Just A Friend.Mature

I turned to Tania and gave her a curious look.
"Why are you being nice to me?" I asked her. She blinked and looked down at her hands.

"Because I've seen what they all do to you, and I just wanted to be a friend to you." I smiled at her.
"But you don't even know me." I whispered softly. Tania shook her head and reached over to pat my hand gently.
"It doesn't matter. I'll get to know you." I nodded.

Before I could say anything to her, the bell rang to go back to class. I sighed and stood up and wiped the grass and leaves from my clothes and smiled at Tania.
"See you later Lara." She said to me before running off to class.
I followed at a much slower pace. With each step I took, I could hear mocking laughter and shouted insults.

I mentally braced myself and rounded the corner and strode inside the classroom. I took my seat opposite Patrice and slumped down.
Patrice's foot connected with my shins, just as I felt things being thrown at my back. I clenched my teeth together and did my best to ignore them all.
"Where were you at lunch Lara? Were you hiding in the toilets like a scared little girl?" Patrice taunted. Everyone laughed and gave her praise.
I raised my chin slightly.
"I was with a friend." I told her firmly. She looked at me with wide eyes then laughed again.
"What friend? You have no friends!" She exclaimed, then giggled. All her friends snickered and nodded.
I bit my lip and fell silent. There was no point in arguing with them when they'd just shoot me down and laugh. I sat there and listened to more of their insults and endured their kicks and punches. I barely felt the objects that got thrown at me. In time, I had grown to get used to the pain. I didn't care that they bruised me, and I didn't notice that they made me bleed.
I just didn't really care anymore.

Only a few more hours until it was time to go home. Funny thing was, I'd prefer sitting in my classroom with the bullies rather than going home and facing my family.