The note

"Ugh!" I curled into a ball on the floor and choked out for air. I tried grabbing. Anything to grasp for. To hold on to. I felt like I was dying.

"You piece of shit! Think you can act like a fuckin hero and swoop in to save the princess. You think ya gonna get ya dick sucked? I was so close to scoring!" He kicked me in my shoulder. A sharp burst of pain hit me and I gasped. I didn't look up to see his face. I felt like I couldn't do anything.

"I-I called the c-cops they'll be here any-any second." I bluffed while gasping for air.

His face turned pale instantly and he ran faster than the girl did. Thank you God. After 10 minutes of lying on the floor I picked myself up and carried myself home. The milk had bust on impact so I was left with nothing but my dirtied backpack.

I snuck into my house not making a sound and threw my backpack to the ground. I laid on my bed with my head angled at the moving fan. My heart hadn't stopped one bit from before and I felt exhausted.

"Caleb get down here!" My mom shouted up to my room.

"Yeah?" I unwillingly trudged downstairs.

"You're late. Where is the milk?" Of course she wouldn't acknowledge my injuries or how tired I was. It didn't matter too much to her. "I sent Jonah out there to find you. You wasted his time and won't even say sorry when you come back?"

Of course the only attention I would ever receive was when i was compared to my brother of one year older. My parents took care of him because they loved him. They took care of me because they felt responsible.

"They were out. I can go tomorrow if you want." I avoided eye contact with her and waited for an answer. All I got was a long winded sigh.

I jumped into my bed with out eating and passed out from the exhaustion. Karma for saving a pretty girl I guess.

I yawned and stepped into chemistry, Mrs. Torske. She made no attempt of giving me mercy even though I looked half dead. Every time I nodded off or stuttered before incorrectly giving an answer when she would put me on the spot, Mrs. Torske would berate me.

As I was finishing my work a fly started bugging me and my eyes followed it, ready to swat it. I trailed to where that new girl sat. The girl I helped out. Hannya. Huh, absent... on her second day? Why do you care so much? Did you think she would run into your arms just because you threw a milk jug at her attacker? Grow up and stop having your pubescent fantasies!

After chemistry I unlocked my locker and reached for my English books. I hesitated because their was a strange envelope sitting upon it. It was pink and decorated with red hearts. The envelope looked silly but oddly charming. At first I thought it must have been a mistake, I left my locker unlocked and someone mistook it for someone else's? When I flipped it over I saw in red ink, my name. My next theory was that the "love letter" was just a crude joke from Noah.

"Well well well looks like my dear boy has himself a secret admirer." Noah yelled a bit too loud in the hallway. A few passerby's snickered.

"Mhm I bet." I rolled my eyes at my friend's attempt to prank me. "Nice one Noah. A fake love letter huh? You must be really desperate to get a reaction out of me."

"No clue what you're talking about." Noah leaned against the locker. "Go ahead and open it. I'm curious too. It's about time you got laid."

I ignored Noah's rude comments and placed my finger under the mouth of the envelope and lifted it up. Sliding the white paper underneath out, I began reading. What I read took me by surprise.

"Thank you for last night."

"Oh so you did get laid you son of a bitch! Already?" Noah scoffed loudly.

"Jeez- Uh no, of course not! You got it wrong... and stop being so loud."

A few passing girls started snickering at our foolishness.

Could this be from the girl I helped out last night? I dropped the paper in surprise after I had turned to the back. In very small red ink was my name, written hundreds of times. I slowly picked it back up and traded a look with Noah.

"Hey, you know my penmanship is nowhere near as good as that. Do you think I would take the time to write your name for a joke?" Noah cleared his throat and started walking to class.

I believed him. Noah would have gotten bored half way through writing my name. He isn't much better at doing his assignments than me. So maybe this is from the girl, maybe she likes me. I blushed a bit at the thought. Heh that's just wishful thinking. The letter was exaggerated too much to be from a girl, right? The writing on the back was a bit creepy though. I put the note in my pocket and made sure to lock the door shut. I quickly caught up to him and continued our walk to English.

