Chapter Four

*A Second Chance by butterfly-angel-babygirl*

Shouts of “Fight!” were heard as soon as I entered the hallway to my locker. I pushed my way through the crowds, having a bad feeling about this.

Sure enough, pressed against my locker, was Jeremy. Holding him up was none other than Ryan.

“You fucking told her!” Ryan called.

“I have no idea what the hell you're talking about!” Jeremy exclaimed.

“Stop!” I shouted, finally getting into the very center with the two boys. The crowd was instantly quiet, my shout somehow shutting them all up. “What the hell is happening?”

“You know. He told you what I did last year!” Ryan was seething. His fist was in the air and Jeremy already had a busted lip. I feared there was more that I couldn't see.

“No! He didn't tell me!” I stepped closer to him. “So just let him go.”

Ryan's eyes met mine and a moment later Jeremy was on the ground. I knelled down and the others all appeared, surrounding us. “Get him to the nurse.” Wesley and Adam nodded, both taking an arm. Neither said anything back to me.

“We're talking later Natasha.” I was shocked at how strong Jeremy's voice was. I only nodded, turning to Ryan.

“Get the hell out of here!” The crowd instantly departed as Rachel's voice echoed in the hallway.

“What did you think you were doing?” I glared as I stepped closer to Ryan.

“Getting back at him for taking the one girl that I probably could have gotten,” Ryan admitted.

“Could have gotten? The one girl? I'm not just some girl. I do have a heart. I do have a name. I trust them; and it wasn't even him that told me. I should have trusted Adam to have not wanted to know. You absolutely disgust me Ryan.”

“I know that Natasha. I've changed, I promise you.” He stepped forward so that he was within reaching distance of me. He reached a hand for me and I slapped it away.

“I don't care. It doesn't change the fact that you still did it.” I glared even harder as the image of Jeremy falling repeated itself in my mind. “And it doesn't help that you just beat up one of my friends. Do you get a kick out of hurting these people?”

“You think I mean to do it?”

“Why else would you beat up Jeremy? Or attack an innocent girl! That is considered hurting these people, both physically AND emotionally!”

“You don't know anything about what happened back then!”

“You don't know what I've been through! Have you ever thought that maybe I know exactly what happened, not through their eyes but through Taylor's? I fucking went through the same thing!”

Tears coursed down my cheeks and memories clouded my mind. Memories I had buried from my past. I suddenly felt arms around me and I began to push away when I heard a wince and looked to see Jeremy there. I met his eyes and he just pushed me closer to him.

When I finally stopped crying, Ryan was gone along with Melody and Rachel. Jeremy and I stood in the hallway alone.

“Are you okay?” I only nodded. “Is that...is that really what happened to you?” I knew he was curious about if it was what caused me to cut myself.

I nodded. “That is only part of it all though. I didn't even mean to say that....” He put his arms around me again and I hugged him back. “Thank you Jeremy. Do you...do you know how many people heard that?”

“Only the people in the hallway. You actually whispered it, so I was barely able to hear it down the hall.” Huh. I thought I had shouted it. I had been so angry. “How...how did you find out?”

“Melody and Rachel told me. That's why they went with us yesterday. I had asked them what they thought about Ryan because he had given me his number.” We began to release each other. I then realized that he most likely hadn't gone to the nurse's. “Shouldn't you have been in the nurse's?”

“We actually heard you shout about being disgusted at him and I had a bad feeling. So I made the guys let me come back up here.”

“Did they...did they hear?”

“Yes,”

Dread filled me and I let out a whimper. He put his arm back around me and pulled me to him yet again. “Thank you. Um, should we...should we go the office or the nurse's or somewhere?”

“To the office. That's where the others are.”

“Alright. Lets go,”

“Of course.”

We walked silently to the office. When we got there, the group was sitting in various chairs. I looked to the secretary. “Take a seat anywhere.” I went and sat down beside Melody, who had Rachel on the other side of her. Both girls hugged me.

“Are you okay?” Melody's voice was soft, and her eyes almost looked like she had been crying. I only nodded. The boys were sitting right across from us. I met their eyes and they all showed worry and concern. I smiled at them.

“I'm sorry you all had to find out that way. I...I guess its time I kind of explained myself.”

Jeremy walked over and sat down beside me. I leaned forward and he put a hand on my back. I was shocked, and saw the looks the others were giving each other.

