I was standing outside the doors to the changing rooms, inspecting my bruises with my fingers. I winced when I touched the dark bruise forming round my eye.
"Hey," Joey smiled and walked up to me, he handed me a wet wipe and I nodded appreciatively as I took it, wiping the blood that had formed below my nose. "Are you alright? You took a beating in there, literally."
"I've had worse," I admitted and hiss in pain when the wipe makes a cut on my skin sting.
"So when you turned up on your first day with all those bruises it's because you're skilled in fighting?" Joey wondered and I nodded.
"It was Eli then too."
"Jesus," Joey muttered. "He was brutal."
"He is good at what he does," I said stiffly, not wanting to admit it.
"So are you," Joey said. "You two fighting was like something you'd see in a film."
"But I wasn't better than him," I muttered. "He won."
"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure you done some damage with that kick to the balls," Joey grinned and I chuckled. "Does it hurt?" He looked to the large ugly bruise around my eye.
"Yep," I nodded.
"I can't believe he kicked you in the face," Joey murmured.
"I wasn't expecting that," I admitted and threw the bloody tissue in the bin. My face was now free from blood, but scattered with bruises.
I saw Max walking towards us in the reflection of the mirror and I narrowed my eyes when he stopped next to me.
"This is your fault," I said and pointed to my face.
Max just shrugged and handed me an ice pack. "I didn't expect you two to proper go for it like you did," he admitted and I snatched the ice pack from him and held it to my face.
"What did you expect if you put us two together and tell us to fight?" I snapped.
"I didn't expect you to lose," Max admitted. "You're one of the best and I knew Eli was good, but the only person I know who can take you on is Blake."
"And now me," Eli called, his face smug as he walked up to me with Noah and a few friends by his side.
"Eli, fuck off or so help me God I will-"
"What?" He taunted, his eyes glittering with dark amusement. "I've already floored you once today, I'd happily do it again, Daisy."
"Can't you tell she doesn't want to see you?" Joey said, stepping forward and squaring up to Eli.
"I would step back if I were you, Joseph," Eli said slowly and placed his fingers on Joey's chest and pushed him back. "I have no problem with giving you and Daisy matching bruises."
"Stop it!" I snapped and glared at Eli. "Joey, let's go, we have a lesson to go to."
"That's it, run away," Eli smirked as we started to walk off.
I froze and gritted my teeth. "Dickhead!" I growled and turned round walking up to him. "Eli, I need to do one last thing."
"And what is that?"
I smiled sweetly and drew my fist back and punched Eli in the face. "That," I said and turned on my heel, linking my arm with Joey's and walking away.
Stories of Eli and I had spread throughout the school during the day and I couldn't go anywhere without being stared at. I had encountered Emma on various occasions, but she avoided me, not before glaring bitchily at me however.
I opened my locker and shoved a load of my books inside at the end of the day. I was meeting Joey at my locker and I had told him to take his time, I couldn't risk running into Eli and have him see me leaving with Joey.
A few minutes later Joey joined me and I smiled at him. "How you feeling?" He asked.
"My face fucking kills," I mumbled. "But I don't have to see the dick for a while so that's brightened my mood."
Joey chuckled. "I hate to remind you, but we have a project to do."
"Thanks, Joey," I said dryly and rolled my eyes. "That's really cheered me up."
Joey laughed and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."
"Shall we go?" I wondered.
"We shall," he nodded and the two of us made our way out of the school just as I saw Eli's car speed out of the car park. We got into Eli's car and I looked at my bracelet that was locked around my wrist. My counselling session didn't start until 5. I wondered how long it would take for someone to realise I was missing.
"Home sweet home!" Joey grinned as we walked into his house. I was pleasantly surprised. I had expected mess everyone, dishes piled high and underwear hanging from lampshades, but the house was spotless. I wished that my house could be this clean, but that was impossible when living with 9 boys.
"Drink?" Joey wondered as he walked into the kitchen.
"I'm fine, thanks," I shrugged and Joey poured himself a glass of orange juice. "Nice house," I commented.
"Curtesy of my loving parents," he said sarcastically and I followed him as he walked into the lounge. I dumped my bag on the ground and sat on the sofa, making myself comfortable. My stomach twinged as I did and Joey noticed. "Do you need any painkillers?"
