Taylor P.O.V

School... Another weekend over, and back to school.

Oh joy.

Though, weirdly enough, there was a tiny part of me that felt happy to go back, even on a Monday morning. I know, crazy, right?

After the whole situation that happened between me and Sam on the Saturday, we just sort of talked on that park bench for... What must have been a good few hours. By the time the conversation was over, we had to both go home.

But I allowed her to talk more than me. After all, telling people about myself wasn't something I was really used to or comfortable with anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely grateful to Sam for how genuine she seems. For how much she seems like she wants to be there but... I still can't help but get that fear at the back of my mind that maybe she's just helping me for some sort of selfish gain, or so she can laugh at me.

I know it might seem like a dumb fear that shouldn't even exist, but I just can't help it sometimes.

Sam talked about herself, explaining how she lived with her mother and that her parents had separated at a pretty early age. I didn't understand how she was just so chill talking about it. But I suppose she had just moved on.

"I don't see much point in dwelling on the past." She had admitted to me.

If only I could look at life that way too. I feel like then maybe things could be a little easier.

Honestly though, I could hear Sam talk for ages and ages, and I don't think I'd ever get bored of listening. The way she looks at life is so interesting and admirable, and I just wonder how I can be like that too.

When I got home that day, my dad seemed to notice I seemed more cheery than usual. And it's true. Funnily enough, I was. It's not like my problems were gone away or anything, but for that moment in time until it had worn off, I felt like I didn't need to worry about anything.

Talking to Sam, telling her the truth about my depression... As much as it scared and worried me, it comforted me in a way too... I just hope she's as nice as she makes herself out to be. After all, it'd be such a shame to lose her, only to be forced to shut myself away again.

Anyway...

Oh, right. School.

As I was making my way up the school steps, I saw MacKenzie hanging out with her weird group of friends on the railing. The moment they saw me, they just... stared. I was hoping that they wouldn't say anything, and that I'd be able to make it through in one piece.

But just as I was finally about to pass them by, one of the boys stuck out their foot, causing me to plunge face first towards the stone steps. Luckily, I just managed to bring my hands forward just in time to make it less of a harsh landing, but it still hurt like a bitch when I felt my hands slap against the stone concrete.

They all snickered.

This was so not worth it.

I'd rather have my hand hurt because it connected with MacKenzie's face over this.

I tried to get up, not trying to react too much to what had just happened. But to my horror, as I picked myself up off the ground, the group crowded around me, and I instantly cowered in fear - that thought of wanting to smack MacKenzie right across the face disappearing, as I was too scared to even do a single thing.

Before I knew it, I heard insults being thrown at me, all the way from words like "bitch" and "slut" to words like "fag" and "lesbian". What a lovely start to a day. Oh, how I wished I never trusted Mackenzie...

"Hey!" A voice shouted from behind us, as I was getting shoved around by the group. They all turned around, including myself. I could just see someone's black hair over one of the boy's shoulders. The girl's shoes could be heard hitting the concrete, as she walked up the stairs towards us.

I could finally see her face. It was Sam!

"Oh, it's the new girl." One of the boys laughed, clearly not being fazed by the fact that she had shouted at them just seconds before.

"For your information," She spat. "The name's Sam, you dickhead."

"Oh, is that so?" He smirked, walking closer towards her so they were merely faces apart. Though, compared to her, he towered over her due to his height. But she didn't seem scared in the slightest.

"That's right. Why don't you leave her alone?" Sam demanded. "She didn't even fucking do anything to you!"

"Like we'd listen to a little pimpsqueak like you!" Another shouted.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp throbbing pain go across one of my cheeks, as I felt another person's hand connect with my face in a slap. A look of anger flickered across Sam's eyes, and in that moment, she brought her hand into a fist, bringing it right across the boy's jaw in front of her.

We all gasped in shock, as the tall boy fell to the floor from the strike. Then, the rest of them went for her, leaving me standing scared and horrified, wondering just what to do.

"Run inside, Taylor!" I heard Sam's voice shout, before hearing her cry out in pain, as if one of the other students had brought a blow to her body.

I didn't want to run. I wanted to help her, to stop what was happening. To stop her from being hurt.

But I couldn't.

"Run!" I heard her shout again.

And for some reason, I obeyed and turned on my heel, legging it right for the double doors and going inside. I had to tell someone!

But then Sam might get in trouble, as she had hit someone too... I didn't know what to do! All I felt like I could do was lock myself up in one of the girl's bathroom stalls, crying until I felt better. It's not like I could do much else.

I've always been a coward...