Not My Hero - Michelle Heard Page 0,3

breath, instantly annoyed. It’s the same idiot who was hurting the girl in English. I hate people like him. People like my father. They only know how to hurt – how to destroy. I’ve dealt with his kind all my life.

The guy waves a hand to get my attention from where he’s sitting a desk up in the next row over. “Hey.”

Clenching my jaw, I slant my eyes in his direction. He leans back to hand me a piece of paper. When I don’t move to take it, he tosses it onto my desk. “Pass it on.” He gestures to the girl next to me.

Not caring that I’ll upset him, I read the note.

Couldn’t help but notice you’re all wet for me. Did I hit your G-spot in English?

My eyes snap back up to his, and then I tear the note into tiny pieces.

“What the fuck?” he hisses.

Taking a deep breath, I turn my gaze back to the teacher.

I have zero time for the parasites of life. If you give them half a chance, they’ll suck you dry. Not that there’s much left of me. Brady’s death stripped all meaning from my life.

When the bell rings, I gather my stuff, and before I’m done shoving it into my bag, the girl next to me is out of her chair and rushing up the aisle. Her shoulders are hunched forward, and her black hair hangs around her like a cloak she’s trying to hide behind. Her whole appearance screams at me to look away. To not notice her.

She reminds me so much of my brother, and knowing what happened to him when the pressure became too much, has me taking notice. Before Brady’s suicide, I probably wouldn’t have looked twice at her.

I get up, but then the parasite blocks my way. “That note was for Brie.” His posture is threatening.

There are four kinds of people in life. The parasites who feed off others, aka bullies who get off on the fear they spread. The sheep who just exist, going through the same shit every day. The deers who mind their own business but then either freeze or run whenever they’re threatened. And then there are the bears who are tolerant until you fuck with them.

I try my best to be the latter.

I don’t bother giving him any kind of reaction and just push by him. When I step out into the hallway, the parasite bumps into me. I stop walking and clench my jaw as I turn my head in his direction.

He steps into my personal space, puffing his chest out like a damn peacock. “Do you have any idea who I am?”

I used to think I was one of the most patient people on the planet, but it turns out I was eating shit like the rest of the sheep.

No more. Not since that night.

I drop my bag to the floor, and not caring who he is, I shove the parasite hard. He staggers back, slamming against the opposite wall with a dull thud. Surprise flashes over his face before he darts forward. The moment he takes a swing at me, I duck to the side, and he ends up slamming his fist into the wall.

“Michael!” One of the teachers snap. “Get to class. Now.”

I pick up my bag, and giving Michael-the-fucking-parasite a glare, I walk to my locker.

If he knew what I survived, he’d steer clear of me. I’ve dealt with much worse. My father makes the likes of Michael look like a joke.

Thanks to the little show earlier with Michael, I’m the topic of discussion.

I walk toward an empty table with my lunch, and sitting down, I hear some of the students whisper.

‘I heard he’s psychotic. Like no emotion. That’s freaky weird.’

‘I saw the fight with Michael, and I shit you not, he was cold as ice.’

‘I think it’s hot.’

‘Yeah? So was Ted Bundy.’

I’m not here to make an impression and couldn’t be bothered with what the other students think of me. I’m here to finish school so I can get a job. Right now, we’re living off the money Mom gets from my father, and I don’t like it one bit. Once I start working, I’ll take care of us, and my father can shove his money up his ass.

That’s the only goal I have for this year. Just to get through it.

Taking a bite of the meatloaf, I let my gaze drift over the nearby tables until it stops on the one where the girl, Brie,