would actually like me.

It felt like all the fight had gone out of me. What's the point of anything anymore? It's all hopeless anyway.

And this time, the little voice didn't pipe up. Maybe it had been knocked out of me with those hits.

So I just sat, sobbing.

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Author's Note:
Hey there! Thanks for reading my story, it means a lot to me ^_^

I'm sorry for this discouraging Chapter (it broke my heart to write), but it just felt like it had to be part of the story. I could be mean and leave you all in the clutches of despair (mwahahaha) but I can't do that to my awesome readers, so all I will say for now is: don't worry, this story DOES have a happy ending (eventually...)

Anyhows, my apologies - I hope you are still enjoying the story though!

Only a few chapters left to go...