DETENTION // B.E

THIRTY SEVEN

sage

i slowly woke up and furrowed my brows as i heard my door open. i looked over at the door and saw that it was billie. she had a bag in her hand, and in it, i could see a takeout box.

she looked between me and cleo with furrowed brows. cleo had her head on my chest, sleeping soundly. one of her arms was draped around my stomach, while the other was spread out on the bed.

"what's going on?" she asked.

"nothing." i answered truthfully.

"don't lie to me, sage, i—" she started, but then stopped as cleo started waking up too.

she sat up and looked over to see billie. "oh, shit. when did you get here?"

"just now."

cleo yawned as she nodded.

"i guess that's my cue to leave then?" cleo raised a brow.

"yeah." billie answered.

she got up and gathered her things. "i'll see you later, sage." she waved once she got to the bedroom door.

"yeah, see you." i waved back, though i wish she would've stayed.

billie watched as she left, then waited until she heard the front door shut. she placed the bag down on my nightstand.

"you can't tell me that that was nothing and expect me to believe it." she scoffed.

"all we did was cuddle, i swear." i defended, tensing up as she started walking towards me.

"fucking liar." she spat before raising her hand and hitting me.

and then again. and again.

the only thing i could do was just sit there and take it.

the one time i had tried to defend myself and hit back, she had just hit harder.

"please, stop." i said through a broken sob.

to my surprise, she did. she looked down at me before letting out a sigh.

i flinched as she cupped my cheek, then wiped away my tears, though more came. she frowned.

"this hurts me more than it does you," she told me softly. "but you know, if you would just listen to me, then i wouldn't have to hit you."

she made me look her in the eyes. "now, tell me the truth; what did y'all do?"

"i swear we only cuddled," i whimpered. "i'd never cheat on you."

"you wouldn't, huh?" she asked, obviously not believing me.

"no," i sobbed, though i was trying to stop crying. "i promise. i'd never."

she stared at me for a moment, before letting out another sigh. she wiped at my eyes again. "stop crying."

she stood up and walked over to my dresser, pulling out some clothes that she had left here. "i'm taking a shower. you gonna join?"

i shook my head and she rolled her eyes before entering the bathroom.

once she had shut the door, i held my hand over my mouth to muffle my crying.

i'm in so much pain.

i don't know how much more of this i can take.

honestly, there's only a few things keeping me going right now. my parents would be devastated if i did... you know, especially considering the fact that i'm their only child. they would blame themselves.