“I have a rough past. I...I am not willing to tell you the whole story yet though. I just will tell you that I have a rough past. Part of it is what you heard earlier.” I pulled my sleeve up and showed them my wrists; my scars. “I'm sorry that I'm not willing to tell you my whole past. I just...I hate talking about it. I hate everything about it. And I'm not willing to tell anyone. I just don't want anyone to know.” I took a deep breath and met all of their eyes. “I trust you all, believe me when I say that. But...I'm still in the process of getting over it and getting through it even.”

“We understand.” Melody put her arm on my shoulder and hugged me from the side. Jeremy squeezed my shoulder a bit before releasing me. Both boys held their fists up and I just looked at them before finally realizing what they were doing. With a small smile and a laugh, I pumped my fist with their's. Rachel walked over and hugged me.

A door opened and we looked over to see a tall man with short black hair standing there with Ryan, and two adults whom I assumed were his parents. “Ah. Jeremy and...Natasha, correct?” I nodded and stood up, my sweater sleeve instantly falling.

“No, sit Natasha. I need you and Jeremy to call your parents. Right now we're waiting for your parents to all show up, correct?” The man smiled at me as the others all nodded. Ryan and his parents left, only to have another set of parents walk in. I immediately could tell they were Rachel's. She looked exactly like her mother.

“Hello. Maria and Jason Amidon. We're Rachel's parents.” The woman walked over with her husband to the man, and Rachel quickly followed.

“Sir.” I tried to stop them. Rachel didn't do anything wrong. No one did except for me, Jeremy and Ryan. None of the others needed to be here.

The man stopped. “Please, Mr. Rice.” I smiled at him.

“Mr. Rice, I don't understand why the others need to be here. None of them did anything wrong. Jeremy, Ryan and I were the only ones that did anything wrong. And even then, Jeremy was the victim.” I wanted so badly for them to be off the hook. I didn't want them to be in trouble.

“I am well aware of that Natasha. I still need to hear them say their sides of the story.” Mr. Rice nodded his head and smiled before closing the door behind him. I fell into the chair, depressed that I had not been able to help them.

“Thanks anyways Natasha.” Wesley smiled at me when I looked up at him. “We shouldn't get in that much trouble. None of us-not even you or Jeremy-did anything wrong. It was all Ryan.”

“I'm curious about what will happen to him.” I agreed with Melody. I wanted Ryan to pay for having hurt Jeremy.

“Should one of us go get the nurse for you Jeremy?” I looked over at him.

The secretary's voice cut anyone off though. “You can walk right over there Jeremy. If you want, one other person can go with you. And you and Natasha need to call your parents.”

Jeremy groaned. “I am so not looking forward to his phone call. My parents are so going to kill me.”

“No they won't.” I stood up and tugged on his hand. “Come on, lets get you fixed up and call our parents.”

Jeremy looked up at me through his eyelashes and I thought my breath hitched. I smiled and tugged his hand again, causing him to stand up.

I could hear Jeremy's mother yelling through the phone. He held it far away from his ear, and you could still hear it. She hung up a moment later and I grabbed the phone; hoping Andrea or James would be home.

There were three rings before Andrea finally answered. “Hello?”

“Mom, its Natasha.”

“Sweetie, what's up? Shouldn't you be in class?”

“Something happened this morning and I need you and dad to get here to the school. I'm in the office.”

“Are you in trouble?”

“I don't know yet. I don't really even know what's going on. I just know that there was a fight this morning that involved me indirectly and so I need you to come here.”

“Alright sweetie. James and I will be there in a few minutes, okay?”

“Okay. Thanks mom.”

“No problem.” With that, we hung up.

“No yelling?” Jeremy rose an eyebrow as he asked this.

I shook my head. “No. She was just really worried.”

Wesley looked at me. “You said you didn't even know what was going on. Have you ever even gotten in trouble before?” I shook my head. “Holy-” He was about to swear when the secretary glared at him. “Crap.” She nodded and he rolled his eyes as she looked away. I giggled.

“I've never had to come to the office before except to get an award. And even then it was usually the Guidance office in my old school.”

“Wow.” They freaked me out when they all did that in unison. The door opened and a couple that looked like a mixture of Wesley stepped in. He looked more like his father than his mother though.

“Wesley!” His mother immediately began scolding her son before his father placed a hand on her shoulder, making her go silent almost immediately.

