N I N E

     ❝ our backs
                tell stories
                       no books have
                             the spines to
                                                 carry ❞
                                                   -Rupi Kaur;
                                                    Milk and Honey

Margo Frasier finished her day at school only to head for the headmasters office. He wanted to speak to her personally. Her black eye was less swollen today and she put on makeup to help cover the bruising. Her father was an asshole, and she hated him for how he treated her and her mother.

She walks into the office and gives the headmaster a small smile.

"Take a seat," He instructs so she sits down on one of the two chairs available.

"Now, I asked you here to ask about your health, how are you feeling? Better?" He asks, sitting down on the other side of the desk.

"Better, I think," Margo says, a small smile forming on her lips, "I met someone,"

"Oh, well thats good," He says, "Do you believe you're getting better?"

"Yeah...Yeah of course, but this person, I have no idea if they feel the same way I do," Margo says and he nods.

"Just ask, all you have to do is ask, ask for help if you need it," He says and Margo nods.

"Thank you," Margo says and he smiles.

"You can go," He says and Margo nods

She stands up and heads out of the building. She walks down out of the main gates, passing a group of girls.

"There goes that slut, whats her name? Margo yeah? Fucking slag!" One of the girls calls as Margo walks away.

"Fuck off Karise!" Calls Margo, throwing a middle finger up at the girl.

Margo heads on her way, the girls laughter could be heard as they continued to slag off Margo.

Margo walked away, she was bigger than them, better than them.

Margo crosses the road and heads down a side street that lead to the park where she would be meeting Simon Minter.

Suddenly she feels a hard kick against her lower back, she falls forwards, catching someone's fence with her arm.

"What the fuck?" Margo asks, looking round to see the group of girls behind her.

"Don't you ever disrespect me like that ever again!" Karise says before punching Margo across the jaw, clipping her lip.

Blood begins to pour out of Margo's lip and down her chin, her eyes closing as Karise and two of her friends begin to punch and kick Margo as she lies on the floor.

"Stop! What the fuck are you doing? Get the fuck off her!" She hears and she looks up to see JJ.

"What the fuck did you do?" JJ asks, shoving aside Karise.

"You're lucky you're a girl you filthy fucking bitch, get the fuck away from here you bunch of cunts," JJ says and Margo sits up, grabbing at her ribs in agonising pain.

"Stay still Margo," JJ says, making sure the group of girls had run away.

JJ kneels down, his hand running over her face to push away the hair.

"God are you able to stand up?" JJ asks and Margo attempts to get up, her legs like jelly as she leans against the fence holding her ribs.

"My chest," She mutters, reaching out for JJ.

JJ catches her before she can fall and he slowly lifts her up bridal style.

"Simon, he's in the park," Margo mumbles, resting her head against JJ's chest.

JJ nods and heads towards the park quickly.

Simon sees them as soon as they enter the park and he stands up and rushes towards them.

"Fucking hell, what happened?" Simon asks, helping JJ put Margo down on a bench.

"I just walked into the street and saw her getting beat up by Karise and some of her slag friends," JJ says and Margo chuckles.

"Because I told her to fuck off...She called me a slag and a slut and told me to kill myself," Margo breathes, her hand holding her ribs still.

"I think we should take her to hospital," Simon says and Margo shakes her head.

"No, I'm fine, I swear, just take me home," Margo argues and Simon looks up at JJ.

"You okay to help?" Simon asks and JJ nods.

JJ picks Margo up, carrying her while Simon keeps her awake.

After a 20 minute walk they arrive to her house. JJ places Margo down, allowing the girl to lean against him.

Simon knocks the door and her mother answers.

"Margo!" She shrieks, pulling her daughter and the two boys inside.

"God! What happened?" Her mother asks as she walks Margo through to the sitting room.

"She got beat up by a group of girls from our school," JJ says, following them into the room.

"Oh god!" Her mother says, looking down at her daughter.

"I'm fine," Margo splutters, blood splattering her lips.

"You're not sweetie, we need to take you to a hospital," Her mother says and Simon looks at the girl.

"You're going to be okay," Simon says and Margo looks at JJ.

"Thank you JJ," Margo says and JJ nods.

"I would have been wrong to leave you like that, and you're my friend now," He says and Margo smiles softly.

"Lets go," Her mother says, helping Margo out towards her car.

"Thank you boys, bless you," Her mother says and she kisses each of them on the cheek as Margo climbs in the backseat, lying down.

"Its no problem, I just hope she's okay," Says Simon and Diana smiles at the two boys.

"She'll be fine, she always is, thank you again," Diana says before getting in the car and driving away, leaving the two boys stood in the driveway, watching the car speed along the road with hollow eyes.

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