WATTPAD FEATURED NOV 2020 AND OCT 2021 - FROM OUR STARS LIST
WATTPAD MULTICULTURAL FEATURED SEP 2022 - AUSTRALIAN WHISPERERS READING LIST
It's difficult to save someone who doesn't want saving, particularly when they're lying to you.
...
Claudia and...
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Over the next week, my life is taken up by mundane things that bring more joy and contentment than I would've thought possible. I spend Saturday gardening with Peter; on Sunday, I go to the beach with Lewis; and in my psych appointment on Tuesday, I have the pleasure of telling Muhammad I've had no nightmares for two weeks.
Jake even seems happy, and most lunchtimes we sit back to back against the fence and chat about soccer and our classes.
Before I know it, it's Saturday again and I'm sitting on a picnic rug in centennial park, watching Jake, Harper and Lewis sprint around the soccer field.
Their team is winning, and the sun is warm, but I find the serenity that usually comes with their game somewhat lacking because Jake is not playing well. Every time he gets knocked, he flinches away, shying from tackles for no obvious reason, and the more it happens, the more frustrated he becomes.
The ref calls half time and Lewis jogs over, sitting beside me and shaking his hair out, flicking little drops of sweat everywhere.
"Ew. Get away, you cretin," I say, giving him a shove.
He lets out a low laugh, his hand coming up to brush my waist, and from the look in his eyes, I know exactly what he wants. I shove him again, glancing covertly in Jake's direction, and Lewis sighs and flops onto his back.
"Right, I forgot. No kissing when Jake's around."
His words are playful, but there's disappointment hiding within them and I can't help but feel slightly guilty.
"I'm sorry," I say. "I'm gonna talk to him soon. I just need to find the right time."
Lewis pouts, but there's no heat behind it.
"You're playing well," I say.
"Yeah. Jake's going goals second half, though. He's not happy about it."
I glance over as Jake strips his shirt off to change into the goalie jersey. His movements are quick, his body exposed only for a second, but it's enough to make me blanch.
Because all of him — his back, his chest, his sides, all of it — is scattered with yellowing bruises. They burst like sunbeams beneath his skin, overlapping with one another.
"What..."
I look at Lewis and his gaze follows mine before turning blank.
"What happened to him? Do you know where those came from?"
Lewis looks at the grass and I can tell he's wishing he hadn't run over here.
"They're from Heather's party, I think. He got into a fight with Ethan. I didn't see most of it though."
I blink. "Who is Ethan?"
"He's... kind of a drug dealer. Jake's been buying some weed off him."
I close my eyes, my mind flashing back to Pitt Street Mall and the guy Jake had been talking to, how Jake's $50 had mysteriously gone missing. Lewis must see my expression because he grabs my arm, trying to get me to look at him again.
