Forever Is A Long Time

Chapter Three - Love and Hate

Chapter Three - Love and Hate

My footsteps echoed off the walls as I followed the newly polished floors to the front of the school where the office was. As soon as I walked around the corner my jaw dropped and I fell to my knees the contents of my purse scattering the floor, my hands grabbed my hair to keep me from bursting, a small sob issued from my mouth the tears starting to fall. She stepped toward me slowly her hand out as if for me to take it. I just sat there staring from Ann, to Sapphire, to jade. All traitors in their own way.

"Sapphire, Why?" I asked her staring into her eyes that showed no sign of emotion. Ann, the foster mom, the one who tried to get close but had no luck, who had no idea what was going on under her own roof. Jade, the real mom, the one who says things she doesn't mean. Jade came close to lay her hand on my shoulder; I shuddered and smacked her hand away." Don't touch me!" I yelled as loud as I could. The principal stepped out of her office looking confused.

"Is there a problem out here?" she asked closing the door and crossing her arms over her chest.

"No mam' we're just taking Robyn home." Ann said motioning for me to get up.

"Okay you just have to sign out here at the front desk." Ann nodded and I felt Jade grab my arm to pull me up off the ground.

"No! I hate you don't touch me!" I yelled struggling to get away. I felt Jade let go and I closed my eyes and started sobbing. Sapphire got all the contents of my purse off the floor and handed it to someone behind me. I felt too weak to move, but then I felt arms around me. I softened under the touch and knew exactly who it was.

"She doesn't live with them anymore." Alex said confidently, " The bells about to ring and unless everyone wants to get trampled I suggest we go in the office." The principal nodded and opened the door.

"How did you know?" I asked.

" I heard you screaming, actually, the whole school did." He said chuckling and flashing a smile. The bell rang and as students flooded out of the classrooms. Someone yelled my name, but I ignored them I didn't want anyone to see the mascara running down my face. Alex placed his hand on the small of my back and led me into the warm room. Tears still streaming down my face he took the sleeve of his gray hoodie and wiped them away eyeliner and mascara leaving a mark on the sleeve. I gripped my arms tight around his waist breathing in and out slowly as he rubbed my back.

" So what's this about Robyn not living with Ann anymore?" Ms. Keith asked leaning against the front desk.

" Well you see me and Robyn met over spring break, and she was having some troubles at home, and I suggested she come live with me for a while since I have an extra room because my sister left. So, yeah she's living with me right now. It's purely voluntary and my parents said it was fine." He said with a flourish leaving out the part about how we met yesterday and that I broke into his house. Ms. Keith thought it over and stood there for a minute.

" Is this true?" She asked looking at me. I nodded my head and looked at her pleadingly, burning holes in her mind telling her to let me stay with him and not to have to go home with Ann and Jade. I glared at Sapphire with as much hatred as I could muster. "Well I guess your going home early Ms. Robyn, I just need you and Mr. Michael's to sign this sign out sheet. Mrs. Hotchkiss, and Mrs. Alexander I need you to leave the premises. If you need anything else you can call me, but you are not allowed to bother Robyn or Alex on school property anymore." She nodded her head towards the door. "And you Sapphire in my office now, we need to talk about why you were skipping class. Have a nice day." She said nodding at Alex and me. I let out a breath and took a pen from my purse to sign myself out. I sat on the front steps as Alex called the butler to come get us. I saw Ann and Jade drive past us looking at me with sad eyes, Alex snapped his phone shut and glared at the black truck.

"He's on his way. When we get home you can get cleaned up and I can get my car and we can go get lunch."

" Sounds like fun. Thanks for that back there you really didn't have to. If you don't want me I can go back home with them. I don't want to get you in trouble." I said sadly fiddling with the charm dangling off my jacket.

" Why wouldn't I want you there? I really like you ya know. And anyways I already asked my parents they said you could stay the rest of the year, until graduation and you leave for college. By the way what college are you going to?" He asked plopping down on the steps beside me.

" University College of London. My dad's making me." I told him blankly.

"I'm going to NYU!" I could feel the excitement radiating off of him. He smiled and we sat their waiting for his butler to come get us.

With my face clean of the black streaks and Alex in a new sweatshirt the hostess led us to a table in the back of the restaurant. T.G.I. Fridays was my favorite place to eat. I went to sit down in the chair in front of Alex in the booth, but he pulled me over to sit beside him. I chewed silently on a cheese stick, as I thought about if I was going to go to tennis practice, but silently thought against it getting out of school early was good for something at least. Alex and I chatted about the different clubs we were in and what classes we were taking this year.

I walked slowly to the black mustang waiting in the parking lot. I was scared to death of the car. The doors, I realized after trying to open it for about ten minutes without success, went up instead of out. Alex just laughed at me when I finally figured it out. We wove through the cars and easily fit into spots I never thought possible. I leaned my head back on the headrest and looked at him as he drove. His face was calm and cool careful not to show any emotion. He took my hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb, my stomach was churning by the time we got back to his house. I pulled my purse over my shoulder, as he came around and opened my door. He walked with me into the forye then led me into the living room turning on the TV.

"Robyn, i'm really glad I met you." Alex said, as I sat on the couch next to him. I had been thinking about him alot. I decided it wouldn't hurt to go out with him. "It's so easy to be around you."

"I've decided to say yes to going out with you." He smiled and nodded leaning towards me. I kissed him lightly on the lips before blushing and turning back towards the TV.

I didn't go to school the next day and neither did Alex. I sat on my bed the light coming in the window was too bright and I wished the sun would go back down, even though I knew it wouldn't. Alex sat in the chair across from me, as he told me some more about him. How from the second he saw me he liked me. He told me he would never leave me and that's why he was so hesitant to tell me I had to go the first night I stayed, he didn't want me to go, so he said I could stay. I spent the rest of the day watching scary movies on the big-screen in the rec. room. My head was on his chest as we lay on the huge sectional couch. My mind on everything else that happened the past few days instead of on the TV.