"Just hold on a little longer," I repeated quietly in my head like a mantra, even as Jason and Mark pinned me firmly against the cold metal of my locker.

Haze De Luca stood a few feet away, his dark eyes locked onto mine, his posture laid-back with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. That look—equal parts boredom and menace—made my stomach twist into knots every time.

A cluster of students rapidly formed around us, their voices hushed but eager, watching to see how the next humiliation would unfold. None dared to step in.

Off to the side, I caught sight of my three closest friends—Aaron, Belly, and Chase. They stood with eyes shut tight, as if willing the scene away, powerless to act. I understood their silence; they felt trapped just like me.

Jason glanced at Haze and asked, "So, what’s the plan this time?"

Haze’s expression shifted from detached to something sly, a cruel grin playing at the corner of his mouth. My heart sank. I had no idea what torment awaited me next.

They say "haze" means confusion, but to me, Haze De Luca was the living embodiment of mental chaos.

I despised him utterly. Since freshman year, his daily mission seemed to be breaking me down piece by piece. Whether it was a sharp insult or publicly dismantling a school project I’d spent weeks on, he never let up.

I couldn’t understand why he targeted me. I avoided him whenever possible, but somehow, he always found me.

Of course, I wasn’t his only victim. He preyed on anyone he deemed weak or unpopular, and if you crossed his path the wrong way, you might find yourself nursing bruises or a trip to the nurse’s office. Haze was the definition of a bully.

I tried to wriggle free from Jason and Mark’s grips, but they clamped down tighter.

"Please," I begged, voice trembling as Haze stepped closer, ignoring my plea.

When he finally stood before me, the two jocks released me and melted back into the crowd that had doubled in size. Surrounded by dozens, no one lifted a finger to help.

Haze snatched my bag from my grasp and emptied its contents onto the floor. Thankfully, I only had a few books and pens. His face fell into a scowl—disappointment clearly written all over.

Then, mercilessly, he grabbed a fistful of my hair, tugging hard enough to make my eyes water.

"What should I really do with you?" he sneered.

I said nothing, knowing better than to answer. It was a game to him, one I couldn’t win.

He yanked my hair tighter and shoved me forward, slamming me into the unforgiving metal of my locker. A sharp pain shot through my back.

Instinctively, I reached to rub the sore spot, but he caught my hand quickly.

"Come on, Eve. Think! What should I do with you?" he taunted, as if this cruel torment were some twisted sport.

"Please," I whispered again, barely audible.

His annoyance deepened.

"Wrong answer," he said, dropping me to the floor. The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement sickening me.

I groaned, struggling to rise. My legs shook, and I could barely keep my balance.

Suddenly, a firm voice cut through the chaos. "What is going on here?!" Principal Mrs. Vincent called out, striding purposefully toward us.

She stopped just ahead, concern evident in her tone. "Ms. Parker, are you all right?"

I glanced at Haze, whose face was unreadable. I knew better than to say anything that might provoke him further.

Forcing a smile, I nodded. "I’m fine, ma’am. I just dropped my bag, and Haze was helping me pick it up."

Mrs. Vincent offered an encouraging smile. "Good to hear. Mr. De Luca, I’m glad to see you staying out of trouble. Carry on, then."

Haze raised a brow. "Excuse me? Carry on with what?"

"Helping her gather her things," Mrs. Vincent replied briskly. Then, addressing the dispersing crowd, she ordered, "Everyone, back to class. Now!"

The students scattered immediately, knowing better than to linger.

I turned toward Haze, only to catch a sharp, icy glare that sent chills down my spine. I just knew I’d made a mistake. He wouldn’t forget this.

"Haze, what are you waiting for?" Mrs. Vincent urged, eager to restore order.

With a resigned sigh, he bent down and gathered the scattered items, then roughly shoved my bag back into my stomach. "All set," he muttered.

"Thank you," I murmured, averting my eyes.

Mrs. Vincent beamed. "It’s heartening to see you two getting along. I know your start was rocky, but it seems you’re maturing."

Haze gave a tight smile, but I couldn’t bring myself to fake one back. To me, he was nothing more than a cruel bully I couldn’t stand.

Clapping her hands, the principal added, "Alright, off to class!"

Haze wasted no time leaving. I turned and began walking in the opposite direction, even though my classroom was the other way.

Turning the corner, I found Aaron, Belly, and Chase waiting.

Chase handed me a bottle of ice water quickly. "For your back," he said gently.

I forced a grateful smile. "Thanks."

Belly’s eyes shimmered with tears as she spoke, "We’re sorry we couldn’t do anything."

They all looked so guilty, but like me, they were trapped between fear and frustration.

Aaron scowled, shaking his head. "This isn’t fair. That jerk shouldn’t keep getting away with this. He needs to face consequences."

"I heard Mrs. Vincent gave him one last chance before expulsion," Chase added quietly.

"No wonder he’s been so careful lately," Aaron muttered as we began walking.

I pressed the cold bottle against my sore back, but the chill did little to ease the ache. Haze acted without remorse, indifferent to the damage he caused.

"It doesn’t matter," I said softly. "There’s nothing we can do. We just have to wait until graduation."

"What if I stood up to him?" Aaron asked suddenly.

We all laughed—me, Belly, and Chase. Aaron didn’t have a chance against Haze’s size and strength.

"You can’t fight him, Aaron. You’ll end up in the nurse’s office," I warned.

He shrugged casually. "Free candy from the nurse. That’s a win-win."

I rolled my eyes, knowing this was reckless.

"Don’t do it, Aaron. That guy is crazy," Chase said firmly.

Aaron gave a playful glare. "Alright, alright, I won’t."

Chase leaned close and whispered, "Are you really okay?" His concern made my heart flutter.

I managed a small smile and nodded, though I knew he doubted me. Still, he didn’t push further.

"This is your stop, Eve," Belly said as we arrived at my classroom door.

I sighed. "Thanks for walking me."

Their faces were full of sympathy. We all endured bullying, but I bore the brunt of it.

I waved goodbye and stepped inside, bracing myself for the ordeal ahead.

"Nice of you to finally show up, Eyelyn," Ms. Webster said coldly, motioning to an empty seat next to Haze. "Sit there."

My heart pounded. Sitting beside Haze was a nightmare come true.

Taking the seat, I swallowed my fear. This was going to be a very long day indeed.