I'll call it chapter 3

I was about to go out. Immediately after mom’s van pulled away, sleep washed over me again. I wasn't sure how, after I’d just slept. But I was still exhausted. I weakly shut the door and slid into the passenger seat before falling asleep.
Sleep wasn't long-lasting. Five minutes tops. I heard nearly silent voices.
“You don’t think the injury has anything to do with her being tired?” It was Tom.
“The doctor said-”
“You can’t always rely on doctors!” Tom whispered angrily.
“Okay, let’s not wake her. We ought to get her home. It’s not comfy sleeping in a car.” Damn straight, I thought.
It was in the next few minutes that I forgot about everything. My mom drove me home, and got me up. But my mind was elsewhere, and she seemed to notice.
“What’s wrong honey?” she asked.
“Just thinking about something.”
“Okay, well, if you want to talk about it,” she muttered. I didn’t. I was thinking about Derek. About what he’d done to me. What he would be doing to me alot now. And I was scared. He was going to be doing the same thing every day, and I was going to be scarred. I needed someone to talk to. Not a parent. A friend.
Naturally, every girl were jealous of me. And they gossiped constantly. All the boys were to “Let's have some fun” to me to trust.
So I was left in the dark with a secret. And I would have to endure the pain alone, too. Not that I wanted to inflict my pain on someone else, but  when I relied on someone with private info, it relieved me slightly. That’s why I usually never feel too awesome.
I drifted off slowly. I was thinking about Derek’s eagerness for sex. I could get use to that. Not sex, but the rest of it. Who knows, there'd been a chance I might start enjoying myself one day.
At least, I would have. If I hadn’t met my new best friend.

 

**
 

“Hey, darlin’.” One of the perverted boys from Derek’s gang of friends was calling.
“Eff off,” I snapped.
“I’d rather eff you,” he replied.
“That’s nice. You keep dreaming,” I told him, scowling.
“I won’t have to tonight,” he muttered, catching my arm as I started to walk away.
“Where you goin’ so soon, hun?” he asked me breathily. Derek snickered.
“Away from you!” I retorted angrily, attempting to twist my arm out of his grip. Failure.
“Well, I just pick you up after school, then. We can go somewhere, alone.”
“No thanks,” I sneered.
“Yes. I’ll meet you at the door.”
“No, you won’t,” I said.
“Later, honey. And don’t be goin’ and tellin’ no one, right, hun? Good girl,” he said, pushing me. I stumbled and fell. Catching myself on someone.
“I-I-I’m so sorry,” I stuttered, standing up. I examined the person. Tall, broad, and muscular, with chin-length curly brown hair. He looked at me too. His green eyes were like pins to a balloon.
“I-I didn’t m-mean... I-I fell,” I lied.
“That’s okay.” I was surprised. His voice was soft, and gentle. I’d expected a roar.
“I-I’m Lila,” I mumbled.
“Gabriel,” he replied. Cute. “Why do you look so… scared and angry?”
“Well… I was sorta afraid you were gonna murder me… and I’m actually pretty pissed at... someone.”
Gabriel laughed.
“Well, I’m not going to touch you. But you could tell me who you're ticked at.”
“I-I… I’m not supposed to say anything about it. And I don't need you to get involved with him.  Them,” I corrected myself.
“Them? There’s more than one?” He looked surprised. "How could you possibly piss anyone off?"

I looked at him.
“Who are they?” he asked.
“It’s… well...” I pointed to Derek and his friends, who had returned to their table, halfway across the room.