My Friends Step-Brother

Ch. 8 My Locker

RORY'S POV

When I got home last night. Jer was waiting on my front steps. He saw my red face, stood up to meet me, and gave me a hug.

"Oh honey, it's okay. Do you wanna go inside?"

"Yes," I whisper out.

My mom is still not home. She must have taken another shift. We somehow make it to me bedroom.

I lay down on my bed. Jer stands at the door.

"Can you lay with me," I ask, watching him.

"Umm... sure.. yeah.." He says awkwardly. He comes over and lays down next to me. I scoot closer to him. He wraps his arm around me. He doesn't ask any questions or make any annoying comments. He is just quiet.

Jer sleeps over a lot at my house. When we were younger, we used to sleep in the same bed, but as we got older, mom made him sleep on the floor or the couch. It's comfortable with him here. It's as safe as I have felt in months.

I close my eyes and fall asleep.

I wake up to find Jer still there, his arm still around me, sleeping peacefully. I looked over at my alarm clock, which was about to ring.

Me gently stirring made Jer wake up. He had a sleepy grin on his face.

"Good morning," I said, sitting up.

"Good morning," he said, copying my actions.

I get up and go over to my closet, picking out my favorite pair of cargo jeans and my favorite shirt. Ironically, one that Jer got me for my birthday.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom," I say, looking back at him.

"Okay, I'm going to get ready in here," he says, hoping off the bed.

Jer has a sleepover drawer here. It contains socks, personal items, toothbrush, hair brush, one pair of jeans, and one shirt. He has had a drawer in my room ever since I can remember.

It may seem weird, but he has always been there, I see him as a brother. It's been hard for both of us. And we have always had each other.

A half an hour later, I come out of the bathroom ready for school. I really don't want to face Josh. But at least I have Jer and Car.

Jer is sitting on the bed playing on his phone. He must sense me because he looks up and smiles.

"You ready to go?" he says.

"Yep!" I say. As we head to the door.

JOSHUA'S POV

As I get up in the morning, I realize that Jerimiah never came home last night. That's weird. Maybe he had already left for school.

I quickly shower and get ready for school.

I walk out to the kitchen to see that everyone has left for work already. I eat some cereal and head to school. I can't wait to see Rory today and clear the air. Tell her I want to be with her.

When I get to school, I head to Rorys locker. Car is already there waiting. I walk up to her.

"Hey, waiting for Rory?" I say.

"Oh hey! Yep, her and Jerimiah." She replies with a smile.

"Yeah, I never saw Jerimiah last night, or this morning, I was wondering where he was," I say, questioning him.

"Jerimiah spends tbe night at Rory's a lot, so that's probably what happened. I wouldn't be too concerned." She replies. Little did she know I could care less about his safety, why in the hell is he spending the night with her.

I just nod my head.

"Did you need to talk with Ror?" Car ask.

"Umm. Yeah," I say, blushing.

She squeals sensing the blush on my face.

"Well then, I will talk to her later and let you have some space. And I will get Jerimiah away from her too," she says loudly.

Before I could say anything, she was practically skipping down the halls.

RORY'S POV

When me and Jer arrived at school, Carmen was standing there waiting for us.

"Hey guys!" She states. Okay, something is definitely up. She hasn't looked this happy since the Barbie movie came out. I looked over at Jer, and I could tell he was thinking the same thing.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask.

"Oh, nothing, I just want to talk to Jer real quick." She says, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him away.

He looks back at me, his eyes saying help, but he is smiling.

I smile back and shrug at him. I have to get a book from my locker anyway.

I walk down the hall, no sign of Joshua..
Which is good... I think. I reach my locker to see the one and only Grace standing there with someone attached to her lips. Joshua

"Umm. Excuse me, but if you could take this party elsewhere, that would be great." I say a little bitchy. I am not going to show that he got to me.

They break apart, Josh is wide-eyed and starring at me.

"Oh, sorry, are we in your way?" Grace says, putting her hand on her hip. I don't look at Josh at the hall. I just nod my head at Grace.

"Come on, Joshy, let's go somewhere more private." She says, walking away.

I can finally open my locker and grab my book.

"Ror-" Josh says, but I don't let him.

"Go, she doesn't seem like the type that likes to be kept waiting." I say, finally looking at him. I break eye contact because if I don't, then I'll be the one that won't leave.

I shut the door of my locker and started to walk away.

"Rory!" He says, but I keep walking. Feeling the salt in my eyes start to burn.

JOSHUA'S POV

Shit! It was not supposed to happen that way. I was waiting for Rory. When Grace came up. She ran her hand up my chest and just attached herself to me. I was about to push her away, but of course, Rory had to come at the perfect second. 

When she told me to go, I could feel the hurt in her voice. I didn't want to hurt her. That was the last thing that I wanted to do.

I wanted to be with her. I wanted to be the person she goes to when jerks like me hurt her, not the person she runs from. As she walked away, I could see her wipe a tear.

I can't let it happend like this.