"I'm fine," I winced and tried to relax my stomach. "It's nothing."
"I think our definitions of nothing are very different," Joey mumbled and I chuckled slightly.
"Just get the damned laptop and let's do this shitty project," I muttered.
Joey smirked and took my laptop from my bag. He sat down next to me and opened it on his lap. "Do you even know what it's on?" Joey wondered and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Do you even have to ask that?" I countered and rolled my eyes. "High school chemistry is so boring!"
"As opposed to non high school chemistry?" Joey snorted.
"Yes," I nodded. "I learnt all this shit that we do in class a few years ago. I don't not pay attention because I don't get it, I don't pay attention because it bores me."
"So you're telling me that you completely understand everything and find it easy?"
"Not in those exact words," I said. "But yes."
"Then why the hell am I doing most of the work!" Joey exclaimed and shoved my laptop to me. "Off you go Miss Smarty Pants."
Two hours later chemistry had managed to bore us even further so Joey and I had resulted to watching Misfits or otherwise known as the best tv show ever.
"You'd so be Aleshia," Joey said and looked at me. "You're both bitches."
"Hold on, I don't go around fucking everyone," I said. "And I'm not a bitch!"
Lie.
"You're a nice bitch," Joey smiled and I rolled my eyes.
"You're such a gentleman," I said sarcastically as my phone rang. I looked at the screen and frowned when it was an unknown number. I answered it and held the phone to my ear. "Hello?"
"Daisy!" James said brightly and I scowled when I heard his annoying voice. "I don't think you would dare miss a counselling session, would you? I'm going to assume the bus is running late, am I correct?"
"Cut the patronising shit," I snapped, fully aware that he was taking the piss. "How did you get my number."
"You're being monitored 24/7, Daisy," James said manner of factly. "Me getting your phone number is surprisingly easy."
"Here's a tip, don't call it again," I said sternly.
"Daisy, I sense you're getting angry," James said calmly.
"Do you?" I scoffed. "I think my anger started to spike when I answered my phone. Eli makes me angry and you said to ignore him, maybe I should apply that theory to you? I think that's a great idea." I hung up before James could say anything else and sighed.
"Who was that?" Joey wondered.
"Nobody," I said dismissively.
"Doesn't sound like nobody," Joey frowned. "He's making you upset."
"I'm not upset, I'm annoyed," I mumbled and Joey moved over to me and wrapped an arm round my shoulder.
"Wanna talk about it?"
I smiled slightly. "Thanks for the offer, but no. I better be off soon though, I bet he's going to tell Blake that I'm not where I'm meant to be-"
My phone rang again and I stiffened when I saw Rob's name.
"Shit," I cursed and debated whether to answer it or not.
"Stay," Joey said. "Just chill. Turn your phone off and relax."
"I'd love to," I said and chuckled, looking up at Joey. "But I'm afraid there is literally no escaping this."
I frowned when I realised that Joey was suddenly a lot closer than I was comfortable with. His face was inches from mine and I hoped that my mind was playing tricks on me when I saw him leaning closer.
Shit.
It wasn't.
"Joey, what the-" I was cut off when Joey kissed me and my eyes went wide in shock. I gently, but forcefully pushed Joey back and bolted up from the sofa. "Whoa there, Joey!" I said with an awkward chuckle. "That's um... No. We're friends, Joey... That's all."
Joey looked shocked at what he had just done and he gasped. "Shit," he swore. "I'm so sorry! I don't know what happened, I just-"
"It's fine!" I said quickly and grabbed my laptop and stuffed it into my bag. "It's about time I went anyway."
"Daisy, I'm sorry!" Joey blurted and I swung my bag over my shoulder and walked towards the front door of the house with Joey rushing behind me. "At least met me stop you home-"
"I'm fine," I said and opened the front door and walked out. "It's fine, Joey, I've got some personal stuff to deal with tonight."
"Are you sure?" Joey asked weakly and I sighed, walking up to him and quickly pecking him on the cheek.
"Positive," I said. "Don't fret about the kiss, it's already forgotten. Friends."
Joey nodded weakly and I frowned when a sleek white car pulled up outside Joey's house.
"How the..." I murmured. "Fucksake."
"Daisy, get in!" Blake called, rolling down the car window.