One Last Chance - Z.Dempsey

FIVE.

CHAPTER FIVE

"Jess! Natasha! Hey" Jess and I stopped walking when we heard Chloe call our names. We looked at eachother and rolled our eyes before turning to smile at the girl "Good job yesterday Jess"

"Good job?" Jess repeated confused as the three of us continued walking.

"Yeah, in court. I heard they're been really tough on people in there, but you stood your ground and told your truth. That's fucking brave you know?"

"Right. Yeah, thanks" Jess smiled slightly.

"Hey, there's this thing at Bryce's this weekend, and I have like three different guys that I want you two to meet. It's time you both got an upstanding, legit boyfriend, right?" She said grabbing both our arms.

"I'm not really looking right now" I said awkwardly.

"Right! Of course. Aren't you with Zach? And I guess you're still getting over your thing with Bryce. I'm so glad we can talk like this and it not be awkward. Anyways, see you girls at practice!" Chloe smiled walking away with a spring in her step. Bitch.

I stood frozen at what she said. "Come on" Jess said softly putting her arm around me and
walking me back inside the school and into a classroom. We entered to find Alex sitting in his chair and Zach about to hand him his backpack. "Hey guys, what are you doing right now? Do you wanna ditch?"

"Definitely. Is everything okay?" Alex answered straight away beginning to stand up again.

"Yeah totally. I just wanna get out of here"

"Guys, I cannot skip this class" Zach stated.

"Zach, we need you!" Jess begged.

"You need my car" He argued.

"Both!" Jess stressed smiling "look, if we can't have you can we..maybe..."

Zach sighed reaching into his pocket for his keys "Fine, but only if Jessica or Tasha drives"

"It's an automatic. My right foot still works" Alex rolled his eyes.

Zach stopped staring at Alex for a couple of seconds "Jess or Nat drives"

"oh, um, I'm not gonna go" I chimed up.

"What! Why?" Alex asked.

'I'm just a bit upset and annoyed from earlier. So, yeah, Jess can tell you in the car or something"

"Okay, well I hope you feel better"Alex smiled before starting to walk away.

"I'll text you" Jess hugged me before following after Alex

"So what happened earlier" Zach asked as we sat next to each other taking out our books. I explained to him what Chloe had said (leaving out the part about her thinking me and him were together) "oh, I'm sorry Tash. It's fucked people still believe that story but its worse coming from his own girlfriend" Zach took my hand in his, smoothing his thumb over the top of it.

"Yeah, well there's not much I can do about it really is there?"

"I mean, you could always talk about what he did to you in court"

"You know I can't do that" I replied moving my hand out from under his.

"So what? You're just gonna let him get away with it?"

"I'm not talking about this right now. Besides, your the one acting like nothing even happened still hanging with him like he's still your best friend" Zach didn't have a chance to reply as the teacher started the class.
...

Hey girl, come to Clay's I really need your help with something.

I scrunched my eyebrows reading the text before send a reply saying that I was on my way. Why was Sheri at Clay's house and why did she need my help. Especially in the middle of the school day. I started to leave the school when my name was called from behind me.

"Where are you going?" Zach asked starting to walk up to me.

"Out " I rolled my eyes and started the walk to Clay's house.

I walked up the stairs and into Clay's room to find Sheri sat on the floor next to a crying Justin. What. The. Fuck. I immediately walked over to the boy and brought him into a hug.

"On my gosh Justin. Where the fuck have you been"

"Hiding" He replied squeezing me even tighter.

After sitting with him a bit and rubbing his back when he was sick, Sheri took me outside the room to talk. "so what the hell is wrong with him?"

"I'm detoxing him. He's a herion addict Natasha"

"Fuck. We should have found him sooner. I feel awful"

"Hey. This isn't your fault" Sheri said bringing me into a hug noticing my eyes that had started to water "this isn't anyone's fault. All we can do now is be there for him"

"Thank you for doing this Sheri and I'm glad you're trying to help after, well everything that happened"

After I stayed for a couple hours and comforted Justin, I messaged Zach asking if he could pick me up.

"So what were you doing at Clay's?" Zach asked once I sat in the passenger seat.

"Nothing" I answered whilst scrolling through Instagram on my phone and liking a couple pictures.

"uh, cool. Well you didn't really miss anything in calculus" He carried on.

"Okay" I said monotone.

"Tash, I don't want you to be upset with me"

"Well guess what Zach! I am upset with you!" I raised my voice "I thought you understood me! I thought you were close to understanding what I was going through! But I have to go to school everyday and see you hanging around the boy that..that fucking...he fucking raped me Zach and I have to see him all the time and act like nothing happened cause I'm too scared to say anything. And I'm sorry if that upsets you or clay or Alex but I don't have to tell my story until I am ready, whether that's tomorrow or next week or never" I was sobbing loudly when each pulled me into a hug. I hadn't even realised we were home yet. "He raped me Zach"

a/n if you ever need to talk my inbox is always open <3