Dominic

I winced as I pushed myself up to my feet and looked towards Micah, behind her stood two of her friends watching us with amusement.

"That wasn't me f-fault Micah, I don't know why Dominic did what he did, I swear," I said to her as I held my now throbbing cheek.

Micah rolled her eyes. "Because he is your fella and since I can't hit him for hurtin' my fella, I'm hurtin' you instead."

"Dominic isn't me fella, Micah, I swear-" she cut me off by jumping at me, knocking me back to the ground.

I could do little more than cover my face with my arms while she pulled at my hair and punched at any visible bit of skin she could make contact with. I screamed when she stood up off me and kicked me directly in the stomach; it made me dry heave with the force of it.

"Don't look at Jason or even in his direction again because if you do, and it pisses of Dominic and results in Jason gettin' hurt again, I'll kill you. Understand, fatso?" she asked and kicked me again.

"Yeah," I rasped.

"Good." She spat on me then turned and walked off with her friends.

I lay on the ground for a few moments, until the cold got to me and forced me to move. I hissed and winced as I got to my feet, it was darker out now, and there wasn't a soul out on the street which wasn't surprising.

I coughed and the action caused my stomach to erupt in pain, I felt like crying but didn't incase Micah was somewhere near and could see or hear me. She beat me up with ease, but I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing or hearing me cry.

I didn't know what hurt more, my stomach, my face, or my head. I settled on my nose hurting the most when a trickle of blood seeped from my nostril, slid down over my lips and chin, where it dripped down onto my school uniform jumper. I didn't even bother to wipe it away because I was sure it would stop eventually. I slowly made my way home and as soon as I got inside, I headed to the bathroom, drew a bath, stripped down and sunk into it.

I didn't cry until a minute and a half into my bath, and I didn't stop until I got out. I dried myself then and carefully used a dry wash cloth to pat my face dry, my nose was now blood free and just red and a little swollen, my right cheek was a bit swollen, and so was my jaw. I could already see the bruise that was beginning to form around my jaw, but none around my eye which gave me hope that it wouldn't bruise again.

After I left the bathroom, I went into my room and changed into some pyjama trousers, a tank top, and a blue hoodie that used to be owned by my dad. I carefully brushed out my hair, because it was tender as hell from Micah pulling on it. When I was done, I did a very loose plait in my hair and flung it over my shoulders then headed downstairs for some food. Lots and lots of food.

I heard the hall door open as I poured some custard and whipped cream over my giant bowl of ice-cream. I heard the hall door close, keys being put on the key hook on the hall wall then footsteps into the kitchen.

"Hey, hun, how was your first day back - omigod!"

I winced when I turned; Branna's screams could be pretty loud.

"I'm goin' to find out where he lives and fuckin' kill him!" Branna screamed then turned and stormed out of the kitchen.

Him?

What the hell?

"Branna, a girl did this, not a lad," I shouted after her.

Her steps paused then pattered back into the kitchen.

"That Dominic kid didn't do that or cause it?" she asked, boring her eyes into mine to see if I was lying.

She thought Dominic did this to me or was the cause of it? Not surprising since the only times I ever had bruises or got into trouble, he was usually involved.

"No, I haven't seen or spoken to him since I was suspended two weeks ago," I assured her.

She eyed me for a moment. "Who did this then? Give me names and I'll fix it."

My God, she was acting like a hit man… or woman.

"I don't know who she was but I think she thought I was someone else. She called me Sarah and told me to stay away from her fella," I lied and felt horrible about it.

I couldn't tell her it was Micah because Branna would find her and do damage to Micah's face like she did to mine, and I couldn't let that happen. She was a medical student studying to be a midwife, and I doubted she would be hired anywhere if she had a rap sheet for assaulting a minor, since Micah was only seventeen.

Branna frowned at me but continued to stare at me for signs of lies. I was usually a terrible liar, but the fact that I had to lie to keep her from potentially destroying her career made me hold a steady face.

"Oh hun, that is horrible luck. It's the last thing you need after that stupid suspension and especially after the black eye you got off that Dominic kid."

I wanted to fall to the floor in relief but I didn't, I forced myself to snort. "Tell me about it."

I starting chuckling but winced over my side and gripped it.

"Show me," Branna ordered.

I lifted my hoodie and tank top upwards.

"Omigod, your stomach is black and blue!"

I looked down and groaned, Branna was right. My left side was bruised from my lower ribs to my hip bone. It looked like Micah's kickboxing classes pay off, because she did substantial damage to me in only a matter of seconds.

"I took a bath, it helped with the pain, but to make me feel even better I'm eatin' this," I said and gestured to my large serving of ice-cream, custard, and whipped cream.

Branna chuckled and shook her head. "Thank God you pick out the low fat on everything we buy. You'd be as big a house if you keep up this comfort eatin' thing you've got goin'."

I rolled my eyes. "I haven't even gained weight so clearly me comfort eatin' isn't bad."

Branna snorted. "Give it a while hun, your jeans will suddenly feel a bit too tight and then, after that, all hell breaks loose."

I shook my head and lifted up my bowl. "If you need me, I'll be eatin' my feelin's in my room while watchin' Dear John."

"Awe hun," Branna frowned and lightly chuckled.

She felt sorry for me and watched me exit the kitchen.

I headed up to my room, settled into my bed, turned on my television, and dug into my food. I snorted at Branna's logic; there was nothing wrong with comfort eating, so what if I gained some weight? Honestly, who gave a fuck?

Nope, not me. I'd rather deal with my worries by comfort eating and have some extra pounds than sit around afraid that Micah might beat me up again or what would happen when I saw Dominic again.

I groaned at the thought of him and all the trouble he had caused me in the short time I've known him. I shook my head, one bowl of ice-cream was nowhere near enough to deal with this bullshit.

"I can't believe we're this high up the mountains," I growled to Branna and quickly glanced around my surroundings.

I was mad that she brought me up here but when I caught sight of the view overlooking Dublin at night I was shocked I hadn't come up here before just to look at it. All the lights and patches of darkness from the fields were just stunning.

Branna rolled her eyes when I looked back at her. "We're ten minutes from the house. We live on the bottom of the mountain so what's the big deal about bein' higher up on it?" Branna asked.

I shrugged. "You said we were goin' clubbin' so I figured we would go to Temple Bar, Sin nightclub in town, or even The Playhouse down the Tallaght Bypass but not up the fuckin' mountains!" I snapped lowly and rubbed my bare arms to generate some heat.