CHAPTER 31: BEATEN UP

Catherine’s POV

I was halfway to my locker when someone called my name.

"Catherine!"

I turned and saw Collins behind me with his usual boyish grin in place.

"Hey," he said, pushing his scattered hair backwards. "Was hoping to see you before classes today. Glad I did."

"Why? Is there a problem?"

"Nope. Why would that be the first thing you think of?" His smile softened. "Thing is, I wanted to ask if we could hang out after school. Maybe grab coffee or something."

For a second, I almost said no, until Julian’s smirk from this morning flashed through my mind, the way he’d taunted me last night and even this morning.

"Sure," I said, more quickly than I meant to. "After school’s fine but we won’t just grab coffee. You have to buy a burger for me."

Collins’ grin widened. "Cool. I’ll be waiting by the gate after school."

I nodded, pretending not to notice the flicker of satisfaction that came with it. If Julian saw me with Collins, it’d replace that stupid smug look off his face.

—

The rest of the morning dragged on. Classes blurred together until the lunch bell finally rang. I was heading toward the cafeteria when I spotted Tessa slipping out a side door.

She was moving too quietly, with her head down, like she didn’t want to be seen.

I frowned and followed her, curiosity tugging at me harder than reason. She walked through the back hallway and out to the old part of the school, a place where students went when they didn’t want to be found.

Before I saw her, the stench of smoke hit me.

"Tessa?"

She spun around and her eyes widened, a cigarette was halfway to her lips.

"Jeez, Catherine! What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" I asked, crossing my arms. "Since when do you smoke?"

Tessa’s face went pale. "It’s none of your business. Just... go back inside."

"Go back inside?" I scoffed. "So this is what comes with being friends with Sasha now? Secret smoking sessions?"

Her jaw tightened. "Did you not hear me? It’s not your business. Just go, please."

"No," I said, stepping closer. "You’ve been avoiding me for weeks, and now you’re hiding back here, to smoke. What’s going on, Tessa? Why are you choosing this life?"

She opened her mouth to reply and then froze when footsteps and laughter came.

I turned just as Sasha appeared, flanked by her minions, till today I didn’t care to know the names of those girls.

"Oh, look who we have here," Sasha said, her smile fading the moment she saw me.

"What is she doing here?"

Tessa immediately began to stammer. "I—I didn’t bring her here, I swear. She followed me."

I could see the fear in her eyes. It didn’t seem like guilt. She looked scared.

Sasha’s gaze slid to me. "You just can’t help yourself, can you, Catherine? Always sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong."

"The part where the culprit points accusing fingers, you should look at yourself first before making any judgments," I shot back.

"How dare you?" One of her minions shot, her eyebrows shooting up. This would actually be the first time I hear any of them speak.

Sasha raised a hand to shut her up, before taking a slow step forward. "You must think you’re brave or special because you eat breakfast with the Vaughns. Very stupid of you."

"No. I’m a girl who knows her rights and refuses to be bullied," I shot. "I can’t understand why you think you can treat people anyhow. Lowest self-esteem at its best."

The words were out before I could stop them and Sasha’s smile vanished.

She nodded once, a tiny signal and before I figured it out, her girls grabbed me by both arms.

"Let go of me!" I shouted while struggling. Their grip was stronger than I expected.

Sasha came face to face with me, raising my chin to look at her. "You’re such a nuisance, Catherine. Since the day I saw you, I knew you would be trouble but right now, I’m going to put you in your place."

I didn’t back down. "Bullies exist because they hate themselves. Do whatever you want, it won’t take the hatred..."

Before I could finish, a loud slap dashed on my face causing my head to snap sideways, the sting blooming hot across my cheek.

"You are going to regret this!" I shouted, tasting blood.

She smirked, curling her hair with her finger, "I will love to see you try. Tessa?"

"Yes?" Tessa stammered, walking forward.

"Your turn. I want you to punch her three times. Make it gruesome."

Tessa’s head shook in disbelief. "Me? I can’t."

"Leave her alone. Don’t involve her in your dirty work!" I shouted but Sasha ignored me and angrily turned back to Tessa.

"You don’t want to regret not obeying me. Do as I say."

From her tone, I finally realized she had something against Tessa, which she was using to bait her.

Tessa hesitantly moved towards me, her hand trembled when she lifted them up and before Sasha’s voice could come again, she threw her fist to my rib, though it wasn’t as painful as I expected.

Sasha noticed and moved behind her. "You have four punches left to deliver."

"Four? It’s supposed to be two," Tessa’s voice came low.

"I didn’t ask you to pet her, I want gruesome punches. Deliver another light blow and watch me make you suffer the repercussion. You know what I mean?"

That threat did the magic, because Tessa’s fists began to hit my rib hard. I yelled continuously, begging her to stop but it seemed whatever Sasha had against her was concrete.

After she landed all the blows, Sasha pulled her back, stepping forward, without warning, she smacked me hard on the face again, twice, before pushing me to the floor.

Her face lowered to meet me, at this point I was already struggling. My stomach hurt hard and blood poured out from my nose easily.

"This is my territory, step-princess. The Vaughn name won’t save you here."

After that, she laughed and disappeared with her entourage.

Tessa lingered for a second, trembling. Her eyes met mine, full of apology and fear.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, before running after them.

It took me a minute to move. Every breath hurt. My palms were scraped, my cheek throbbed, and blood was dripping slowly from my nose.

I managed to push myself to my feet, with one hand against the wall for balance. I just wanted to get out of there.

I didn’t make it far before I heard someone shouting.

"Catherine?"

I turned. Gabriel was running toward me, his expression shifting from confusion to horror in an instant.

"Oh my God... what happened?" He reached me, hands hovering uncertainly before finally gripping my shoulders. "Who did this to you?"

"It’s nothing," I mumbled. "Just—drop it."

"Nothing?" His voice cracked with disbelief. "You’re bleeding!"

"I said I’m fine," I insisted, though my voice was shaking.

He studied my face for a moment, then his tone softened. "Catherine. Tell me. Who did this to you?!"

I hesitated, then sighed. "Sasha. And her little gang."

His jaw tightened. "Not surprised. We have to report this."

"It won’t matter," I said bitterly. "I heard her family basically sponsors this school."

"That’s bullshit," he said. "Look what they did to you. We have to report them."

We walked to the administrative building, with Gabriel supporting me.

In the principal’s office, Gabriel did most of the talking. I sat beside him, staring at the floor while he reported what happened.

The principal nodded along, pretending to take notes.

"Do you have any proof?" he finally asked.

Gabriel’s voice turned sharp. "She’s right here, bleeding. Is that not proof enough?"

The principal sighed. "Right. You can leave. We’ll look into it."

That was it. No promise, no urgency. Just that polite, meaningless phrase.

We walked out in silence.

As soon as we stepped into the hallway, I let out a small, humorless laugh. "What did I expect? Sasha’s dad funds the library and the auditorium. They’ll never touch her."

Gabriel didn’t answer. He just looked at me for a long moment. "Maybe we should call dad."

No way! I wasn’t ready to disrupt their honeymoon for something petty.