What the hell was that? So many questions. How did that note get in my locker? Maybe she told someone and they tried messing with me? It's a weird prank and I can't really say it was funny but...

"Hey I heard that Mr. Pike got into a car accident."

"Again-rumours." I scratched my head. You couldn't trust what was talked about in the halls or in between class. Only naive idiots.

I placed my head down to my desk until he I heard an unfamiliar voice coming from the front of the class. A woman.

"Hello class I regret to inform you that Mr Pike won't be teaching for a while until he recovers. Many of you have heard he suffered a nasty car crash last night on his way home. Please call me Ms. Dodd. I will be taking over for him until he comes back."

Ms. Dodd gave a few seconds for us to trade looks and chat. It was a surprise. Maybe what Noah picks up does have some merit occasionally.

Eventually she caught me procrastinating. "Ahem," Ms. Dodd flapped a yellow sheet of paper up to her nose to look at my name. "Caleb. sit up and do your work."

For the rest of the period I silently did my assignment superficially while I dwelled on the letter. Eh she could have just been thanking me in a weird way right? Thanking someone in person can be awkward especially if you were saved from sexual assault. She could have slipped it through the cracks? No, but the letter was placed neatly on my books where I could find it. The writing of my name too. Weird...creepy.

I continued scribbling, my heart starting to beat faster until I broke my pencil tip. I need answers- I'll ask her when she gets back to school. Heh, that will clear things up. Just think about something else now.

I looked at where Mr. Pike used to sit, Now taken by Ms. Dodd. He was a pain in the ass no doubt but I wouldn't wish harm on him. After all I'm just an observer. Never participating. Except for last night. When I finally did... something. After the bell rang I waved a goodbye to Noah as I plodded to my next class.

"Ugh." I sighed while throwing myself onto the bed. I was done with my homework so I could finally relax until my mom rolled the wheel o fortune to see what she could nag me about. My walks back him felt a bit strange. Like someone was watching me. Heh, like Noah said I am a bit of a pussy. As I laid my head onto the pillow I felt a crinkle. I pushed my pillow again and a similar crinkle was heard again.

"Did I leave a chip bag under here?" I picked the pillow up and fell off my bed.

"Ah!" I gasped and looked down.

Another pink envelope decorated in the same manner.

Oh God what the hell! I shivered and backed up to my door. This is getting weird. Too weird. Did Jonah- no that doesn't make sense! Maybe multiple people in on it to give me a scare. It doesn't feel like it. I dubiously approached the bed again and picked up the letter, sitting down. I lifted the mouth and took the white paper out.

"I heard Mr. Pike was being a bit strict with you. I fixed it. You don't have to worry about that dumb teacher for now. I'll be back to school next week. I can't wait to see you! I just couldn't bring myself to come to school. I could barely contain myself when you bumped into me! The way you apologised, it was too cute. And after you saved me my love for you has only grown!"

No heh no. It's not like that. Don't read into the message. It's just an edgy or tasteless joke. She didn't do that. No she couldn't. It was an accident, that's what Ms. Dodd said.

I turned the message to see the back.

"Thank you for remembering my name. I adore you Caleb." It was written in a messier handwriting like she had scribbled it while embarrassed.

I placed the envelope and paper beside me. I slouched forward and ran my hands through my messy hair. "Shit."

What the hell am i gonna do, if I were to take this seriously, there isn't much I can get done. Go to the police? No real proof- they wouldn't take me seriously. Besides the envelope doesn't even have her name on it. It really doesn't even state she was responsible for Mr. Pike's crash. So just don't go to school tomorrow! Run off!

My heart raced as I shoved a bunch of clothes into a small black dufflebag. I looked at it for half a minute, just staring. Is this the right choice?

I was scared and anxious, I wasn't in the emotional state to make a big decision. I decided to wait for a day and see if this stopped. Maybe Hannya's just a mean girl who's embarrassed that I saved her, so she decides to mess with me? She could just have a sick sense of humor? That's a stretch but women are confusing. Ugh it's giving me a headache!

I went to sleep the best I could, even though I was exhausted my worries kept gnawing at me through the night.