“Honey, calm down, its the first time he's really in enough trouble for us to actually have to show up here at the school.” I found it ironic how he found it weird I had never been in trouble, and yet he had never needed his parents up here before.

“Natasha, do you want to come to the nurse's with me?” I was shocked that Jeremy had invited me.

“Sure.” I nodded. But the sound of Wesley's mother stopped me. I turned around.

“Are you Natasha Bliss?” I nodded. “Wesley was telling us about you last night. Are you related to Stephen Bliss?” The name of my grandfather made me smile.

“Yes, he was my grandfather.” He had died when I was thirteen.

“I knew him. I used to help him around his house when I was young and up until I got into college.” She smiled and walked over. “My name is Amanda Peters. I used to be Amanda Studer.” I remembered the name. Grandfather used to talk about her a lot.

“Ah. Grandfather used to talk about you a lot. He was extremely grateful for your help at his house when you could help.” She smiled at me and nodded.

“You look a little bit like him. You have his eyes. I used to look at pictures of him when I was young. I still have some of them actually. You also have his cheekbones. And the color of your hair is the same.”

I found myself recalling my grandfather. The only bad part about looking like him was that it meant I looked like my father. “Thank you. I'm glad to hear that.” I smiled and felt Jeremy put his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him and nodded. “Well. I'll be right back.” I left with Jeremy, still curious about why he wanted me there. “Jeremy,” He turned his head to me before we went to the nurse's office, which was right across the hall. “Why do you want me with you?”

Jeremy stopped in the hallway. He looked back at me and locked eyes with me. “Honestly, I don't know. I just want you to come.”

I nodded, unsure exactly of what to say. We entered the nurse's office. Behind the desk was a middle aged woman with long brown hair and brown eyes. “I was wondering how long it would take you to get here Jeremy.” The nurse clicked her tongue as she stood up, and then noticed me. “Oh. Hello.”

“Natasha Bliss. I'm new.”

“Oh! Mrs. Blomberg. May I help you?” She began to move around the small office.

“No, I'm just here to help Jeremy. So is there anything I can do to help?”

“Can you get him a wet paper towel?” I nodded and quickly got it, handing it to Jeremy. “So does anything else hurt Jeremy? Besides your cheek?”

“Just near my waist.” He began to wipe the blood from around his mouth.

“Okay. I'll need you to take your shirt off.” My face went beet red. I saw Jeremy nod and wince as he began to take his shirt off. I couldn't resist checking him out. He had toned arms and a somewhat toned upper body. He didn't have a six-pack, but he still had a couple of abs. I averted my eyes and heard him chuckle. No doubt he was smirking. “Natasha,” I turned to Mrs. Blomberg and saw her smile, “Do you want to be a nurse?”

I shook my head as I walked to the counter and leaned against it. “I want to be an English teacher and a writer. Why?”

“You just seem like you would be a good nurse.” She shrugged and pressed her hand against his side, causing him to wince. She couldn't have been more right though. I've always had to take care of my own wounds.

“My best friend's mom was a nurse and she taught me a lot.” I had said it just to get noise in the small office. I saw confusion on her face. “Is something wrong?”

“Um, well, I'm not able to tell if the rib is broken or just bruised.”

I walked over. “Do you mind if I try?” She shook her head and moved out of the way. I felt myself become red as I pressed my hand against his side, causing him to wince. “Its only bruised.” I looked up at Jeremy, and he was slightly red, avoiding my eyes. “I can still feel the rib perfectly.”

“Okay. Thank you.” After Jeremy got an ice pack for his cheek and put his shirt back on, we went back to the office. I noticed it was 8:53. The middle of second period.

Rachel came out with her parents and Wesley was ushered in, as his parents were the only adults there. “So?” Melody was asking her as soon as the door closed. I knew she wasn't the only curious one though. I was myself actually.

“I'm not in trouble. Just going home today on a fake-sick day. Nothing on the record.” Rachel smiled and Melody hugged her.

“Okay. Uh, are we still going to the party tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let us girls meet at Angel's at three if one of us need to go to class. If not, we'll text and meet after all of this.”

“Alright.”

Rachel left with her parents, and two sets of parents replaced hers. Adam's and Melody's. All that were left were Jeremy's and mine. I sat down beside Jeremy and hoped this would just hurry and get over with. I hoped the others would get the same treatment as Rachel.

