Two Sinners Make a Right {+18}

11. Welcome Home

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Please Enjoy!

➽───────────────❥

The halls are noisy as I make my way through the crowds to get to class. I walk into sociology to see I'm the first one here, even before Nick and that's odd. I really hope he isn't absent today because I feel like I need to explain last night to him and why Easton was dragging me home. Who knows what Easton told him?

I take out my notebook, doodling to pass the seconds as the room slowly fills with students. The chair is pulled out beside me and I'm relieved Nick actually came to class. Until I spot the black eye.

"Shit," I whisper, grabbing his face to inspect his swollen eye. Nick pulls away from my touch, so I tighten my hold. "Who punched you?"

"Asked Easton," He responds bitterly.

"Easton did this?" Fuck. What happened between them that Easton would actually punch Nick?

"Yeah. It's my fault, I suppose. I pushed him too far when I kept asking about you." Nick explained, shrugging like it was nothing.

"He punched you because of me? Nick, I'm so sorry. If I hadn't been there—"

"Don't apologise for his actions, Bri." Nick says, cutting off my apology.

The teacher starts his lecture, so I lower my voice. "Still, I think I owe you an explanation." Nick looks at me, waiting so I swallow before explaining. I explain how I was out walking because I sneaked out of the house and how I spotted them and decided to follow them inside. I tell him about how Easton found me with Callum, but I don't mention how I overheard things I shouldn't have. Something tells me Easton wouldn't like that.

Nick looks at me like it all makes sense now. "So that's why Easton was so angry. But Bri, in his defence it's a good thing he found you. You have no idea how Callum is all sorts of fucked up."

I sigh, knowing more than he thinks. "Yeah, I think you're right."

Class continues and me and Nick fall into a comfortable silence. However, I notice Nick isn't his normal playful self and I know it has to do with Easton and his black eye, especially when I enter English class and Easton's absent throughout the whole lesson.

Besides, I have more pressing matters to worry about and that includes a much more frightening asshole who will be waiting for me outside my house at ten tonight.

➽───────────────❥

"Here you go, Mrs Sharp. Do you need help carrying it to your car?" I ask the friendly old lady who comes into the gas station every day to buy her bread and milk.

"Oh no, dear. You don't stay this fit at my age with youngsters like you helping me do the heavy lifting," She insists, smiling and grabbing her bag off the counter.

"Okay, but only if you insist." I offer her a bright smile even if I don't feel like smiling. It's nearly seven and my shift will be over and then I'll have to walk home and wait for Alex to show up. Bile rises up my throat at the thought, but Mrs Sharp doesn't seem to notice my sudden discomfort as she hauls her back to the door, saying goodbye and that she'll be back tomorrow.

I wonder if I'll be that determined at her age. Maybe I'll still be trapped beneath Alex's thumb, or he'll be dead by then and I'll finally be free of him. A girl can only hope, right?