Stepbrother

Chapter 22

Third period flew by quickly. Basically Mrs. Cade just talked about all the work she was gonna give us, and then never gave it to us.

I busted my butt to get to fourth period on time. We have four minutes, but it takes me two to wait on the people around my locker to move, then thirty seconds to get stuff from my locker, then the time it takes to get to her room varies because people like to stop and talk in the hallways.

The people in front of me stopped abruptly. I stopped, then someone rammed into my back. I thought nothing of it. "Sorry," a familiar voice said. I looked behind me. Josh was behind me, he had a couple bruises on his hands. He saw me looking at them and slid his jacket sleeve down over his hand.

"It's okay.." I whispered. I was pretty sure he didn't even hear me. I balanced my books on one hip and used one hand to hold them. I turned and grabbed Josh's wrist. He pulled his arm away, but I held on. I pulled up his jacket sleeve and revealed a long trail of bruises, cuts, and scratches. I looked at him and he clenched his jaw.

Josh yanked his arm from me and pushed his sleeve back down. The tardy bell rang and everyone started yelling. Josh tapped me on the shoulder. I looked at him. "Get on my back. See what's going on," he said, rather coldly. I blinked. He put his books on the floor and took mine from me, placing them next to his.

He bent over, his head nearly up someone's butt, and his butt nearly on someone's leg. I sighed slightly. Do it, trust him, get on his back.

I climbed on his back, and he straightened up. I looked over everyone's head and saw three kids. Two were battling to the death and one was unconscious in the floor. I slid off of Josh's back. "Fight," I murmured. He nodded slightly and picked up his books. I picked up mine and we waited for another five minutes until the principal came down the hall and broke up the fight.

By the time Josh and I got to class, we were about fifteen minutes late. Which, Mrs Simmons couldn't do anything because the only people who had made it were the people with lockers on the right side of her door. Mine was on the left.

She sighed as we all walked in. About half the class was here already. "Get started. Hurry up."

We quickly worked the three problems, then the lunch bell rang. Everyone got up and ran. "Does anyone know where James is?"

"He got sent to the office," Laura said. She was wearing black short shorts. Mrs. Simmons made her go change out of her cheer outfit.

I walked into the hall. Josh passed me. "Hey, um, Josh?" I said, walking up to him. He raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything. "Um.. do you have an extra quarter?" I asked quietly.

He nodded and handed me a quarter from his pocket. We walked in silence, other than the voices of a few people that were running late to lunch. I was trying to figure out why he was kind of.. ignoring me.

Someone grabbed my hand from my other side. I jumped and looked over. Neil smiled and let go of my hand. "Hi," he smiled as we walked into the cafeteria.

"Hi," I mumbled. He furrowed his eyebrows at my response, though said nothing.

The four of us, Neil, Josh, Alex, and I, all sat down in the same order as yesterday. I didn't even buy a tray. I looked at it and wanted to hurl. I bought a milk though.

"You should've bought a tray so I could eat it," Neil said, taking a bite of his food. He gagged and spit it up. "Never mind."

"Ew," Alex coughed. "Didn't your mom teach you how to swallow?" Neil glared at him. "If so, you learned from the best."

Neil rolled his eyes and poked at the other crap on his tray. Josh sighed and pushed his tray forward. Neil took his icecream and his peaches.

Alex took a bite of the main meal and practically threw it up. "Holy shit," Alex gagged.

"Josh, you alright?" Neil asked, looking at Josh weirdly. Josh didn't even answer. "Josh!" He snapped his fingers in his face.

"What?" Josh asked.

"What's wrong with you?" Neil asked.

"Nothing," Josh said. "Lendzie, can I talk to you?" I nodded slowly as Josh got up and walked to the last seat of the table. I followed him reluctantly.

"Lendzie.. we need to talk," Josh said, sighing. I raised an eyebrow.

"Will you tell me why you're mad at me?" I asked softly.

"I'm not mad at you. I'm just mad you found out."

"About what?" I asked. He raised up his jacket sleeve slightly. "Oh."

"If you knew me, you'd know I always wear jackets. And that's because, well I have bruises.."

"What from?" I asked quietly.

He blinked slowly, looking down at the table. "Promise not to tell anyone?" Josh asked. I nodded.

"Nobody knows?"

"Jeremy does. I slept as his house once and he demanded I take my shirt off," Josh said. "It was hot in his room, he wasn't just being weird." He sighed. "Um.. my stepdad.. he uh, he's abusive."

My face fell. I saw this coming.. but, still. "I'm sorry.." I whispered. His eyes brimmed with tears, which he quickly blinked away.

"Everyone has family problems. I'm sorry I dumped them on you," Josh said.

"There's a difference between family problems and being abused," I said.

"Anyway.." he whispered. "Thanks for listening. Do you think we could meet up sometime?"

I nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, I guess."

"Get my number from Jeremy," he said. I nodded slightly. "I have something else I need to show you."

My eyes widened slightly and fear ran into me. Josh moved back to the middle of the table with the guys. I sighed and moved back.

The bell rang, and everyone slowly shuffled to fifth period. I walked into math, Josh walking next to me.

My friends list is growing faster than I thought.

Fifth period was pretty dumb. We read through the lesson, then finally the bell rang.

I walked to my locker and put all my math stuff up. I noticed a note taped inside my locker door.

Your locker combo is easy.
xox - Neil.
PS, take out the kiss in that^
Or leave it, whatever ;)

I found myself blushing slightly and flipping the note over as I grabbed my health binder. I made it through the door just as the bell rang. I slid into the seat next to Neil. He looked up at me and smiled. I smiled back slightly.

"Neil likes Lendzie.." Coach Mac hummed as she walked by. Neil glared at her as she walked away. I smirked slightly.