About five minutes later Wesley came out. Mr. Rich than took both Melody and Adam with their parents. Wesley received the same treatment as Rachel. I was eternally grateful. A couple walked in. They both seemed about fifty. The woman had blue eyes and red hair. The man had hazel eyes and brown hair. Jeremy looked almost exactly like a mixture of his parents.

“What did you do?” Mrs. Woodruff immediately began scolding her son.

“Sweetie, enough.” Mr. Woodruff put a hand on her shoulder, “Jeremy, what happened?”

“Ryan started going at me because Natasha found out what happened last year and he thought I told her.” I saw them both stiffen. Mrs. Woodruff looked over to me.

“You must be Natasha,”

“Yes. Its a pleasure to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff. Although it would be better under better circumstances.” I stood up and held my hand out, meeting Mrs. Woodruff's height exactly.

“Finally someone not taller than me!” She grinned and suddenly hugged me. I was shocked, and couldn't help but wonder if she was bipolar as I smiled.

“Sorry about that Natasha.” Mr. Woodruff shook my hand as he smiled.

“Its okay. I understand her happiness completely.” The door opened as Mr. Woodruff laughed.

“Come in, Mr., Mrs. Woodruff, Jeremy.” They slowly walked in the room and I looked to Melody.

“Same as Rachel. Text later.” With that, she walked away with the others.

A minute later, Andrea and James were there. “What happened?” Andrea immediately sat on one side of me; James taking the other seat.

“I walked up to my locker and found Ryan beating Jeremy up. It was all because of what I found out last night. Ryan thought that Jeremy told me.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Jeremy was the only one that got hurt. And so far the others only have today off as a fake-sick day. I don't know about Jeremy or about me.”

“Okay.”

We were silent for a moment. “I told them a little more than I wanted to.” I was surprised at how quiet my voice was as I said this.

“What do you mean?” Andrea's eyebrows knitted together as she asked this.

“I told them about my wrists and that the same thing had happened to me.” I wasn't looking at either one of them, I was looking at the ground, but I could still tell they were looking at each other in shock. I sighed and the door opened to reveal Jeremy walking out with his parents. I instantly stood up. “So?”

“I'll text you in a bit. I'm still going to pick you up tonight, okay?” Jeremy looked over to his parents and Mr. Rice. I figured he wasn't supposed to talk about it. But if he was still going to the party, he wasn't grounded. Which meant that he wasn't in trouble. I smiled, and he smirked. I had a feeling he had said that on purpose; to let me know secretly. I nodded my head and Andrea and James and I walked into the room.

It was almost like a regular office, which somehow didn't surprise me. I took a seat in one of the large chairs across from the desk. Andrea sat down and James leaned against Andrea's seat.

“Please, tell me your story Natasha,” Mr. Rice said as he sat down.

“I walked up to my locker. There was a crowd and I could hear shouts of 'fight.' I went into the center; having a bad feeling about it. When I got there, I saw Ryan having Jeremy against the lockers. I asked what was happening, and Ryan said that Jeremy had told me what had happened last year.” I prayed that he knew what had happened. “It wasn't Jeremy though. I told him that, and Ryan released Jeremy. That was when the others got him to the nurse.”

He nodded and looked in my eyes. “More happened though. According to Ryan and the others at least.”

I nodded and swallowed. “Ryan and I got into an argument. No physical violence at all. Just us throwing words at each other.”

“Ryan said you said something extremely serious.”

I felt my eyes widen. I couldn't believe Ryan would have said that. I gripped the hand of the chair tightly. “Yes...I did.”

“I, unfortunately, need you to repeat it for me.” I looked in his eyes and saw sadness and regret. He really wished he didn't have to have me repeat it.

“I had the same thing that happened to Taylor last year happen to me.” He nodded and a tear fell down my cheek. Andrea leaned over and squeezed my hand and James walked over and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Why are you asking her such questions? Its none of your business!” Andrea's voice was quiet, but deadly.

“Its protocol to make sure that Ryan wasn't lying.”

Andrea was silent. “Is...is that it?” My voice was extremely quiet and timid, much the way I was feeling.

Mr. Rice looked up at me. “Yes. I take it you already know the other's punishments?” I nodded, and he smiled.

“You have the same as them. Just an extra day off; nothing in your record. Get some rest.” Mr. Rice stood up and Andrea and I did as well. “So have a good day, okay? And be careful.”

“I will be. Thank you so much Mr. Rice. But...may I ask one question?”

“Ryan received two weeks out-of-school-suspicion. He has a long list.”

“Thank you.” I smiled and walked out with Andrea and James.

“Do you mind if I stay home with you?” Andrea put her arm over my shoulder.

“No. Rachel and Melody are going to come over though, if that's okay.”

“Yeah, that's fine! That would be great. I can get to know them!” I smiled at Andrea and we got into the car. Almost as soon as we started home, my phone went off. It was a text from Jeremy. So? How was it? I text him, telling him it was fine. I pulled out a text message to Melody and Rachel, saying that I got the same verdict. I also told them that my mother would be with us.

I sat around the house for a half-hour after we got home. I was meeting Rachel and Melody at Angel's Café and Bakery at 10:00. We were going to eat some breakfast there and then head to my house. I wasn't exactly sure what we were going to do all day, but I was just glad to have more than just one friend.

I walked over to the counter and smiled at the worker. I had come a lot the last few weeks, trying to get used to the place and such for my job.

“Natasha!” The voice alarmed me, and a moment later I felt arms around me, hugging me from behind. I didn't have to look behind me to know who it was. She was an eighth at a nearby school that didn't even start school until next week. She had long brown hair and brown eyes that were so dark that they almost seemed black. She was about an inch shorter than me, which always made me smile. Her name was Ray Eldridge.

“Hey Ray!” I turned around and hugged her back.

“How are you?” Her eyes showed genuine concern as she released me and looked in my eyes.

I smiled at her, glad to know that she was really concerned about me. “I'm doing better than I have lately. I actually made some good friends at school.”

“Really? Who?” Her eyes lit up and I was surprised at this.

“Their names are Jeremy Woodruff, Melody Rouse, Rachel Amidon, Wesley Peters and Adam Waters.”

“I know Jeremy! He used to babysit me and my little sister!”

I laughed at this. I couldn't picture Jeremy babysitting two younger girls. I didn't know why, I just couldn't picture it. “Seriously?”

“Uh-huh! He was really awesome! He actually used to play dolls with us.” I started grinning, already planning on possibly using this against him. Hopefully he wouldn't mind. I hoped that I wasn't thinking of us as better friends than we really were. “He was thirteen when he started babysitting us. I was about ten and my little sister was five. He babysat us for like two years, until I was old enough to stay home and watch my little sister.”

“That's great.” I wasn't exactly sure what else to say; I wasn't about to tell her about getting him with this stuff.

The door chimed and Melody and Rachel walked in. “Hey Natasha!”

“Hey Melody, Rachel.” I smiled and looked to Ray. “Ray, these are Melody Rouse and Rachel Amidon. Melody, Rachel, this is Ray Eldridge.”

Rachel rose an eyebrow at the younger girl. “Shouldn't you be in school?”

“Rachel!” Melody gaped at her. I had a feeling Rachel wasn't normally very nice to people.

“Its okay Melody. My school doesn't start until next Monday.” Ray smiled at Rachel. Rachel just nodded and sat down on a stool.

“Oh, okay.” Melody sat down as well, and I joined them.

“Well, I need to go. I just stopped by to get some stuff for my mom and sister. I'll see you later, right Natasha?” I nodded and she waved as she walked away.

“How do you know her?” I looked over to Rachel as the waitress came in. We gave the waitress our orders before I answered Rachel.

“I came in here a lot to get used to the way it worked. She happened to be here a lot too.”

“Oh,”

“Did you know that Jeremy used to babysit her and her little sister?” I took the top off of my water and looked at the girls.

“That's where I know her!” I was shocked at Rachel's slight outburst. I smiled as she blushed. “When Jeremy first began babysitting them, he needed a little help. So he called me up. I have two younger sisters, both of whom are their age.”

“Oh.”

“So what are we going to do today?” Melody sipped her hot chocolate as she asked this.

“Anything really. I don't have much to do at my house though.”

“Its okay. We need to raid your closet and choose your outfit.”

“And if you have no good outfits...”

“Shopping!” They both started laughing as they exclaimed it in unison, surprising me.

I just shook my head and finished my donut and bottled water.

*~~*

So I hope you like this chapter. Sorry its been a while. So a little bit of her past is revealed.

Please review, and thank you to: for reviewing!

Xx Butterfly